Peoples attitude to test shots on ebay.

The23rdman

The23rdman

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Dean
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Why is it that some people think that asking for two test shots from a lens is like asking for a kidney? Where else would it be deemed okay to sell something without any idea of its quality - especially when they state no returns.

Winds me up.
 
Couldn't agree more. Then there's the guys trying to sell 2 or £3K worth of gear with a tiny oof image, describing the kit as 'mint'. I wouldn't even think about bidding if they can't post decent images - makes me suspicious straight away.
 
I only once placed a bid for a lens on ebay and asked for a few test shots - would have had better luck asking for his wife for the night I think.
 
I'm confused by this thread.

If I was selling a lens on Ebay and was asked for a 'test shot' Id tell you to get stuffed

Reading you guys comments i think you would be the dumb ones if you were to buy a lens on the back of a couple of images that could just be taken off the web?!?

Ebay is about trusting the description and purchasing carefully

No amount of test images would satisfy anyone whatsoever so would be a total waste of the sellers time.

Bizaree thread....
 
I asked for two shots wide open at both ends and I got a picture of a wall at f/9! The guy is obviously a photographer, but said he didn't have time to go around offering full diagnostics. What a lazy....
 
Mozina said:
I'm confused by this thread.

If I was selling a lens on Ebay and was asked for a 'test shot' Id tell you to get stuffed

Reading you guys comments i think you would be the dumb ones if you were to buy a lens on the back of a couple of images that could just be taken off the web?!?

Ebay is about trusting the description and purchasing carefully

No amount of test images would satisfy anyone whatsoever so would be a total waste of the sellers time.

Bizaree thread....
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you are obviously an idiot then and I'll be careful never to buy ANYTHING from you on here or anywhere else.
 
Mozina said:
I'm confused by this thread.

If I was selling a lens on Ebay and was asked for a 'test shot' Id tell you to get stuffed

Reading you guys comments i think you would be the dumb ones if you were to buy a lens on the back of a couple of images that could just be taken off the web?!?

Ebay is about trusting the description and purchasing carefully

No amount of test images would satisfy anyone whatsoever so would be a total waste of the sellers time.

Bizaree thread....
Click to expand...

Wouldn't the exif data verify the camera model, lens and date it was taken?
 
although I retract the idiot thing. Shouldn't post after watching Howard 'Manure' Webb giving a pen at Anfield. ;)
 
Im selling a lens on there now. I have 6 high res photos of the actual lens and 7 pictures taken with it.

I guess thats why Im a top rated powerseller and often sell stuff for more than "standard" traders.
Common sense when selling stuff really is to put as many photos as you can up of it, unless you are hiding something of course.
 
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TCR4x4 said:
Im selling a lens on there now. I have 6 high res photos of the actual lens and 7 pictures taken with it.
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That's why I'd buy from a seller like you rather than one who has taken the info off the manufacturer site and provides very little else.
 
Yes, it is very hard to get anything useful. They often refuse, or send rubbish. Rarely they are quite helpful - I've seen how 'razor' - sharp a 'mint' copy of Sigma 50mm can be, and so on. Most people don't even realize what may be wrong with their gear and just say 'sharp' and 'excellent'. Some are real seasoned crooks though.
 
Personally I'd rather see a RAW as I'm crap at sharpening things for the net and every time I try shots that look great on my pc or in print look crap.
 
woof woof said:
Personally I'd rather see a RAW as I'm crap at sharpening things for the net and every time I try shots that look great on my pc or in print look crap.
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Agreed, RAW is the only way to properly asses that badly taken shot. But just try to explain what RAW means to that 'full time pro'!
 
Slightly OT but I've noticed as a complete beginner looking at dslrs on eBay, that the photos of the camera they are selling are often terrible! Surely that's a no-brainer!?
 
daizylindsay said:
Slightly OT but I've noticed as a complete beginner looking at dslrs on eBay, that the photos of the camera they are selling are often terrible! Surely that's a no-brainer!?
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Well that could be down to complete lack of their skill or plain laziness. If in doubt find one near you and inspect in person before committing.
 
TCR4x4 said:
Im selling a lens on there now. I have 6 high res photos of the actual lens and 7 pictures taken with it.

I guess thats why Im a top rated powerseller and often sell stuff for more than "standard" traders.
Common sense when selling stuff really is to put as many photos as you can up of it, unless you are hiding something of course.
Click to expand...

Yeah that always amazes me on ebay and not just with photo stuff. People put some naff tiny images up when if they had thought about it for a second and put decent photos up (specially with expensive gear) they would get far more interest and bids :shrug:
 
Stating "No returns" has no legal standing on ebay if an item is defective or not as described. I've had this discussion with ebay over a Kata 3N-20 camera bag which when delivered turned out to be the smaller 3N-10. The seller had said no returns but ebay took my side.
 
It amazes me how unhelpful sellers can be. There are so many sellers and so many lenses on ebay that I just move on if the seller is not totally 100% in every way.
 
from a private sellar i dotn thing i have bough anything over £50 i just dont trust ebay and the scum that dwell there. If i need to buy expensive i go thorugh a shop with a door i can knock on if it turns ugly.
 
I buy all my stuff from shops,been useing the same two places for years,they alway look after me on prices,and alway get me the stuff i need in the end :)
 
EXIF is pretty easy to fake so the poster above has a reasonable point, it doesn't prove anything.

It does depend how the request came for me, I've had a few blatent scammers messaging me about photography gear. If it's a genuine buyer but doesn't write very well then I'd probably assume the worst. If it was a polite request from someone with good feedback then I'd be happy to provide pictures and maybe even flex the price to avoid the risk of getting a troublesome buyer.

Have got my eye on an MF camera on there at the moment, Quoth the Raven has given me an idea though, might message them see if I can have his wife for the night. Think they'd provide pictures first?
 
since I'm putting my Macro lens on the bay tonight I better make sure I have some good Hi-res shots with the description :lol:
 
daizylindsay said:
Slightly OT but I've noticed as a complete beginner looking at dslrs on eBay, that the photos of the camera they are selling are often terrible! Surely that's a no-brainer!?
Click to expand...

If you have one DSLR, taking a DSLR quality picture of it for an ebay advert might be problematical ;).

I have a camera on my mobile telephone but it does not produce high quality images. Direct sunlight helps, but indoors you will never get any decent detail. If I only had the one DSLR and wanted to sell it, all you would get is a mobile phone picture.
 
Mozina said:
I'm confused by this thread.

If I was selling a lens on Ebay and was asked for a 'test shot' Id tell you to get stuffed

Reading you guys comments i think you would be the dumb ones if you were to buy a lens on the back of a couple of images that could just be taken off the web?!?

Ebay is about trusting the description and purchasing carefully

No amount of test images would satisfy anyone whatsoever so would be a total waste of the sellers time.

Bizaree thread....
Click to expand...

Hmm not too sure who is the dumb one here. Ebay is full of greedy scammers so I certainly wouldn't purchase goods on the strength if a description.

Bizarre post by you tbh.........
 
onomatopoeia said:
If you have one DSLR, taking a DSLR quality picture of it for an ebay advert might be problematical ;).

I have a camera on my mobile telephone but it does not produce high quality images. Direct sunlight helps, but indoors you will never get any decent detail. If I only had the one DSLR and wanted to sell it, all you would get is a mobile phone picture.
Click to expand...

Fair comment, but some of them are blurred etc. You would think if it was a treasured item it would deserve a better ad?
 
redmonkee said:
Haha I can see why you were wound up Dean. That was never even a foul let alone a pen. We never get anything from Mr Webb :thumbsdown:
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Don't remind me! I've just calmed down!
 
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