I’ve bought a lot of different items from KEH over the past 10 years. I had a a couple of issues but they took care of them with no problem. In the last 6 months I’ve bought a lens and a small bag from MPB with no issues. My favorite place to buy used gear is Used Photo Pro. I always check their site first as they do provide photos and shutter counts.
Tried KEH for the first time last week. Got a Canon 5D Mark iii, for around $300. Rated as a bargain. Few cosmetic scrapes on the bottom. Works great, shipped fast and packed very well. No complaints.
I just got a lens in the other day, sigma 28-70 f2.8, not sure what the rating was was but I remember them saying the lens was in good quality with some cosmetic marks but honestly I think they were way too harsh on their review the thing looks brand new plus they gave me a nice little pouch to carry it in
KEH is my go-to place for ordering gear online, they really do grade their stuff conservatively. I just got a 24-105 last week as ugly and what they saw as ugly I see as a well-used lens, the black coating was getting worn off, the focus and image stabilizer selector still clicked, the motor is quiet and quick, the glass is fine, caps and hood have scratches so what.
Very happy with KEH. I bought a 28-70 Nikon zoom lens and the zoom ring was sticking. I called them up and they exchanged it for another of the same quality. One thing I have to ding KEH for is not testing cameras for shutter count. MPB does and I just bought a mint Nikon D7000 with a 7,297 shutter count. I bought a D700 from KEH and the shutter count was over 113K, but these cameras are known for their durability, so I am not too worried about it. I have the D7000 for my day to day shooting, and the D700 for landscapes. Love the full frame with wideangle lenses. I just wish KEH included that test and listed each camera with their respective counts. I like MPB's layout. They even include a photo of the actual item. Very nice touch. MPB also ships quickly. I ordered the D7000 Monday afternoon and it arrived here in Maine on Thursday. Very happy with MPB as well. Both companies will have my business from now on.
Recently bought 2 "EX" condition lenes from KEH - Nikkor 300 f/4 PF and a 70-200 f 2.8 circa 2003 vintage AF-S (a real beast of a lens but great IQ! Made in Japan with a brass stamped plate). They were shipped promptly and were both very clean, no scratches or marks on the glass or the barrel, both work great. I am using them on my Z6ii with an FTZii adapter (new from B&H). The only sign of wear on either lens is a tiny bit of the gold lens marking worn off. I got both for a total of $1700, a great deal IMO. The 300 PF lens came with the original Nikkor case, and the 70-200 came with a nice KEH lens bag plus the tripod ring. I would recommend KEH, don't have any experience with MPB but heard good things about them. In either case get familiar with the return policies and save all packing material for several weeks at least while you're testing the items received. KEH has a 21 day return policy and a six month warranty, so that is what is important to me regarding KEH. So far very happy!
This is great information to have. I've been searching for a used Sony 20mm 1.8 G lens but haven't figured out where I wanna get it from. And of course constantly hoping I can find a better deal. lol.
I'd rather have plastic bubble wrap protecting my expensive equipment. If you saw how packages are handled by the carriers even FedEx and UPS you would agree with me. There's nothing wrong with plastic it's what you do with it that matters. Save the wrap for other items you will invariably ship in the future. Same goes for the boxes - cut the taped seams and fold them flat for storage. Plastic bubble wrap is far better than packing peanuts those are really bad and hard to store and stick everywhere due to static. Paper doesn't really protect as well but still better than packing peanuts.
Great video bro....new to the channel...I have been looking to get some gear and will be trying out keh..thanks for the advice..can't wait fo the next pov
Very interesting review. I really like that you used multiple sources for feedback and then investigated the differences between the two companies' scales for categorizing equipment. Your research revealed insight into the two companies that I found valuable. I am about to do business with one of them. I need to sell my Nikon gear now I have switched to Sony. I also will take a store credit as that returns more money. I will report back how I fared. I realize this is slightly out of scope as it concerns how they assess your gear and whether they stick to their original quotes but it is related and is useful info.
I'm lucky as there is a local camera store that gets lots of used lenses. The prices are good and it's a huge advantage being able to handle them before purchasing. Over time they get everything I want and their rating system is accurate. I just picked up a 135 f/2 DC Nikkor lens that is truly mint. No brassing on the mount, no scuffing on the barrel and the elements are beautiful. Doesn't look like it was ever mounted on a camera body. Before purchasing this lens I went onto E-Bay pricing 135 DC lenses. Most of the lenses were coming from Japan. There is one business, in Japan, that likes to grade their lenses as "Mint ++++" etcetera. Looking closely at the photos it was very clear that the lens was a far cry from mint! Lens mounts and scuffing tell the story! Be very careful when ordering on E-Bay! Make sure the photos of the lenses are of the actual item! One thing I find a bit funny. Tony and Chelsea Northrup have done a couple of videos ordering BN lenses and camera bodies from KEH. The equipment they received was almost perfect! Does anyone think that KEH would ship them anything that's not perfect? Not me! Anyways, thanks for this video as I've always wondered about MPB..........
I've ordered from both of them and had great luck with no issues. I've sold gear to KEH and the quote was decent but they lowered it when I got the final quote from them but it was fair. They included some nice lens bags with lens purchases. Their ratings are on par. I have ordered used gear from B&H and they are excellent too. Neither of them gives shutter counts on cameras.
I have no experience with MPB but I have had consistent problems with buying used film era lenses, specifically Tamron adaptall zooms. The staff seems to have no idea how to check if an manual zoom lens is functioning. In my first order, I had to return the original and replacement lens. Luckily I had no problem with their return team. Although, I would have love to avoid the mess. For anyone interested I recommend Robert’s Used Photo Pro. They describe exactly how their used equipment is and I have never had issues with them.
I agree with your assessment 100% . I just got a Canon 70D and a 430ex Speedlite from MPB listed as like new and arrived as brand new in the box and never been used . I got a 580ex Speedlite that was listed as " like new " but had scuffs on the side ( perfect otherwise just looked like camera bag scuff marks ). All in all I'm a happy customer - and if you don't like what you see when it arrives MPB will , if requested , send FedEx to your door to pick up the return free of charge . Edit : Forgot to mention that I also purchased - from MPB - a Canon 50D listed as "good" condition but I would have rated it as " like new " .
I bought a sigma lens from key and it was in perfect condition. I also just sold my old gear to them and at the inspection the guy quoted me real high and after they received the items the offer was less than what the website said for bargain items. I still sold it to them because it was way more money than the local store offered me and It was convenient too. I selected to be paid by check and are just waiting for it. I trust KEH but not too sure about anyone else unless it’s something not expensive.
Damn, that sucks for everyone who got screwed. It is the name of the game when buying used though. Happy to hear that these companies are willing to try and make it right once contacted. Still sucks to go through that in the first place.
@ 1:49. What if we like your! We came for the narration & u doing a bang up job MPB is new but growing. But at least they offer help. KEH is brilliant. Been around for ages but sometimes too big & things can get overlooked. It’s a regular person having to go through everything. I think this new turn of better then expected is a cushion to cut down on returns. They been doing this since the mail order days in Shutterbug mag. It pays to over rate to satisfy us (: Good video
I recently bought a Canon 77d off MPB and the camera matched the condition(excellent) and functions great. My gripe is they didn't send the battery as promised, and a charger without a cord. MPB customer service made the situation right by issuing me a 50 dollar credit which I am using toward a lens. Overall satisfied although the transaction could have went smoother the first go around if they sent the battery.
I've bought quite a few pieces of kit over the years from KEH, and have always had a positive experience. The last lens that I bought was just over a month ago. It was a "bargain" condition lens, but you would never know that it was used. It clean, functions perfectly, with no sigh of wear. I have no reason to go elsewhere.
Last I buy from both! But the last thing I bought from KEH a battery pack grip for a Canon 60D it was rated excellent + and the rubber on the grip was coming off
Never had a problem with MPB. They have professionally trained specialists which investigate every nut , bolt, pin , screw and needle of anything you send them. I mainly buy lens from the UK branch. The service is amazing. I have been having banter half of the time with their staff via emails. Brilliant place and great service. Friendly staff and most importantly they are honest about their description and provide me 6 month warranty. KEH? I’m not so sure about them. Never used them.
Although I had some success and good experiences with KEH, I have to say, the last couple of transactions of selling gear to them weren't quite to my satisfaction. I decided to give MPB a try, and they offered me a good price for my Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3, putting that cost towards my purchase of a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM, which should arrive tomorrow. I was happy enough with this transaction that I'll continue to work with them. I have heard good things about Use Photo Pro as well, and may give them a shot. Just my two cents/experience. EDIT: My Canon lens came today, well-packaged and in good shape. I put it on my 1DX Mk III and took the rig out for my lunchtime walk. I liked what I saw so far.
I have not had the amazing luck everyone else seems to have with KEH. I've purchased three items rated bargain - a Nikon 24-70 f2.8 AF-S and two 77mm Hoya UV filters. The 24-70 had a big scratch on the name plate, a very small chip in the front element, and a dent in the lens hood mount that prevented a hood from attaching. It pretty much matched KEH's bargain description but did not exceed it like most people have experienced. One UV filter looked good while the other had noticeable scratches. Of the three items I only kept one UV filter. I've only made one purchase from MPB, a Nikon D3s . The camera matched the description and shutter count. It was rated good and I'd actually say it was very good to excellent. I did encounter an issue with the lens mount. Lenses did not mount as tightly on the D3s as they did on my other Nikon bodies. It wasn't extreme so I can see how they would miss something like that. Luckily I found a replacement bayonet mount and spring on ebay. $20 and 5 screws later and the issue was resolved. Neither experience was perfect but I'd be open to buying from both again. I'm much less optimistic about KEH bargain and with my luck I'll never try ugly grade.
sucks as a lot of places only put up a picture of the lens..... but it's not a pic of the one you are buying. Had the same when I got it, it worked great but the barrel had a small dent on it.
in my 20 years of photography, I have bought used gear exclusively minus the 1st $50 point-and-shoot Kodak my parents bought me when I started, I have not been burned on a camera but I had bought 1 bad lens that had fungus growth that wasn't listed on the sale and that was on eBay with a new seller and we all know where eBay lies when there is something wrong. I mainly use KEH as their equipment is clean and comes with caps and battery and MPB is what I'd expect from a garage sale with dust and gunk on the camera but I do like that they photograph each item and tell you the shutter count on the cameras.
Over that last year I've purchased 4 used cameras. 3 from MPB and 1 from KEH. I've purchased 4 or 5 lenses as well. A fellow member at a local camera club was a beginner and asked what camera they should buy. I had no idea what to answer. I got the idea that a used camera might be good advice but I had no experience. So I watch some UA-cam videos that recommend used cameras and decided on a Nikon D90 with an 18-85mm lens (I think that's what the lens was). Total cost was about $300. I tested to see if it would be a good camera on which to learn. After using it for a few months I decided it would be a great camera for someone to learn photography, they can learn the basics and decide what their real camera would be without breaking the bank. Also if they decided that photography wasn't for them, they wouldn't be out a lot of cash. That got me interested in old cameras and lenses. The rest is history. My 10 year old granddaughter will get the D90 when she's a bit more responsible. I have had no problems with either MPB or KEH, fully satisfied with both. I find MPB generally, but not always, a bit less expensive for the same gear. I didn get one camera from MPB with which I wasn't thrilled and I sent it back within the return period and got my money back no questions asked. They sent me PDF of a FedEx label. I put the camera back in the box that it came in and dropped it off at FedEx. All in all an experience with minimal hassles.
I ordered lens from KEH, a Sony A-mount 75-300mm f4.5-5.6 priced at around $89. It was rated excellent, and arrived in pristine shape and beautifully clean. My only issue, and this isn't KEH's fault, is I live in Canada, and KEH's shipping options to Canada are over $50. Then when you figure in exchange rate, import fees, added shipping fees from Fed Ex, the lens went from $90 to over $200. I don't know about MPB and what their shipping would be but I suppose it would be similar. Just something to keep in mind when ordering from Canada.
I've never dealt with KEH, but an mpb, you can be pretty much guaranteed that whatever the quote they give you for your gear, once they get it in their hands, that quote will go way down. They will nickel-and-dime you to death. And I have received gear from them and has been really dirty, but I have also had good interactions with them. But the thing is, even one bad interaction is too many when it comes to something like this. The bottom line is I don't trust mpb, but sometimes I'm willing to take the leap of faith because they do have good prices. But you just never know. At least with them. Could be great, could be horrible. I've had both with them.
I’ve never actually got used dslr @ KEH yet & I know it’s their thing to not state shutter count so what’s your opinion on price or condition reflecting lower count or can you personally email if further concerned?
I’ve purchased gear from both KEH and MPB, and like you said; it depends on what you are looking for. My Nikon D3200 and Z50 were purchased from KEH (both bodies were rated excellent and performed beautifully). MPB allowed me to acquire two classic Nikons: The D2X and D200. These bodies were rated good with just a bit of cosmetic wear, but the images were tack sharp. I’ll keep looking for gear from both sites as well as eBay. However, if I need gear soon, the advantage as of now goes to MPB (I live in the New York Tri-State Area and received my gear within 48 hours with standard shipping from their Brooklyn store).
@@walterarroyo5220 It's on 34th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in Sunset Park. I don't know if you can access the facility, but if you can give us a heads-up.
I'd say both are good places to buy gear from. I've had two warranty claims with MPB. The last one was 2 days before the 6 month warranty expired and thet sent a new item.
I placed my first order with MPB b/c they are sponsoring many people I follow on UA-cam. Both Nikon lenses were EX. Both were premium priced and looked great. However, one of them had a zoom ring so tight I couldn't turn it. They are exchanging it as we speak. So, we'll see. But I think the ratings are mostly cosmetic.
I just got a rebel XT that’s in great condition minus some very superficial wear. The ONLY thing wrong. Is one pin missing in the cf port. Bought it “As-Is” off KEH for $8. So if anyone knows how to fix that lmk
If you ever saw the equipment of an old time press photographer it would look all beat up but the glass would be perfect and operate fine. You can't always tell by it's outward appearance.
I have bought from both and I am very satisfied with both. That said, I have a relationship with KEH, going back to 1983. Suffice it to say, this, of course, was pre-internet, with no real safeguards on quality, you were going on trust. Buying used from gear from an ad in Shutterbug magazine or Modern Photography, giving your CC number to an unknown 1+800 operator was truly a leap of faith. Thus far MPB has done me right, but I still give KEH a look-see first when looking for used gear, they are after all the ‘OG’ of the used photo gear game.
I bought a Leica M3 from KEH, it was rated at excellent, this is a very old camera from the 50s. My expectation was that it would still have wear given the age. I have also heard that KEH is very very very very conservative when it comes to Leica equipment. I can confirm this because the camera I got was in outstanding shape for the age. My guess is the camera I got sat in a camera bag more than it was used. It was the look of a camera that at most was less than 5 years old not almost 70 years old, also it works perfectly in all respects.
After sending my gear to MPB they dropped their offer (with no explanation) over $300. I told them to send my gear back and they claimed they tossed out my original Sony box. Then I noticed that my owner's manual for my camera was missing. They claimed they tossed that out as well. Anyone believe they threw an original manual away?
I have bought from MPB and KEH with good experiences from both, but had several issues with MPB. The worst was back in 2020 when I bought an E-M1 mark ii in “like new” condition. It was scratched and dirty. They exchanged it with no problem but the second was was also not in “like new” condition and had an obvious finger print on the sensor. They let me send it back for a refund but that cost me a lot of shooting time. I had already sold them my G85, so I had no camera. I later picked up a D7200 from them in “like new” condition and it was extremely nice. I do like that MPB often shows shutter counts and uses actual photos, though I questioned if they were the actual photos after my issues with the E-M1.ii
Have to admit I've just never wanted to take the risk and hassle of ordering used and risking issues and return problems. I am always willing to pay more or just save for an extra few months.
Totally understandable. And generally speaking, if you're getting a flawless lens, you're not saving THAT much anyway. But I will say, I've been satisfied with every KEH purcahse I've made thus far.
KEH.. beyond excellent. I purchased a fuji 100-400 lens. after getting it, it would not talk to my XT5. called KEH sent lens in for repair. thus was a like new lens. KEH could not repair it and sent it to Fuji. While it took 2 months, the lens was rebuilt, brand new!! Amazing other than my time everything was covered.
Interesting - I bought from KEH a "Like New" and was soooooo disappointed to see that the lens had a ding, some scratches and blemishes on the internal baffles behind the front lens. I tried contacting them and they just completely ignored me and offered absolutely nothing to try to resolve the situation. Consequently, I've not bought from them since and never will again. Maybe their support for domestic US is better than international.
Also recently had a bad experience. After 2.5 months of emails and waiting, when they also just completely ignored me, they finally made things right. They consistently dropped the ball every time with all their communications and failed promises. I was NOT impressed with KEH in the slightest. Will probably never ever do business with them again.
I feel like someone make a mistake and Omar was sent the wrong lens from their inventory. There is probably an "ugly" lens that was still sitting in the warehouse that was supposed to have been the lens shipped to Omar. That said, I've had very good experiences with KEH and also B&H Photo for used gear. For MPB, my experience in items received has been hit and miss. However, their customer service has been great and they've always made it right. It's just the added hassle of having to return gear that I wish hadn't happened. I'd estimate about 33.3% of my gear was purchased second hand from either B&H Photo, KEH, or MPB. I've had a lot of used item experience with these sellers. One of my most recent purchases was a Canon 500mm f/4 L IS USM EF-Mount Lens from KEH in Like New Minus condition. When it arrived I was astounded. The lens and all the accessories were indistinguishable from being brand new. Even the tripod foot was spotless clean. I checked the date code and found this lens was made in May 2008. It's a 15 year old lens. It seems like it must have been sitting in a warehouse somewhere and never got used by anyone all this time. It's been working excellent for me.
Just bought a Canon C100 from MPB USA excellent condition, camera looks awesome no scuffs or scratches 62 hours. MPB shows actual photos of what you are receiving with 6 month warranty KEH does not show actual photos so i gave up on them, so far i buy all my cameras from MPB.
I've bought more than a few items from both mpb and keh. In my experience they're both solid companies. If you're not happy with an item you've got 14 days to initiate a return at no cost. If they don't have a replacement you'll receive a full refund. Both companies also provide a 6 month warranty. That's much better than buying a camera or lens from ebay or a private seller. As a side note I've bought several items from keh that were rated as bargain items and I received in my opinion perfect/like new for incredible savings.
I won't ever deal with KEH again. I got a quote of $3500 for my *unused* 1-year old Nikon af-s lenses (stored in a closed cabinet), and after receiving them KEH sends an email saying that they've reduced the price to $1000 because the lenses all have fungus in them. I inspected them before selling and were all in brand new condition. So I called and they stuck by the fungus claim, and were initially nice but got increasingly annoyed that I was disagreeing. I said send them back, which to their credit they did, quickly and packed well. So I start looking at the lenses, and every one has smudges and greasy marks on all the elements front and back. I'm horrified (I'm very anal about keeping my lenses spotless). I get to work with lens wipes and cloth, and it all comes off. The elements are back to pristine. I shine a flashlight through each lens, nothing - no fungus no dust even. I know what lens fungus looks like I've owned a lot of eBay vintage glass. In the end I sold them all to a local well known camera store that rated them all Like New. So was this a scam, or just incompetence? Do they really have technicians wiping lenses with dirty gym socks? I don't know.
Interesting.. That sounds super annoying. I haven't ever sold anything to either KEH or MPB. I'd much rather not wait around to see how much they want to pay out. I have a Mikes Camera near me that I always sell to cuz I can do it in-person and much more quickly.
I have came to the conclusion that MPB is better in Europe than here in the USA. Maybe quality control is understaffed in the USA. I've sent back 3 items. Customer service is really good there. I will continue to purchase from KEH.
UsedPhotoPro ( Roberts Camera ) are also good sources of used gear as well as B&H. I have used all three and would also recommend them. KEH and Usedprotopro have good return policies as well. No questions asked.
KEH and MPB have both been very good to me. If anything, their condition ratings are very conservative. In other words, the condition of equipment I've bought from them has often been better than my expectations based on rating. I think some people expect pristine, no matter what the rating indicates. (There is no pleasing some people.) I have always said that businesses will always have some hiccups - the real test is how they deal with them. I only ever had one of those hiccups (I won't say which place, because it doesn't matter). They were EXCELLENT in dealing with it. I went full-bore with the Canon R mount, when there just wasn't much in the way of used equipment available, so I haven't bought from them recently. But I'm sure I will again. I feel MUCH safer dealing with either of them compared to some unknown on eBay or (shudder) Craigslist.
I just bought an a6600 for $744 in excellent condition. Shld be here right after Christmas. Pretty anxious to see as I've seen others comment the same that they are a little conservative, but still I feel that's a fair price for that body in original box and all accessories. We shall see!
I wish KEH were in the UK. We have MPB and they are reasonable on selling equipment but so low on their px-values compared to high street stores. I always get a quote but have never sold to them. They've lost hundreds from me for the sake of 50 here or there.
I was a customer of MPB (Europe) since 2021 and had several dealings with them, buying a load of stuff, with no hassle. However, since the start of this year, they've started to drop the ball. Gear over-rated (a well-used piece junk that was described as 'good'), faulty camera (sticking shutter) and losing a part of my order (sheer incompetence). My latest camera from them has had two replacments and finally I ended up with a camera I am happy with, but still an incomplete order. I'm seriously wondering if I'll do business with them ever again. Regarding KEH, I dealt with them a few times a decade ago and always had good results. I immediately struck a rapport with one of their sales guys and asked for him every time. Gear was always better than described and shipped rapidly. The shipping to me took longer as it had to go to a freight forwarder, but that wasn't KEH's fault. Then there was a five-year gap, but I've bought a few items from them recently and got exactly what I was paying for, no problem.
Unboxed my Like New minus Nikon 50mm 1.8 lense from Keh. I held up to the like to look at the glass. Dusty and tiny bubble like things on the lens. I called Keh to return. Customer Service was nice and apologized. I think I'll buy my lenses for now on. I take of my photography equipment.
I am currently in the middle of retracting a trade with MPB. I sent in a canon t5 with some lenses, a sony a6400, sigma 30mm f1.4, and the basic accessories like batteries etc. When they got my stuff, they claimed the batteries were missing and lowered the value of the sony cam pretty hard, even tho the camera is open box condition- as I bought it less than 3 months ago new. Sent orignal boxes and papers as well. I wanted to get the nikon z30 and a lens, althought that may sound dumb, i just wanted uncropped 4k@30. Either way, I just sent an email on the 26th stating I would like to cancel the trade and get my gear back (they just finished inspection same day). Hopefully I get it back and it isn't damaged at this point. If I still decide to try for another camera, im just gonna sell my gear myself
@@SomeSloan I hope that works... I've never sold anything to MPB so I'm not sure what might happen but I'd definitely advise that if they do accept your cancellation, make sure you film the whole process from the moment you get it off your porch, till you finish opening and inspecting it. Otherwise reddit is always a good option to get in touch with people who might have more insight. A well timed and popular reddit thread can have a significant impact on the resolution of stuff like this because many companies look on reddit for general sentiment about their business. Be sure to come back here and let us know what happens!
@@careywestI will definitely follow your advise and record from the time I go to even open my door, to after setting everything back up and testing all the gear. Thankfully they got back to me today and said it wouldn't be a problem for them to send it all back. So a quick response to my request is nice, I will keep updating on how long it actually takes them to start shipping it back, as they said I should receive a separate email regarding cancelation and return of my stuff. Thank you for the response! Definitely earned another sub my guy
I have bought from KEH and so far every thing I have bought was older vintage gear that was rated Excellent but when I got them had parts missing like a medium format film camera I bought was listed to have crank and all the covers.. The crank was not there and they was NOT gonna send me one that they had listed in a bin in stock lol and wanted me to send it back for a refund.. They probably took the one off the camera they sent me and put it into a bin to sell it separately lol. Also I am quite picky about how nice things are and look and NOTHING I have gotten from KEH yet that was rated Excellent was near that.. In fact I personally would have rated those cameras and camera parts as Fair condition for there age sure as heck not Excellent.. YES everything has worked properly so I have not complained too much but there rating system is flawed.. The next person orders something rated ugly and its perfect lol.
I don't own any new in box cameras or lenses. We buy either refurbished from Canon or pre-owned from MPB or KEH. I have never been disappointed with cameras, lenses, flash or accessories from KEH or MPB. I have made spectacular deals on eBay as well. I bought a Fujifilm GW690II medium format range finder camera on eBay from a seller in Japan. When the camera arrived I was disappointed to see dust in the view finder. I notified the seller and they wanted to refund my money and pay for return shipping. This camera was in way too good condition. I tried to get it CLA here in the use and most places wanted nearly as much as what I paid for the camera to service it. The seller send me a return shipping label. They had their local Fujifilm service center clean, lube and adjust for $75. The seller shipped the camera back to me and it met all my expectations/ I thanked the seller for going the distance. The seller told me that all their pre-owned cameras are inspected, repaired or serviced before they are posted online and this one slipped by. I bought a $25 Canon Sure Shot Supreme film camera that looks brand new with the OEM box and paperwork all from eBay.
One time i bought a Nikon D5200 from Ebay.. from a pawnshop seller.. that mentioned it came with 6 lenses.. 85mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8, 35mm 1.8 DX, 18-105mm, altura 8mm fisheye and 55-200mm, plus 2 extra batteries and random cleaning stuff and a sweet backpack... they had it listed for $600.. which was a great deal already.. i lowballed a $300 offer.. and they accepted.... and theeeeen i started panicking thinking i was gonna get scammed.. the pawnshop seller never replied to any questions.. so i waited a few days and sent the money in fear.. In the end.. the camera had less than 5k shutter count, all the lenses were flawless, only a couple were missing original nikon caps.. everything else was in perfect condition.. kept the 85mm 1.8 (which was the only one i was missing) sold everything else individualy.. so i ended up with a free 85mm f1.8 and about extra $300 lol best deal i've gotten so far from eBay... In retrospective.. i have a feeling that package was a stolen camera or something that somebody threw and this guys for $100 or something and they wanted to get rid of it quickly ..And im still regretting that one time i missed the chance to buy a D750 with a 24-70mm f2.8G for $750 😭
I've had good luck with both companies over the past few years. When buying used/pre-owned gear customer service is the single most important thing to consider and they've both been great in that regard.
KEH customer service absolutely sucked with my first, and last, experience doing business with them. Very poor. Many staff involved, all of them made false promises or dropped the ball. It was appalling actually. I'm very suspect of the positive reviews here because, from my experience, the problems seem systemic. Caveat Emptor!
Ordered a "like new" lens from MPB recently...lens cap was covered with a thick layer of dust and the front lens glass was filthy..was either covered with fingerprints or some kind of residue...i will NEVER buy another item from them ever again
@DirtDigglerMD, my local Mike's Camera told me they don't price match Adorama because Adorama apparently does a lot of gray-market stuff and cheats customers; a brief online search seems to corroborate this. I have never ordered from Adorama and now I'm definitely steering clear.
I've bought and sold a lot of gear and cameras through MPB. I tried selling a lens at KEH but their offer was insultingly low. I still look at KEH for buying, but, I usually end up going through MPB. I've never been disappointed with the gear I've obtained through MPB. And I've always received good quotes for selling through MPB. So, MPB for the win.
@AllThingsFilm1 good to know. However, MPB apparently isn't interested in camera accessories, as their quote for my brand-new Lowepro Adventura 160 SH II camera bag, for which I paid $65 a month ago and haven't used, was $9. I get that camera hardware is their main focus, but geez. And then they kept nagging me with emails about my "quote" even after I wrote to them to say the quote wasn't worth it, and they responded. I'm new to photography and wasn't sure what I needed when I bought the bag, so now I'm out $65 for a brand-new bag I'm not using. Live and learn, I guess.
I have never had any problems with MPB. I have never bought or traded with KEH. I have had good luck with my used camera and lenses. Now I have all the stuff I need (no, really...stop laughing). MPB has been a good place for me.
KEH stole several items that they listed as having zero value on a large sale of over 20 items. A Sinar auto shutter and a Nikor lens have no value? Really. If they have no resale potential why did they take them?
It has always been somewhat of a risk buying used gear. But in this day and age ... it surely seems like the RISK is much much greater than in decades past. As for consumers, well ... "there's a sucker born every minute", as P. T. Barnum is known for saying. But on the other hand, the number of merchants with a bad reputation which seek such suckers have increased exponentially.
I had a bad experience with mpb, i sold my camera and they asked for my bank details, after giving it to them they returned my camera back to me. Now my bank details are compromised. BEWARE GUYS SCAMMERS!
That much for a scratched lens?? Oh hell no! That’s not a “good deal.” My eBay ones were spotless. $1700 lens down to $700 in the OG box/packaging, manual, legit lens caps, no dust, no scratches, fungus nor smudges and not grey market. These deals you’re getting aren’t too great. KEH “bargain” condition vintage lens was clean and still works to this day. No scratches or anything. MPB just has lot of bad reviews lately to just stay clear. Maybe they were a good company pre-pandemic but not today. MPB also have a ridiculous rating system for camera bodies. “Like new” with 230,000 shutter count. “Excellent” with 9k shutter. Terrible. Their tech is Ray Charles??
KEH ripped me off bigtime. They didn't honor their original quote. Sent them mint barley used gear and they said they found stuff wrong with it. The Canon R I sent them was new and unused. They said it had tripod scratch's etc. and other issues. The other two 5D's had less than 5,000 actuations. Better than mint condition as I am fastidious about my gear care. I went with them because I felt they may send me back the gear as they described it. The process was draining, and I felt set up and ripped off. Also, the sales people never got back to me when I called or e-mailed. Terrible experience. They held my gear hostage for about a month ignoring my call and e-mails. I will never use them again.
The descriptions the two companies use for the same grade names absolutely do not correspond with each other and, at least in my opinion, KEH's usage does not follow intuitively with the meanings the average person would ascribe to those terms. You may be more accustomed to the KEH system, but I think it's wonky. First of all, their description of "Excellent" to me reads "Fair." Also, their scale skips from "Bargain," which says to me "be happy that you got something fully functional for the money you spent," all the way to "Excellent." No "Fair," no "Good," no "Very good." Also, mpb goes directly from Excellent to Like new, whereas KEH has two additional grades between the two. So you have really to conduct a detailed examination of each outfit's scale to avoid apples-to-oranges comparisons. Their Excellent's are not nearly comparable, and that's just the beginning of the customer dilema. mpb's Excellent is just below "Like New," and I would have no problem purchasing an item rated thusly. KEH's Excellent is just above bargain and, per the description, I would not be comfortable buying gear rated as such from KEH. KEH's website has a page describing in detail how they go about grading gear they receive, and there's a chart comparing their ratings to what they consider corresponding ratings from B&H, Adorama, & Amazon (no mpb). An analysis of this chart might be a good topic for another video.
I’ve bought a lot of different items from KEH over the past 10 years. I had a a couple of issues but they took care of them with no problem. In the last 6 months I’ve bought a lens and a small bag from MPB with no issues. My favorite place to buy used gear is Used Photo Pro. I always check their site first as they do provide photos and shutter counts.
Fantastic review of both these companies! Great work here, so a big THANK YOU!
Tried KEH for the first time last week. Got a Canon 5D Mark iii, for around $300. Rated as a bargain. Few cosmetic scrapes on the bottom. Works great, shipped fast and packed very well. No complaints.
I just got a lens in the other day, sigma 28-70 f2.8, not sure what the rating was was but I remember them saying the lens was in good quality with some cosmetic marks but honestly I think they were way too harsh on their review the thing looks brand new plus they gave me a nice little pouch to carry it in
KEH is my go-to place for ordering gear online, they really do grade their stuff conservatively. I just got a 24-105 last week as ugly and what they saw as ugly I see as a well-used lens, the black coating was getting worn off, the focus and image stabilizer selector still clicked, the motor is quiet and quick, the glass is fine, caps and hood have scratches so what.
Great overview of the 2 companies...I enjoyed all of the video, as I am considering making a big purchase on MPB
Very happy with KEH. I bought a 28-70 Nikon zoom lens and the zoom ring was sticking. I called them up and they exchanged it for another of the same quality. One thing I have to ding KEH for is not testing cameras for shutter count. MPB does and I just bought a mint Nikon D7000 with a 7,297 shutter count. I bought a D700 from KEH and the shutter count was over 113K, but these cameras are known for their durability, so I am not too worried about it. I have the D7000 for my day to day shooting, and the D700 for landscapes. Love the full frame with wideangle lenses. I just wish KEH included that test and listed each camera with their respective counts. I like MPB's layout. They even include a photo of the actual item. Very nice touch. MPB also ships quickly. I ordered the D7000 Monday afternoon and it arrived here in Maine on Thursday. Very happy with MPB as well. Both companies will have my business from now on.
Recently bought 2 "EX" condition lenes from KEH - Nikkor 300 f/4 PF and a 70-200 f 2.8 circa 2003 vintage AF-S (a real beast of a lens but great IQ! Made in Japan with a brass stamped plate). They were shipped promptly and were both very clean, no scratches or marks on the glass or the barrel, both work great. I am using them on my Z6ii with an FTZii adapter (new from B&H). The only sign of wear on either lens is a tiny bit of the gold lens marking worn off. I got both for a total of $1700, a great deal IMO. The 300 PF lens came with the original Nikkor case, and the 70-200 came with a nice KEH lens bag plus the tripod ring. I would recommend KEH, don't have any experience with MPB but heard good things about them. In either case get familiar with the return policies and save all packing material for several weeks at least while you're testing the items received. KEH has a 21 day return policy and a six month warranty, so that is what is important to me regarding KEH. So far very happy!
This is great information to have. I've been searching for a used Sony 20mm 1.8 G lens but haven't figured out where I wanna get it from. And of course constantly hoping I can find a better deal. lol.
Great video as always! Thank you for giving my story a place and platform to be heard! I hope it helps others in some way, shape or form!
Yeah man! Thanks for responding and watching
Appreciate the fact u put in the time and effort to make this video
I'd rather have plastic bubble wrap protecting my expensive equipment. If you saw how packages are handled by the carriers even FedEx and UPS you would agree with me. There's nothing wrong with plastic it's what you do with it that matters. Save the wrap for other items you will invariably ship in the future. Same goes for the boxes - cut the taped seams and fold them flat for storage. Plastic bubble wrap is far better than packing peanuts those are really bad and hard to store and stick everywhere due to static. Paper doesn't really protect as well but still better than packing peanuts.
Great video bro....new to the channel...I have been looking to get some gear and will be trying out keh..thanks for the advice..can't wait fo the next pov
Thanks! Happy to have you here.
I’ve made two sales to MPB and my experience with their evaluation, payment, and customer service was perfect 👍
Very interesting review. I really like that you used multiple sources for feedback and then investigated the differences between the two companies' scales for categorizing equipment. Your research revealed insight into the two companies that I found valuable. I am about to do business with one of them. I need to sell my Nikon gear now I have switched to Sony. I also will take a store credit as that returns more money. I will report back how I fared. I realize this is slightly out of scope as it concerns how they assess your gear and whether they stick to their original quotes but it is related and is useful info.
I'm lucky as there is a local camera store that gets lots of used lenses. The prices are good and it's a huge advantage being able to handle them before purchasing. Over time they get everything I want and their rating system is accurate. I just picked up a 135 f/2 DC Nikkor lens that is truly mint. No brassing on the mount, no scuffing on the barrel and the elements are beautiful. Doesn't look like it was ever mounted on a camera body. Before purchasing this lens I went onto E-Bay pricing 135 DC lenses. Most of the lenses were coming from Japan. There is one business, in Japan, that likes to grade their lenses as "Mint ++++" etcetera. Looking closely at the photos it was very clear that the lens was a far cry from mint! Lens mounts and scuffing tell the story! Be very careful when ordering on E-Bay! Make sure the photos of the lenses are of the actual item!
One thing I find a bit funny. Tony and Chelsea Northrup have done a couple of videos ordering BN lenses and camera bodies from KEH. The equipment they received was almost perfect! Does anyone think that KEH would ship them anything that's not perfect? Not me! Anyways, thanks for this video as I've always wondered about MPB..........
I've ordered from both of them and had great luck with no issues. I've sold gear to KEH and the quote was decent but they lowered it when I got the final quote from them but it was fair. They included some nice lens bags with lens purchases. Their ratings are on par. I have ordered used gear from B&H and they are excellent too. Neither of them gives shutter counts on cameras.
I have no experience with MPB but I have had consistent problems with buying used film era lenses, specifically Tamron adaptall zooms. The staff seems to have no idea how to check if an manual zoom lens is functioning. In my first order, I had to return the original and replacement lens. Luckily I had no problem with their return team. Although, I would have love to avoid the mess. For anyone interested I recommend Robert’s Used Photo Pro. They describe exactly how their used equipment is and I have never had issues with them.
I agree with your assessment 100% . I just got a Canon 70D and a 430ex Speedlite from MPB listed as like new and arrived as brand new in the box and never been used . I got a 580ex Speedlite that was listed as " like new " but had scuffs on the side ( perfect otherwise just looked like camera bag scuff marks ). All in all I'm a happy customer - and if you don't like what you see when it arrives MPB will , if requested , send FedEx to your door to pick up the return free of charge .
Edit : Forgot to mention that I also purchased - from MPB - a Canon 50D listed as "good" condition but I would have rated it as " like new " .
I bought a sigma lens from key and it was in perfect condition. I also just sold my old gear to them and at the inspection the guy quoted me real high and after they received the items the offer was less than what the website said for bargain items. I still sold it to them because it was way more money than the local store offered me and It was convenient too. I selected to be paid by check and are just waiting for it. I trust KEH but not too sure about anyone else unless it’s something not expensive.
Damn, that sucks for everyone who got screwed.
It is the name of the game when buying used though. Happy to hear that these companies are willing to try and make it right once contacted. Still sucks to go through that in the first place.
Yeah and the name of the game when buying online as well unfortunately.
@ 1:49. What if we like your! We came for the narration & u doing a bang up job
MPB is new but growing. But at least they offer help. KEH is brilliant. Been around for ages but sometimes too big & things can get overlooked. It’s a regular person having to go through everything. I think this new turn of better then expected is a cushion to cut down on returns. They been doing this since the mail order days in Shutterbug mag. It pays to over rate to satisfy us (:
Good video
I recently bought a Canon 77d off MPB and the camera matched the condition(excellent) and functions great. My gripe is they didn't send the battery as promised, and a charger without a cord. MPB customer service made the situation right by issuing me a 50 dollar credit which I am using toward a lens. Overall satisfied although the transaction could have went smoother the first go around if they sent the battery.
I’ve bought two cameras a a few lenses from KEH and have been totally satisfied.
Great video!
Thank you very much for the great review, I’d rather go with KEH after this.
I've bought quite a few pieces of kit over the years from KEH, and have always had a positive experience. The last lens that I bought was just over a month ago. It was a "bargain" condition lens, but you would never know that it was used. It clean, functions perfectly, with no sigh of wear. I have no reason to go elsewhere.
I thought about doing the same. What about the lens condition? Any artifacts?
Last I buy from both! But the last thing I bought from KEH a battery pack grip for a Canon 60D it was rated excellent + and the rubber on the grip was coming off
Never had a problem with MPB. They have professionally trained specialists which investigate every nut , bolt, pin , screw and needle of anything you send them. I mainly buy lens from the UK branch. The service is amazing. I have been having banter half of the time with their staff via emails. Brilliant place and great service. Friendly staff and most importantly they are honest about their description and provide me 6 month warranty. KEH? I’m not so sure about them. Never used them.
Although I had some success and good experiences with KEH, I have to say, the last couple of transactions of selling gear to them weren't quite to my satisfaction. I decided to give MPB a try, and they offered me a good price for my Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3, putting that cost towards my purchase of a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM, which should arrive tomorrow. I was happy enough with this transaction that I'll continue to work with them. I have heard good things about Use Photo Pro as well, and may give them a shot. Just my two cents/experience.
EDIT: My Canon lens came today, well-packaged and in good shape. I put it on my 1DX Mk III and took the rig out for my lunchtime walk. I liked what I saw so far.
I have not had the amazing luck everyone else seems to have with KEH. I've purchased three items rated bargain - a Nikon 24-70 f2.8 AF-S and two 77mm Hoya UV filters. The 24-70 had a big scratch on the name plate, a very small chip in the front element, and a dent in the lens hood mount that prevented a hood from attaching. It pretty much matched KEH's bargain description but did not exceed it like most people have experienced. One UV filter looked good while the other had noticeable scratches. Of the three items I only kept one UV filter.
I've only made one purchase from MPB, a Nikon D3s . The camera matched the description and shutter count. It was rated good and I'd actually say it was very good to excellent. I did encounter an issue with the lens mount. Lenses did not mount as tightly on the D3s as they did on my other Nikon bodies. It wasn't extreme so I can see how they would miss something like that. Luckily I found a replacement bayonet mount and spring on ebay. $20 and 5 screws later and the issue was resolved.
Neither experience was perfect but I'd be open to buying from both again. I'm much less optimistic about KEH bargain and with my luck I'll never try ugly grade.
sucks as a lot of places only put up a picture of the lens..... but it's not a pic of the one you are buying. Had the same when I got it, it worked great but the barrel had a small dent on it.
in my 20 years of photography, I have bought used gear exclusively minus the 1st $50 point-and-shoot Kodak my parents bought me when I started, I have not been burned on a camera but I had bought 1 bad lens that had fungus growth that wasn't listed on the sale and that was on eBay with a new seller and we all know where eBay lies when there is something wrong.
I mainly use KEH as their equipment is clean and comes with caps and battery and MPB is what I'd expect from a garage sale with dust and gunk on the camera but I do like that they photograph each item and tell you the shutter count on the cameras.
What about lens element centering? Is that a part of the rating?
I'll use MPB over Ebay or private sellers any day! Never had a problem.
Over that last year I've purchased 4 used cameras. 3 from MPB and 1 from KEH. I've purchased 4 or 5 lenses as well. A fellow member at a local camera club was a beginner and asked what camera they should buy. I had no idea what to answer. I got the idea that a used camera might be good advice but I had no experience. So I watch some UA-cam videos that recommend used cameras and decided on a Nikon D90 with an 18-85mm lens (I think that's what the lens was). Total cost was about $300. I tested to see if it would be a good camera on which to learn. After using it for a few months I decided it would be a great camera for someone to learn photography, they can learn the basics and decide what their real camera would be without breaking the bank. Also if they decided that photography wasn't for them, they wouldn't be out a lot of cash. That got me interested in old cameras and lenses. The rest is history. My 10 year old granddaughter will get the D90 when she's a bit more responsible.
I have had no problems with either MPB or KEH, fully satisfied with both. I find MPB generally, but not always, a bit less expensive for the same gear. I didn get one camera from MPB with which I wasn't thrilled and I sent it back within the return period and got my money back no questions asked. They sent me PDF of a FedEx label. I put the camera back in the box that it came in and dropped it off at FedEx. All in all an experience with minimal hassles.
I ordered lens from KEH, a Sony A-mount 75-300mm f4.5-5.6 priced at around $89. It was rated excellent, and arrived in pristine shape and beautifully clean. My only issue, and this isn't KEH's fault, is I live in Canada, and KEH's shipping options to Canada are over $50. Then when you figure in exchange rate, import fees, added shipping fees from Fed Ex, the lens went from $90 to over $200. I don't know about MPB and what their shipping would be but I suppose it would be similar. Just something to keep in mind when ordering from Canada.
I've never dealt with KEH, but an mpb, you can be pretty much guaranteed that whatever the quote they give you for your gear, once they get it in their hands, that quote will go way down. They will nickel-and-dime you to death. And I have received gear from them and has been really dirty, but I have also had good interactions with them. But the thing is, even one bad interaction is too many when it comes to something like this. The bottom line is I don't trust mpb, but sometimes I'm willing to take the leap of faith because they do have good prices. But you just never know. At least with them. Could be great, could be horrible. I've had both with them.
I’ve never actually got used dslr @ KEH yet & I know it’s their thing to not state shutter count so what’s your opinion on price or condition reflecting lower count or can you personally email if further concerned?
I’ve purchased gear from both KEH and MPB, and like you said; it depends on what you are looking for. My Nikon D3200 and Z50 were purchased from KEH (both bodies were rated excellent and performed beautifully). MPB allowed me to acquire two classic Nikons: The D2X and D200. These bodies were rated good with just a bit of cosmetic wear, but the images were tack sharp.
I’ll keep looking for gear from both sites as well as eBay. However, if I need gear soon, the advantage as of now goes to MPB (I live in the New York Tri-State Area and received my gear within 48 hours with standard shipping from their Brooklyn store).
Hello do you know the address of the Brooklyn store ?
@@walterarroyo5220
It's on 34th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in Sunset Park. I don't know if you can access the facility, but if you can give us a heads-up.
Today, the one with the shutter counts and actual photos got my order.
I'd say both are good places to buy gear from.
I've had two warranty claims with MPB. The last one was 2 days before the 6 month warranty expired and thet sent a new item.
Can you buy from KEH in Europe?
I placed my first order with MPB b/c they are sponsoring many people I follow on UA-cam. Both Nikon lenses were EX. Both were premium priced and looked great. However, one of them had a zoom ring so tight I couldn't turn it. They are exchanging it as we speak. So, we'll see. But I think the ratings are mostly cosmetic.
I just got a rebel XT that’s in great condition minus some very superficial wear. The ONLY thing wrong. Is one pin missing in the cf port. Bought it “As-Is” off KEH for $8. So if anyone knows how to fix that lmk
If you ever saw the equipment of an old time press photographer it would look all beat up but the glass would be perfect and operate fine. You can't always tell by it's outward appearance.
I have bought from both and I am very satisfied with both. That said, I have a relationship with KEH, going back to 1983. Suffice it to say, this, of course, was pre-internet, with no real safeguards on quality, you were going on trust. Buying used from gear from an ad in Shutterbug magazine or Modern Photography, giving your CC number to an unknown 1+800 operator was truly a leap of faith. Thus far MPB has done me right, but I still give KEH a look-see first when looking for used gear, they are after all the ‘OG’ of the used photo gear game.
How about used photo pro?
I bought a Leica M3 from KEH, it was rated at excellent, this is a very old camera from the 50s. My expectation was that it would still have wear given the age. I have also heard that KEH is very very very very conservative when it comes to Leica equipment. I can confirm this because the camera I got was in outstanding shape for the age. My guess is the camera I got sat in a camera bag more than it was used. It was the look of a camera that at most was less than 5 years old not almost 70 years old, also it works perfectly in all respects.
After sending my gear to MPB they dropped their offer (with no explanation) over $300. I told them to send my gear back and they claimed they tossed out my original Sony box. Then I noticed that my owner's manual for my camera was missing. They claimed they tossed that out as well. Anyone believe they threw an original manual away?
I have bought from MPB and KEH with good experiences from both, but had several issues with MPB. The worst was back in 2020 when I bought an E-M1 mark ii in “like new” condition. It was scratched and dirty. They exchanged it with no problem but the second was was also not in “like new” condition and had an obvious finger print on the sensor. They let me send it back for a refund but that cost me a lot of shooting time. I had already sold them my G85, so I had no camera. I later picked up a D7200 from them in “like new” condition and it was extremely nice.
I do like that MPB often shows shutter counts and uses actual photos, though I questioned if they were the actual photos after my issues with the E-M1.ii
Have to admit I've just never wanted to take the risk and hassle of ordering used and risking issues and return problems. I am always willing to pay more or just save for an extra few months.
Totally understandable. And generally speaking, if you're getting a flawless lens, you're not saving THAT much anyway. But I will say, I've been satisfied with every KEH purcahse I've made thus far.
KEH.. beyond excellent. I purchased a fuji 100-400 lens. after getting it, it would not talk to my XT5. called KEH sent lens in for repair. thus was a like new lens. KEH could not repair it and sent it to Fuji. While it took 2 months, the lens was rebuilt, brand new!! Amazing other than my time everything was covered.
I’ve bought and sold to both. In my experience buy from KEH and Sell to MPB.
Interesting - I bought from KEH a "Like New" and was soooooo disappointed to see that the lens had a ding, some scratches and blemishes on the internal baffles behind the front lens. I tried contacting them and they just completely ignored me and offered absolutely nothing to try to resolve the situation. Consequently, I've not bought from them since and never will again. Maybe their support for domestic US is better than international.
Also recently had a bad experience. After 2.5 months of emails and waiting, when they also just completely ignored me, they finally made things right. They consistently dropped the ball every time with all their communications and failed promises. I was NOT impressed with KEH in the slightest. Will probably never ever do business with them again.
I feel like someone make a mistake and Omar was sent the wrong lens from their inventory. There is probably an "ugly" lens that was still sitting in the warehouse that was supposed to have been the lens shipped to Omar. That said, I've had very good experiences with KEH and also B&H Photo for used gear. For MPB, my experience in items received has been hit and miss. However, their customer service has been great and they've always made it right. It's just the added hassle of having to return gear that I wish hadn't happened. I'd estimate about 33.3% of my gear was purchased second hand from either B&H Photo, KEH, or MPB. I've had a lot of used item experience with these sellers. One of my most recent purchases was a Canon 500mm f/4 L IS USM EF-Mount Lens from KEH in Like New Minus condition. When it arrived I was astounded. The lens and all the accessories were indistinguishable from being brand new. Even the tripod foot was spotless clean. I checked the date code and found this lens was made in May 2008. It's a 15 year old lens. It seems like it must have been sitting in a warehouse somewhere and never got used by anyone all this time. It's been working excellent for me.
Just bought a Canon C100 from MPB USA excellent condition, camera looks awesome no scuffs or scratches 62 hours. MPB shows actual photos of what you are receiving with 6 month warranty KEH does not show actual photos so i gave up on them, so far i buy all my cameras from MPB.
I've bought more than a few items from both mpb and keh. In my experience they're both solid companies. If you're not happy with an item you've got 14 days to initiate a return at no cost. If they don't have a replacement you'll receive a full refund. Both companies also provide a 6 month warranty. That's much better than buying a camera or lens from ebay or a private seller. As a side note I've bought several items from keh that were rated as bargain items and I received in my opinion perfect/like new for incredible savings.
I won't ever deal with KEH again. I got a quote of $3500 for my *unused* 1-year old Nikon af-s lenses (stored in a closed cabinet), and after receiving them KEH sends an email saying that they've reduced the price to $1000 because the lenses all have fungus in them. I inspected them before selling and were all in brand new condition. So I called and they stuck by the fungus claim, and were initially nice but got increasingly annoyed that I was disagreeing. I said send them back, which to their credit they did, quickly and packed well.
So I start looking at the lenses, and every one has smudges and greasy marks on all the elements front and back. I'm horrified (I'm very anal about keeping my lenses spotless). I get to work with lens wipes and cloth, and it all comes off. The elements are back to pristine. I shine a flashlight through each lens, nothing - no fungus no dust even. I know what lens fungus looks like I've owned a lot of eBay vintage glass.
In the end I sold them all to a local well known camera store that rated them all Like New.
So was this a scam, or just incompetence? Do they really have technicians wiping lenses with dirty gym socks? I don't know.
Interesting.. That sounds super annoying. I haven't ever sold anything to either KEH or MPB. I'd much rather not wait around to see how much they want to pay out. I have a Mikes Camera near me that I always sell to cuz I can do it in-person and much more quickly.
The HDR is so strong in this video
I have came to the conclusion that MPB is better in Europe than here in the USA. Maybe quality control is understaffed in the USA. I've sent back 3 items. Customer service is really good there. I will continue to purchase from KEH.
3:08 Pounds ...LMAO HAHAHHAHAHA i Love you man
UsedPhotoPro ( Roberts Camera ) are also good sources of used gear as well as B&H. I have used all three and would also recommend them. KEH and Usedprotopro have good return policies as well. No questions asked.
KEH and MPB have both been very good to me. If anything, their condition ratings are very conservative. In other words, the condition of equipment I've bought from them has often been better than my expectations based on rating. I think some people expect pristine, no matter what the rating indicates. (There is no pleasing some people.)
I have always said that businesses will always have some hiccups - the real test is how they deal with them. I only ever had one of those hiccups (I won't say which place, because it doesn't matter). They were EXCELLENT in dealing with it. I went full-bore with the Canon R mount, when there just wasn't much in the way of used equipment available, so I haven't bought from them recently. But I'm sure I will again. I feel MUCH safer dealing with either of them compared to some unknown on eBay or (shudder) Craigslist.
I just bought an a6600 for $744 in excellent condition. Shld be here right after Christmas. Pretty anxious to see as I've seen others comment the same that they are a little conservative, but still I feel that's a fair price for that body in original box and all accessories. We shall see!
I have never had any issues with KEH.
I wish KEH were in the UK. We have MPB and they are reasonable on selling equipment but so low on their px-values compared to high street stores. I always get a quote but have never sold to them. They've lost hundreds from me for the sake of 50 here or there.
I was a customer of MPB (Europe) since 2021 and had several dealings with them, buying a load of stuff, with no hassle.
However, since the start of this year, they've started to drop the ball.
Gear over-rated (a well-used piece junk that was described as 'good'), faulty camera (sticking shutter) and losing a part of my order (sheer incompetence).
My latest camera from them has had two replacments and finally I ended up with a camera I am happy with, but still an incomplete order.
I'm seriously wondering if I'll do business with them ever again.
Regarding KEH, I dealt with them a few times a decade ago and always had good results. I immediately struck a rapport with one of their sales guys and asked for him every time. Gear was always better than described and shipped rapidly. The shipping to me took longer as it had to go to a freight forwarder, but that wasn't KEH's fault. Then there was a five-year gap, but I've bought a few items from them recently and got exactly what I was paying for, no problem.
Unboxed my Like New minus Nikon 50mm 1.8 lense from Keh. I held up to the like to look at the glass. Dusty and tiny bubble like things on the lens. I called Keh to return. Customer Service was nice and apologized. I think I'll buy my lenses for now on. I take of my photography equipment.
I am currently in the middle of retracting a trade with MPB. I sent in a canon t5 with some lenses, a sony a6400, sigma 30mm f1.4, and the basic accessories like batteries etc. When they got my stuff, they claimed the batteries were missing and lowered the value of the sony cam pretty hard, even tho the camera is open box condition- as I bought it less than 3 months ago new. Sent orignal boxes and papers as well. I wanted to get the nikon z30 and a lens, althought that may sound dumb, i just wanted uncropped 4k@30. Either way, I just sent an email on the 26th stating I would like to cancel the trade and get my gear back (they just finished inspection same day). Hopefully I get it back and it isn't damaged at this point. If I still decide to try for another camera, im just gonna sell my gear myself
Also in the event I do get my stuff back and it IS damaged or they for some reason won't send it back....any advise on what to do from there??
@@SomeSloan I hope that works... I've never sold anything to MPB so I'm not sure what might happen but I'd definitely advise that if they do accept your cancellation, make sure you film the whole process from the moment you get it off your porch, till you finish opening and inspecting it. Otherwise reddit is always a good option to get in touch with people who might have more insight. A well timed and popular reddit thread can have a significant impact on the resolution of stuff like this because many companies look on reddit for general sentiment about their business. Be sure to come back here and let us know what happens!
@@careywestI will definitely follow your advise and record from the time I go to even open my door, to after setting everything back up and testing all the gear. Thankfully they got back to me today and said it wouldn't be a problem for them to send it all back. So a quick response to my request is nice, I will keep updating on how long it actually takes them to start shipping it back, as they said I should receive a separate email regarding cancelation and return of my stuff. Thank you for the response! Definitely earned another sub my guy
@@SomeSloan Cheers my friend!
I have bought from KEH and so far every thing I have bought was older vintage gear that was rated Excellent but when I got them had parts missing like a medium format film camera I bought was listed to have crank and all the covers.. The crank was not there and they was NOT gonna send me one that they had listed in a bin in stock lol and wanted me to send it back for a refund.. They probably took the one off the camera they sent me and put it into a bin to sell it separately lol. Also I am quite picky about how nice things are and look and NOTHING I have gotten from KEH yet that was rated Excellent was near that.. In fact I personally would have rated those cameras and camera parts as Fair condition for there age sure as heck not Excellent.. YES everything has worked properly so I have not complained too much but there rating system is flawed.. The next person orders something rated ugly and its perfect lol.
I don't own any new in box cameras or lenses. We buy either refurbished from Canon or pre-owned from MPB or KEH.
I have never been disappointed with cameras, lenses, flash or accessories from KEH or MPB.
I have made spectacular deals on eBay as well.
I bought a Fujifilm GW690II medium format range finder camera on eBay from a seller in Japan. When the camera arrived I was disappointed to see dust in the view finder. I notified the seller and they wanted to refund my money and pay for return shipping.
This camera was in way too good condition. I tried to get it CLA here in the use and most places wanted nearly as much as what I paid for the camera to service it.
The seller send me a return shipping label. They had their local Fujifilm service center clean, lube and adjust for $75. The seller shipped the camera back to me and it met all my expectations/
I thanked the seller for going the distance. The seller told me that all their pre-owned cameras are inspected, repaired or serviced before they are posted online and this one slipped by.
I bought a $25 Canon Sure Shot Supreme film camera that looks brand new with the OEM box and paperwork all from eBay.
One time i bought a Nikon D5200 from Ebay.. from a pawnshop seller.. that mentioned it came with 6 lenses.. 85mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8, 35mm 1.8 DX, 18-105mm, altura 8mm fisheye and 55-200mm, plus 2 extra batteries and random cleaning stuff and a sweet backpack... they had it listed for $600.. which was a great deal already.. i lowballed a $300 offer.. and they accepted.... and theeeeen i started panicking thinking i was gonna get scammed.. the pawnshop seller never replied to any questions.. so i waited a few days and sent the money in fear..
In the end.. the camera had less than 5k shutter count, all the lenses were flawless, only a couple were missing original nikon caps.. everything else was in perfect condition..
kept the 85mm 1.8 (which was the only one i was missing) sold everything else individualy.. so i ended up with a free 85mm f1.8 and about extra $300 lol best deal i've gotten so far from eBay...
In retrospective.. i have a feeling that package was a stolen camera or something that somebody threw and this guys for $100 or something and they wanted to get rid of it quickly
..And im still regretting that one time i missed the chance to buy a D750 with a 24-70mm f2.8G for $750 😭
MPB hasn’t failed me over multiple purchases so take it for what it’s worth.
What I hate about KEH is on cameras they don't give a shutter count! I bought a like new minus on a Canon 1D Mark III that had near ends life!
I've had good luck with both companies over the past few years. When buying used/pre-owned gear customer service is the single most important thing to consider and they've both been great in that regard.
KEH customer service absolutely sucked with my first, and last, experience doing business with them. Very poor. Many staff involved, all of them made false promises or dropped the ball. It was appalling actually. I'm very suspect of the positive reviews here because, from my experience, the problems seem systemic. Caveat Emptor!
Ordered a "like new" lens from MPB recently...lens cap was covered with a thick layer of dust and the front lens glass was filthy..was either covered with fingerprints or some kind of residue...i will NEVER buy another item from them ever again
Adorama ?
Good question. I've never ordered used from adorama or b&h but I did hear good things about b&h used. I might have to try them in the future
@DirtDigglerMD, my local Mike's Camera told me they don't price match Adorama because Adorama apparently does a lot of gray-market stuff and cheats customers; a brief online search seems to corroborate this. I have never ordered from Adorama and now I'm definitely steering clear.
Them and B&H sells grey market bodies and lenses. NOT worth it! Stay away!
I've bought and sold a lot of gear and cameras through MPB. I tried selling a lens at KEH but their offer was insultingly low. I still look at KEH for buying, but, I usually end up going through MPB. I've never been disappointed with the gear I've obtained through MPB. And I've always received good quotes for selling through MPB. So, MPB for the win.
@AllThingsFilm1 good to know. However, MPB apparently isn't interested in camera accessories, as their quote for my brand-new Lowepro Adventura 160 SH II camera bag, for which I paid $65 a month ago and haven't used, was $9. I get that camera hardware is their main focus, but geez. And then they kept nagging me with emails about my "quote" even after I wrote to them to say the quote wasn't worth it, and they responded. I'm new to photography and wasn't sure what I needed when I bought the bag, so now I'm out $65 for a brand-new bag I'm not using. Live and learn, I guess.
So you haven’t bought anything bargain or ugly
I have never had any problems with MPB. I have never bought or traded with KEH. I have had good luck with my used camera and lenses. Now I have all the stuff I need (no, really...stop laughing). MPB has been a good place for me.
KEH stole several items that they listed as having zero value on a large sale of over 20 items. A Sinar auto shutter and a Nikor lens have no value? Really. If they have no resale potential why did they take them?
It has always been somewhat of a risk buying used gear.
But in this day and age ... it surely seems like the RISK is much much greater than in decades past. As for consumers, well ... "there's a sucker born every minute", as P. T. Barnum is known for saying. But on the other hand, the number of merchants with a bad reputation which seek such suckers have increased exponentially.
I had a bad experience with mpb, i sold my camera and they asked for my bank details, after giving it to them they returned my camera back to me. Now my bank details are compromised. BEWARE GUYS SCAMMERS!
That much for a scratched lens?? Oh hell no! That’s not a “good deal.” My eBay ones were spotless. $1700 lens down to $700 in the OG box/packaging, manual, legit lens caps, no dust, no scratches, fungus nor smudges and not grey market. These deals you’re getting aren’t too great. KEH “bargain” condition vintage lens was clean and still works to this day. No scratches or anything. MPB just has lot of bad reviews lately to just stay clear. Maybe they were a good company pre-pandemic but not today. MPB also have a ridiculous rating system for camera bodies. “Like new” with 230,000 shutter count. “Excellent” with 9k shutter. Terrible. Their tech is Ray Charles??
MPB = Man pig bear. I’m super cereal.
KEH ripped me off bigtime. They didn't honor their original quote. Sent them mint barley used gear and they said they found stuff wrong with it. The Canon R I sent them was new and unused. They said it had tripod scratch's etc. and other issues. The other two 5D's had less than 5,000 actuations. Better than mint condition as I am fastidious about my gear care. I went with them because I felt they may send me back the gear as they described it. The process was draining, and I felt set up and ripped off. Also, the sales people never got back to me when I called or e-mailed. Terrible experience. They held my gear hostage for about a month ignoring my call and e-mails. I will never use them again.
The descriptions the two companies use for the same grade names absolutely do not correspond with each other and, at least in my opinion, KEH's usage does not follow intuitively with the meanings the average person would ascribe to those terms. You may be more accustomed to the KEH system, but I think it's wonky. First of all, their description of "Excellent" to me reads "Fair." Also, their scale skips from "Bargain," which says to me "be happy that you got something fully functional for the money you spent," all the way to "Excellent." No "Fair," no "Good," no "Very good." Also, mpb goes directly from Excellent to Like new, whereas KEH has two additional grades between the two. So you have really to conduct a detailed examination of each outfit's scale to avoid apples-to-oranges comparisons. Their Excellent's are not nearly comparable, and that's just the beginning of the customer dilema. mpb's Excellent is just below "Like New," and I would have no problem purchasing an item rated thusly. KEH's Excellent is just above bargain and, per the description, I would not be comfortable buying gear rated as such from KEH. KEH's website has a page describing in detail how they go about grading gear they receive, and there's a chart comparing their ratings to what they consider corresponding ratings from B&H, Adorama, & Amazon (no mpb). An analysis of this chart might be a good topic for another video.
UsedPhotoPro is best
i buy all my used gear from ebay!! i like adrenaline
I trust ebay.
For lens yes!!
KEH has terrible costumer service, I will never buy from them again. sad but true