What We Do to Every Camera Before Selling It: Camera Market's Workshop Process

When a camera enters Camera Market — whether bought from an individual, collected from a closing store, or arriving as part of a B2B lot — it doesn’t appear on the website overnight. It goes through six steps that take between two and four hours per unit. Here are those six steps, and why each one matters.

1. Identification and Traceability

Each unit receives an internal ID (format CM-INV-2026-04-XXXXX). We record:

• Manufacturer serial number.
• Warehouse entry date.
• Original seller (anonymized if an individual, declared if B2B).
• Known previous history (Canon service in 2023, etc.) if provided by the seller.

This allows us to trace the camera throughout its entire life in the system. If a client reports an issue 8 months down the line, we can check the workshop log and see exactly how it arrived.

2. Technical Verification

This is where a camera that “works” is separated from a camera that “we know how it works.” We check point by point:

• Real shutter count — extracted from firmware via software (ShutterCheck, EOSinfo, MagicLantern for Canon; ExifTool for Sony/Fuji/Nikon). We don’t trust the seller’s declared count.
• Battery health — actual capacity percentage versus original. We measure it with a smart charger and brand-specific tools.
• Sensor — under LED magnifier and test shots against a white background at f/22 to detect dust, marks, fungus.
• LCD screen and electronic viewfinder — dead pixels, marks, dirty optical tunnels.
• Physical controls — every button, every dial, joystick, mode dial. 50 presses per control under real-world usage conditions.
• Lens mount — bayonet wear, oxidized electrical contacts.
• Weather sealing — if the model has it, we check visible gaskets.

The technical report is saved in the system and partially published on the product page.

3. Deep Cleaning

If the camera passes verification, it goes to cleaning:

• Sensor — wet cleaning with specialized liquid (Eclipse + PEC-Pads) or ultrasonic cleaning for cameras with an integrated system.
• Electrical contacts — body and bayonet, with 99% isopropyl alcohol.
• SD/CF card slots — compressed air + dry cotton swab.
• Viewfinder eyepiece and screen — microfiber cloth + optical cleaner.

A camera that has spent 4 years with a professional photographer can arrive with dust in places you wouldn’t imagine. Cleaning is what turns “used” into “visually like new.”

4. Functional Test

After cleaning, 50 real shots in different modes:

• 10 shots in manual at varying speeds (1/60, 1/250, 1/1000, 1/4000) to detect shutter failures.
• 10 shots in AF servo tracking a moving subject — the classic warehouse staff member walking with an object in hand.
• 10 shots in burst mode (CH or CL depending on the model) to check the real buffer.
• 5 seconds of 4K video if the model supports it — and 30 seconds in HD to confirm no exposure drift.
• WiFi/Bluetooth test — pair with staff smartphone, transfer 3 files.
• Full battery charge with its original charger — confirm no mid-charge cut-off.

If something fails here, the camera goes back to step 2 (second diagnosis) or is returned to the original seller.

5. Photography and Listing

Once the camera has passed steps 2-4, it goes to professional photography:

• Neutral light gray background.
• Front, back, top, bottom, both sides.
• Detail of the serial number.
• Detail of the sensor (with body cap removed).
• If the unit has declared scratches or marks, a specific photo of each one.
• All included accessories in a group shot.

The product description is written based on the technical report, not marketing. If the sensor has a microscopic speck that only appears at f/22, we say so.

6. Condition Grading

We assign a grade A, B, C, or D:

• Grade A: like new. No visible wear. Original box present if we have it. Reserved for new returned B2B units, or individuals with very little use (under 5,000 shots).
• Grade B: visible wear (minor scratches on the base of the body, light marks on rubber grips) but technically perfect. This is the most common grade in our catalog (~60% of stock).
• Grade C: visible scratches, deeper marks, some peeling rubber — technically perfect. Additional discount over Grade B (15-20% less).
• Grade D: declared technical defect. We only sell D if the defect is documented on the product page and the price reflects an aggressive discount. Example: a camera with a dead pixel on the screen but a perfect sensor can go to Grade D with -30%.

The customer knows exactly what they’re buying before clicking “buy.”

Why This Process Matters

When you compare Camera Market with Wallapop or Vinted, the price delta is 100-300 € on most models. That delta pays for this process: the two hours in the workshop, the tools, the cleaning consumables, the professional photography, the technical report, the 12-month warranty.

It’s the difference between “you buy a camera and pray” and “you buy a camera and know what you’re getting.” For many buyers, that peace of mind is worth the delta. For others, it isn’t — and we respect that decision.

Read more about how our warranty works →