MPB Reviews: The Best Place to Buy Used Gear?
Real-world MPB reviews seem difficult to come by, especially if you’re looking for something more than short-form Google reviews. As someone who is all in on used gear, I’ve used MPB multiple times to purchase both cameras and lenses. With that, I thought I’d share my experience using the popular used photography gear company.
I made my first purchase through MPB back in 2021. Since then, I’ve bought three lenses and two cameras. I’ve dealt with several aspects of their departments, including the presales team, customer service, and the returns team.
In this MPB review, I’ll cover the things people care about most: quality, packaging, reliability, customer service, and cost.
About MPB
MPB was founded in Brighton, UK, and now operates across most of Europe, United States and other parts of the world. Along with selling used gear, the company also buys it. I’ve never sold to them before, so this review will focus solely on my experience as a buyer.
MPB Reviews: Packaging
When the doorbell rang, it felt like Christmas— it was only March. The postman handed me a tightly packed box containing my new (used) Fujifilm X-T3. I opened it with the same level of care MPB’s team had used to pack it.
A gentle shake of the box revealed no movement, which is always a good sign. Once I removed the outer box, I found some marketing materials, which I quickly moved aside to get to the main event.
Inside were layers of protective packaging, including another inner box and fishnet-style padding. I’m unsure of the science behind it, but it clearly worked. After peeling away some final layers, I finally reached my camera.
The item was exactly as described and the packaging clearly did its job. This careful attention was consistent across every order I placed with MPB.
I made this reel so you can see what to expect if you order from MPB.
My “new” XT-3 from MPB.
MPB Reviews: Quality
MPB uses five condition categories for its gear:
Like New — Box opened, minimal use, looks brand new, with all original accessories.
Excellent — Almost new condition, possibly missing some accessories.
Good — Noticeable cosmetic wear like light scuffs or minor paint loss.
Well Used — Heavy wear and tear with clear signs of use.
Heavily Used — Significant damage or wear, but still functional.
Personally, I’ve only ever purchased items in Good and Excellent condition. The camera I bought in Excellent condition felt pristine. I could barely find any marks on it, though some accessories were missing, such as the camera strap and Fujifilm’s stock flash.
My most recent purchase, the Viltrox 23mm f1.4 (read my review), was listed as Good. It had a very tiny scuff on the lens hood (which was listed) and has since become one of my go-to lenses for street photography. Honestly, if you don’t need perfect, the Good rating is superb, and cheaper.
Everything I’ve bought from MPB has held up well over time. I did experience an issue with one of the X-T3s. It would occasionally reset the menu settings when switched on and off. I later learned this was a common issue with the X-T3 model, so I returned it.
MPB Reviews: Customer Service
That return gave me a firsthand look at MPB’s customer service. While on a trip in Turkey, my X-T3 became faulty. Returning it from Istanbul wasn’t feasible, and by the time I got back to the UK, the camera would have been out of warranty.
MPB’s support team made everything easy. They agreed to the return once I got home and handled the process quickly and without resistance. Their responses came the same day or the following day.
Customer service was accessible via email and their website chat, meaning I didn’t have to worry about costly international calls.
MPB Reviews: Price
One of the main reasons I keep going back to MPB is the value. Compared to brand-new gear, you can often save 20–40%, sometimes even more. My Fujifilm X-T3 in Excellent condition cost me around £650, whereas a new one (back when available) was over £1,100. That’s a huge saving for a camera that was almost indistinguishable from new. MPB also includes a 6-month warranty as standard.
Verdict: Is MPB Worth It?
After years of shopping with MPB, I can confidently say they’re one of the most trustworthy options for buying used gear. The items are accurately graded, packaging is excellent, and customer support is responsive. Pricing is competitive and often more affordable than other used marketplaces, especially when you factor in the included warranty and easy returns.
If you’re a photographer looking to save money without compromising on quality, MPB is a solid bet. I’ll continue using them for years to come.
Check out MPB now and shop used cameras and lenses with confidence.
Editors note: This article contains a small handful of links which gets Them Frames a small kickback if you use them to make a purchase.
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