As for looking cameras over, I pass on scuffed or dented cameras (unless their rare – maybe). I look at the dozens of tiny screw heads – or if any are missing. A marred head means the camera was opened for some reason, and it wasn’t done carefully. A missing screw can happen from vibration. Cameras aren’t painted these days, they’re anodized. It takes a lot to mar that finish. Scratched rear screen – pass. If I’m looking at an SLR, I take off the lens to see if there’s a “debris field” in the focusing screen. If it doesn’t blow off, it may be on the prism side. Next, I put the lens back on, and take an shot with the lens cap on. I want to see if there’s hot pixels.

It’s sounds picky, but not really. I rely on my cameras. When I sell or trade them in, they’re like new. The same goes for the lenses. I protect my investments. This isn’t the old days when “brassing” and dents were seen as some “badge of valor”.

Digital cameras and lenses are much harder to repair than film cameras and lenses – if they can be repaired at all.