Used& approved

The second-hand photography market shares many similarities with the used sector of the automotive industry. Just like car dealerships sell used and approved cars on their forecourts, many camera retailers sell second-hand stock via their stores and websites to customers who'd like to own a particular camera or lens for less than it was originally sold for new. Again, much like buying a car, there are used stockists who deal exclusively with one manufacturer, those who specialise in classic and vintage models, and dealers who buy and sell a variety of stock in high volume to cater for all types of customers.

One of the main concerns when buying anything second-hand is not knowing how the product was cared for in its previous life. Like buying a used car from a reputable dealership, the benefit of buying a second-hand camera or lens from a retailer or trustworthy used stockist is that you get a warranty and the reassurance that what you are buying has been carefully inspected and tested. You'll also find there's usually a returns period, where if you're not entirely happy with what you've purchased, you can return it within a certain number of days and get your money back – something you don't get when buying an item on the spot when it's bought as seen.

Here at Amateur Photographer we have an excellent relationship with many of the retailers and second-hand stockists in the industry, so to find out more about the current trends in the secondhand market and the interesting sales they've made over the years, we asked them a few questions, to which we received some very interesting answers.

Grays of Westminster

• www.graysofwestminster.co.uk • 020 7828 4925

Why do many photographers choose to buy second-hand as opposed to new?

There's the price consideration, but some people prefer to have a camera or lens that has proven itself over time. We sold a Nikon