2ND HAND CAMERA PURCHASE CHECKLIST

[spongo]

OK guys 'n gals,
After my first post on here little more than a few days ago, I'm off to buy my first good camera tomorrow at 3.00 pm. I'm a little apprehensive in regard to the purchase as it's a big spend for me, and if I'm brutally honest, quite a bit more than I can afford.
The apparent history of the camera is as follows.
It's a 5 months old D90 with 2k shutter actuations coupled with a 18-200 Tamron and was purchased from pixmania.fr with a receipt.
Aside from looking down the lens for dust and checking for scratches/marks are there any other things to look for, or ways of spotting a donkey (aside from the big ears ).
I'd REALLY appreciate a few tips here, I want to get this one right.

Thanks people, let it roll.

 

[spongo]

By the way, it's a fleabay purchase.

 

[strumstrum]

Take a piccy of the sky with aperture set 16+, the resulting pic will indicate how clean the sensor is. dont be worried by afew spots tho.

 

[Jackwow]

Is the time of purchase significant?

 

[spongo]

Very much so, as before that, I won't have parted with my money.

 

[spongo]

STRUMSTRUM......
This sounds like exactly the kind of tip I'm talking about.
Do you know how I would set the camera to push the f stop up to the right level?

I know this may seem like a really basic request and may require a and tedious explanation, but this is not a theoretical situation. It just might save me from making a real mistake, or help me make a good choice.

 

[magicaxeman]

Go on the nikon site or watch a youtube video to familiarise yourself with the controls etc.

Check the flash pops up and works, check the lens, check the mount, controls, battery, check the rear screen is fine, take a shot in all modes, check all the bits and software are there and act on your gut instinct, if it tells you something isn't right then leave it, if your happy then grab it.