What we check when your gear arrives

All gear is checked by trained specialists to confirm cosmetic condition and functionality before finalising the quote. 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

What can cause a quote adjustment?

In addition to cosmetic condition, we also inspect for:

Functionality/Condition 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

Please note: accessories must be included in your parcel when sent, as we cannot accept them at a later date.

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 will appear as not included on your final quote.

For further information, read our guide on What to send when selling with MPB.

Drones

When we check drones, we assess:

Whether the drone is unbound from any linked accounts (e.g DJI Fly)
The battery charge cycle
Whether all essential accessories are included (e.g propellers, controllers, chargers)

For more details, see our full guide to selling or trading drones with MPB.

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.

Need more information? Check our guide about moisture and fungus.

Do shutter counts affect quote price?

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:

Shutter Counts & Condition Gradings

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

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+