HELP in buying a used E-520

[440GTX]

Tomorrow or Tuesday night I am having a look at an Olympues E-520
The E-520 with the 2 lense kit 14-42 and 40-150
As per the ad. Like new condition . less than 150 pictures ( they all are )
Complete and with an 8GB Lexar Professional disk
I am paying 60 % of the cost of a new one ( locally here )

So the question is
What should I check and what problems should I look for ?
Thanks in advance
Fred..

[Greg McCary]

Are you new to cameras or are you familiar with DSLR's? If not I would take someone with me that was or get the seller to run you through taking pictures with it. Ask why they are selling it and where they got it. I don't know of any obvious problems with the 520 that you should check.

[Don Kondra]

Download and print the instructions for checking shutter actuations. If they are not what they say they are that's a bad sign...

If they say the batteries are dead, forget it...

Otherwise check for any obvious damage, dust etc. in the lens.

Aside from that, power it up. See if it auto focuses, try a few shots in each mode and hope for the best

Cheers, Don

[440GTX]

Download and print the instructions for checking shutter actuations. If they are not what they say they are that's a bad sign...

If they say the batteries are dead, forget it...

Otherwise check for any obvious damage, dust etc. in the lens.

Aside from that, power it up. See if it auto focuses, try a few shots in each mode and hope for the best

Cheers, Don

Thanks for the replys.
I just printed the shutter actuations . This will at least will tell me if the seller is honest.
She said she is sellling it because it is too much camera for her.

Greg M . I don't know anything about SLRs and none of my friends do.
I downloaded the manual so far I know how to take picture and change settings.
I will also run throught it when I look at it.
More manual reading tonight.

Fred..

[KyRain]

Make sure the IS works. That would be one thing I would certainly check. If the IS is on when you turn the camera off it will make a rattling sound that is normal.

[Greg McCary]

Also make sure the memory cards go in right. I have seen a few 5xx series cameras that get broken in the area. But KyRan is right about the IS. If it is left on when the camera is turned off it will make a slight rattling noise that is normal.

[Jaedon]

count the pins in the memory card slot... well don't actually count them.. but check to make sure none are missing. And make sure the internal display (inside the view finder) works. Those are the things that broke on my 520 that ended up in the store giving me an upgrade to the 620 for free.

[440GTX]

Thanks very much for all the Help.
I just came and picked up the camera
Everything seemed to work . It came with the orig reciept. July 09
I took a shot in all modes . Momory pins OK
shutter actuation count is 222 not the 160 shots claimed .
The camera is too much for her and it was never taken out of Auto mode
now I have a lot of reading to do. Time to start having fun
I am sure I will press Ctrl Alt Panic some time.

[Greg McCary]

Congrats on the camera. It sounds like you ran into a good deal.