Which tests would you perform?

[Jon Nash]

If you were going to buy a used Red one camera. Which shooting tests might you perform to make sure you get that warm fuzzy feeling when you walk away after shelling out the $$$.

 

[Cüneyt Kaya]

check all parts, no matter how tiny they are
collimate a lens by using the mount (weirdo english, hope you get what i mean)
test the fan settings, are they working
is the joystick tight?
checking OLPF scratches
are the connectors on the body tight and clean
is there rust on the screws?
record to all cf cards at least 4 takes, the last should be a really long one.
Test playback on the cam, download and look at the footage, is everything ok (no deadpixels unwanted stuff etc)
same goes for the drives.
are the FW ports of the drive working?
blackshading
check batteryplates, is it tight enough?
look how many cycles the batteries had and how much hours the camera was on.
black shading
restore the RED Menu, change it, does it work.
does the EVF show polarization or not, or some other weird behaviour.
look for the camera build

this are some things i would test out of my head.

PLUS go out and shoot with the camera some stuff night and day (high contrast high detail scenes) handheld for one day, this way you will see if the cam has problems.
shoot slo mo

edit: i did misread the question, sorry

 

[Martin Weiss]

I'd get it sent to RED and they do all the tests for you, and you'll get the ownership transfer sorted out as well.

 

[Cüneyt Kaya]

I agree, it's smarter than my idea

 

[Eirik Tyrihjel]

I agree, it's smarter than my idea

But your idea is good, and perhaps its step one, and Martins is step 2?

+ test all inputs/outputs on the camera (that you have cables for anyway)
+ test all cables

 

[Thomas Wright]

how do you check how many cycles the batteries've had? and how long the camera has been on?

 

[Martin Weiss]

how do you check how many cycles the batteries've had? and how long the camera has been on?

Here is how to check.. Press the UNDO button and press the center Joystick Select at the same time to show you your camera info and how many hours ( HRS ) your camera has.

If the battery is connected to the camera, CYC will show how many cycles that battery has been through.

(Personally, I would never buy used batteries, unless they are really, really cheap.)

 

[D Fuller]

(Personally, I would never buy used batteries, unless they are really, really cheap.)

Well, Martin, you are on record as saying you would never buy used drives or used batteries. That's fine, but as a moderator, perhaps you should be more moderate.