As you progress as a photographer, you’ll want to gradually upgrade your equipment. But as you’ll quickly learn, buying new camera equipment can be expensive.
If you want to reduce your costs, buying second-hand camera bodies and lenses is a good idea. You’ll find plenty of places to buy used photography equipment online, but MPB is one of the best.
So what exactly is MPB? Is it worth using when you are ready to upgrade with what you capture your images? We will answer both questions in this article.
What is MPB?
BPM is an equipment reseller that has been around since 2011. The company has three main offices; one is in Brighton, England, and the other two are in New York City and the German capital, Berlin.
MPB sells hundreds of thousands of cameras, lenses, and other photo and video equipment each year.
Where in the world can you use MPB?
As you may have guessed from the location of their offices, MPB’s main markets are the UK and the EU. If you live in an EU country, you can use the euro as your currency to buy your equipment.
As of this writing in December 2022, MPB does not support payments in currencies for countries outside of the Eurozone that are still part of the EU, such as the Swedish krona. You will also need to make sure that your bank allows international payments.
While neither Norway nor Iceland are in the EU, they are in the European Economic Area (EEA). MPB ships to both countries.
If you are a UK user you can use sterling to pay for your items. MPB also ships to the US, and you can use the US dollar to purchase your equipment.
The advantages of using MPB to buy photographic equipment
Let’s look at the benefits and drawbacks of using the service. We’ll start with why you should consider buying second hand photography equipment from MPB.
1. A wide range of photographic equipment
Do you use any of the major camera manufacturers, such as FujiFilm? If so, there is a good chance that you will find the equipment you are looking for. MPB has a wide range of DSLR and mirrorless cameras from brands like Nikon, Leica and Olympus.
Regardless of your choice of camera body, you should also have little, if any, trouble finding a compatible lens. You can choose from a number of prime and zoom lenses, allowing you to choose something that suits your style of photography.
You will also find all kinds of accessories when looking for second-hand things in MPB. For example, you can get a tripod if you want to try slow shutter speed photography. On top of that, you can also get batteries, studio lighting, and more.
2. Your delivery is assured
Most likely, you will receive your MPB photo equipment without any problems. But sometimes, things go wrong when items are delivered from a company’s warehouse to the end user. The good news is that if you buy photo equipment from MPB, its delivery is assured.
Delivery is insured regardless of whether you are buying within the US, EU or UK. One thing worth noting is that if you sell your equipment to MPB, only the items on your listing are insured. With that in mind, the company recommends only sending things that you said you would send.
3. Buying with MPB is more sustainable
If you’ve ever upgraded your gear in the past, you know how much fun it is to get a new camera body or lens. One problem with getting your items brand new, though, is that it also creates a lot of waste. The manufacturer also has to make more of the same model, which increases its carbon footprint.
There are many things photographers can do to take photos more sustainably. Buying second-hand equipment is one of them, and the chances are high that MPB has the equipment you are looking for. And when you sell your used cameras and lenses through MPB, you’ll also reduce clutter in your home, while giving someone else the gift of taking photos.
4. Buying from MPB is less expensive
Knowing you’re cutting waste is nice, but saving a little money isn’t too bad either. Camera bodies and lenses are notoriously expensive when you get them new; some lenses may cost more than the camera body itself. To get them, you’ll need to save for longer or spend more money than necessary if you have the budget.
MPB has different categories for the condition of the items it sells. If you get items in excellent condition, you probably won’t know the difference between the second-hand part and something brand new. At most, you’ll see some cosmetic damage, but items won’t function any differently.
The cons of using MPB to buy photography equipment
While many photographers have had a positive experience with MPB, it’s worth keeping in mind a couple of drawbacks you may encounter. Let’s look at two of the main ones below.
1. You may have a hard time finding third-party lenses of the brand you want to use
If you shop for second-hand photography equipment on the MPB website, you’ll find plenty of lenses and cameras for every manufacturer. And if you want to get a third-party lens, you can choose from a wide selection produced by Samyang.
However, one manufacturer that you will have a hard time finding is Viltrox. You’ll need to look elsewhere for those particular lenses, but that shouldn’t be a major problem for many wearers.
2. MPB is not available everywhere
In their markets, hundreds of millions of people have access to MPB equipment. But things will be a little tricky if you’re not in the UK, US, EU or EEA.
If you buy from MPB and you are not in one of the markets they serve, you may not be able to get what you bought. So you may need to find a local reseller; Amazon or eBay could also be potential alternatives.
MPB – A great place to upgrade your photography gear
MPB is a great place to get your new gear if you’re looking to upgrade your camera bag. Its price is affordable compared to getting the items new, and you will also benefit from insured delivery.
MPB’s customer support team is also helpful, and you can find a huge range of photographic equipment to buy and sell. If you live in one of the countries that the company ships to, we recommend giving it a try.