{"id":56091,"date":"2025-09-15T09:59:42","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T13:59:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.keh.com\/expert-advice\/?p=56091"},"modified":"2025-10-09T15:21:43","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T19:21:43","slug":"buying-used-film-cameras-with-porta-papi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.keh.com\/expert-advice\/photography\/buying-used-film-cameras-with-porta-papi\/","title":{"rendered":"Buying Used Film Cameras with Jakob Lilja-Ruiz"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Buying a film camera today can feel like stepping into a maze\u2014endless listings, unpredictable sellers, and gear that doesn\u2019t always live up to its description. To help cut through the noise, we teamed up with KEH partner Jakob Lilja-Ruiz, better known as<\/span> @portra_papi<\/span><\/a>, who has years of hands-on experience navigating the world of secondhand film cameras. In this guide, Jakob shares the cameras he relies on, where he shops, and the key things to look out for when buying used film gear.<\/span><\/p>\n

What I Use, Where I Shop, and What to Look Out For<\/b><\/h1>\n

Most of my frequent questions on social media are: <\/span><\/span>\u201cWhat camera do you use?\u201d & \u201cWhere do I buy a used film gear?\u201d<\/p>\n

With the rising cost of photography gear, it\u2019s no surprise people are turning to secondhand options. I\u2019ve been there too\u2014browsing eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace, hunting for a deal that doesn\u2019t break the bank.<\/span><\/p>\n

But let me tell you, not all that glitters is gold.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Risks of Buying Used Cameras<\/b><\/h2>\n

In my early days, I jumped on a few deals that seemed <\/span>too good to be true<\/span><\/i>. Almost every time, I ended up with a broken or rusted camera. Saving up for big upgrades just to receive faulty gear is frustrating and discouraging.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the thing:<\/span><\/span>You can\u2019t rely on random sellers.<\/b> No matter how convincing the listing is, you\u2019re taking a gamble if you can\u2019t verify the gear\u2019s condition in person. When possible, I always recommend meeting locally to inspect the camera or sticking with trusted, highly rated sellers\u2014especially from Japan, where quality standards tend to be higher.<\/span><\/p>\n

Key Things to Check Before Buying<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re going to take the leap into buying used film cameras, you need to know what to look for. Here are three of the most important things I always inspect:<\/span><\/p>\n