Condition & Evaluation | MPB EU Help Centre

Overview

When you create your quote to sell or trade with MPB, you’re asked to select a cosmetic condition for your gear:

Like New
Excellent
Good
Well Used
Heavily Used

This selection gives you an initial estimate. Once your gear arrives, our trained Product Specialists will:

They assess the cosmetic condition and functionality of the item.
If their evaluation differs from your original selection, your quote may be adjusted.
The revised quote reflects the true condition of the item as determined by our team.

If their evaluation differs from your original selection, your quote may be adjusted to reflect the true condition of the item.

What "Cosmetic Condition" Covers

Cosmetic condition refers only to the external appearance of the item, not how it functions.

It covers:

Scratches, paint wear, grip wear, dust, or screen damage.
Cosmetic flaws like missing covers.

It does not cover:

Functionality issues (e.g., autofocus faults, sensor damage).
Missing or additional accessories (these may affect price separately).

A Breakdown of Our Cosmetic Conditions

You can view visual examples and a full breakdown by clicking “Condition Guide” on the Selling & Trading page at mpb.com. This gives you a clear idea of what each condition looks like before sending us your gear.

Here’s how our Product Specialists categorise used gear:

Like New

Ideal for gear that looks close to brand new, with almost to no sign of wear. While they may not be factory-fresh, they visually present as nearly pristine.

Our specialists check for:

Minimal signs of use — gear looks close to brand new
No visible marks, wear, or discolouration
LCD and viewfinder in pristine condition
Paint, rubber grips, and port covers show no damage
Electronics and mounts are clean and unworn

Condition can be lowered due to:

Light wear to rubber, ports, or buttons
Minor internal dust in viewfinder or lens elements
Any visible signs of wear disqualify an item from Like New

Click here to see examples of items in Like New condition

Excellent

Great condition with light and expected signs of use. “Excellent” items may show small signs of regular handling, but overall remain clean and well cared for.

Our specialists check for:

Light, expected signs of use
Some wear to grips, light scratches to paint or screen
Viewfinder and buttons may show light signs of wear
Everything is fully functional and intact

Condition can be lowered due to:

Medium scratches on the LCD or casing
Discolouration on grips
Dust or light debris inside lenses

Click here to see examples of items in Excellent condition

Good

Gear with visible signs of regular use. Functionality remains unaffected, and there’s no major damage.

Our specialists check for:

Noticeable wear consistent with regular use
Scratches and faded paint
Loose grips or lightly scratched viewfinder
Minor wear on mount or contacts

Condition can be lowered due to:

Rubber peeling or degradation
Heavier marks or debris in lenses
Early signs of damage that affect visual appeal

Click here to see examples of items in Good condition

Well Used

Gear that has been through many shoots, with more noticeable cosmetic flaws and sign of use. It still performs as expected but looks well-loved.

Our specialists check for:

Clearly used gear with significant cosmetic wear
Heavy scratches, worn grips, missing covers
May have sticky or worn buttons/dials
Paint may be chipped or missing

Condition can be lowered due to:

Damage that affects usability or integrity
Loose parts or broken/missing rubber

Click here to see examples of items in Well Used condition

Heavily Used

Cosmetic damage is significant. The gear shows substantial external wear. These items are priced accordingly and may be best suited for backup kits or non-professional use.

Our specialists check for:

Extensive cosmetic damage
Missing grips or severely scratched LCD
Loose rings, heavy moisture, or internal dust
Paintwork heavily deteriorated

Click here to see examples of items in Heavily Used condition

If your item is fully functional but shows heavy cosmetic wear, we may still accept it for resale, just at a lower quote to reflect its condition.

What Else Can Affect Your Quote?

In addition to cosmetic condition, we also inspect for:

Functionality Issues

Sensor faults, autofocus problems, stuck buttons, sticky zoom or focus rings
If the item doesn't work as expected, it may result in a repair deduction or not eligible for resale

Missing or Extra Accessories

Missing lens caps, hoods, batteries, or chargers may reduce the quote
If you include bonus accessories, our team will note them, but they may not increase your quote unless the accessory is valuable or requested

For further information, please see our ‘What should I send when selling to MPB’ article.

Battery Charge Performance

The performance of your battery may affect your quote.
If the battery does not work as expected, your quote may be reduced and the item may not be eligible for return.

If we cannot purchase your battery, it may appear as not included on your final quote.

Shutter Counts & Condition Gradings

If the shutter count is lower than expected for an item's condition grade, we'll add money to your quote. If the shutter count is higher than expected, we'll adjust the quote accordingly. You can find further information on our grading guide below

Camera	Like New	Excellent	Good	Well Used	Heavily Used
Pro DSLR	0-20,000	20,001-75,000	75,001-200,000	200,001-300,000	300,001+
Prosumer DSLR	0-10,000	10,001-50,000	50,001-100,000	100,001-200,000	200,001+
Entry Level DSLR	0-5,000	5,001-40,000	40,001-80,000	80,001-150,000	150,001+
Medium Format Lens	0-5,000	5,001-25,000	25,001-75,000	75,001-125,000	125,001+
Medium Format Camera	0-5,000	5,001-25,000	25,001-75,000	75,001-125,000	125,001+
Digital Back	0-5,000	5,001-25,000	25,001-75,000	75,001-125,000	125,001+

Hour Count & Condition Gradings

Similar to shutter counts, hour counts of video and cinema cameras can impact a quote, related to the item’s condition.

Camera	Like New	Excellent	Good	Well Used	Heavily Used
Camcorder	0-250	251-750	751-1,500	1,501-2,250	2251+
Canon Cinema Camera	0-250	251-750	751-1,500	1,501-2,250	2251+
Cine Camera	0-500	501-1,500	1,501-3,000	3,001-4,500	4,501+

Moisture and Fungus

We break down the different levels of moisture and fungus into different categories to determine how much the lens is affected and therefore, the amount we can offer.

Click here to see how we grade moisture & fungus

1. Light moisture:

Light moisture consists of a fine mist or a small patch of sparsely spread droplets. This level of moisture does not affect images taken using the lens, but does represent minor potential for the moisture to get worse due to it forming the beginnings of an ideal environment for fungus growth.

2. Heavy moisture:

Heavy moisture is a natural progression from light moisture, consisting of larger moisture droplets and/or denser spreads that can cover an entire element. The heavy moisture level presents greater potential for fungus to grow, perhaps with signs the process has already begun.

3. Minor fungus:

Minor fungus is the level at which fungus has begun to grow, either from patches of moisture or of its own accord. These small patches of fungus could exhibit minor threads beginning to spread, or they could be small circles of translucent white. They will not affect images, but represent a moderate risk of the fungus getting worse with ideal conditions.

4. Moderate fungus:

Moderate fungus sits at the more severe end of the fungus scale. Fungus in this category will exhibit lots of threads, and lens elements could contain multiple small patches of fungus. The key with this level of fungus is that the lens still has use, fungus hasn’t taken over the lens and will likely not affect images.

5. Fungus:

The highest level of fungus is reserved for items that we cannot purchase due to the severity of the fungus within. This level consists of fungus that has taken hold of the lens, likely spreading across entire glass elements. Fungus here may affect images, and will likely be very obvious when looking through the lens.

Our Product Specialists have all undergone thorough training on this topic and will be able to determine a detailed evaluation of the level of moisture or fungus which will be provided to you upon checking the item. This may result in an adjusted quote and in some cases we will not be able to purchase items if the fungus is too severe.

For more information, click here.

How Our Specialists Inspect Your Gear

Here’s a quick overview of our evaluation process:

Cameras:

Check battery, card slots, buttons, dials, grips and hot shoe
Inspect the sensor under bright light for dust or marks
Test autofocus, shutter, ISO, drive modes, stabilisation and menus
Assess viewfinder clarity and LCD condition
Check and record shutter count where applicable
Fully inspect the body for cosmetic flaws (scratches, chips, dents, grip condition)

Lenses:

Examine front/rear elements under torchlight
Shine light through the barrel to detect dust or defects
Test autofocus and manual focus at multiple focal lengths
Assess zoom ring and aperture performance
Check mounts, filter thread, switches, and grips for wear or damage

Pro Tip: Clean Your Gear Before Sending

Give your gear a quick clean before packing. It helps our team inspect it more efficiently and could help you avoid a lower cosmetic grade.

Focus on:

Wiping screens and grips
Removing dust from lenses
Checking for accessories like body caps, chargers, or hoods

A clean camera makes it easier (and quicker) for us to confirm its best possible condition.

Before you ship, make sure to:

Double-check your condition selection
Include all accessories listed in your quote
Give your gear a clean
Pack safely using strong packaging

We’ll handle the rest and keep you updated every step of the way.

Need further support? Contact us