You won’t see illegible text on official equipment. Counterfeit equipment, on the other hand, tends to be lower in quality – including written content. Printed information on genuine equipment is almost always incredibly sharp and easy-to-read. These stickers are hard to replicate, so they’re great indicators of official equipment. Most of the popular camera manufacturing brands have “official” stickers that feature holograms. However, if you find a piece of equipment for half the normal retail cost, it’s probably a fake or, even worse, an empty box! 8. The online camera market is incredibly competitive, so it’s no surprise that online stores are always trying to undercut each other in terms of price. 7. “Too Good to Be True” Prices Usually Are Good adapters should fit lens mounts perfectly with no slippage. This is especially true when buying camera lenses or adapters. If you hear things moving around when you lightly shake your equipment, there’s a problem. Official equipment such as lenses, adapters, and rigs will be incredibly snug. If your piece of equipment doesn’t come with a serial number, then there is a good chance that it’s fake. Most professional equipment comes with a serial number located somewhere on the exterior. Just because your equipment is in official-looking boxes doesn’t make it legit. It’s also important to note that boxes are easy to fake. If a warranty isn’t in the box, you can bet your lens it’s a fake. Look for a WarrantyĪlmost every piece of new equipment comes with a one year warranty included in its box. Sure… someone could probably fake a manual, but scammers likely won’t make the effort. This also applies to equipment purchased online. So, if there’s a printed out manual included in the box, it’s a good sign that the product is real. The following video posted by Fstoppers shows us that even items purchased on Amazon can be fake:įake equipment almost always comes by itself in a box. Look for reviews and ratings regarding your seller. 2. Where Are You Buying It From?īuying from a reputable seller is everything. If there’s something misspelled, it’s a fake.

Misspellings, whether intentional or unintentional, are an immediate sign that your equipment is fake. However, the following article has a few tips for helping you spot counterfeit camera gear the next time you’re on the market for new equipment. Sadly, some pieces of equipment are created simply to trick users into buying them. Unfortunately, not all camera gear is created equal. Not sure if that equipment is legit? Does that deal feel too good to be true? Avoid getting scammed and learn to spot counterfeit camera gear with these quick tips.

Sigma lens serial number check