Lens

[summoner12]

Wondering from some of you if you think it's worth the $100 or so that you save when buying a used lense? I am looking to get a Canon 100mm USM Macro lens. A brand new lens from B&H with free shipping is $526 and you can find the same lens used, quite often, on eBay and craigslist for about $380-450. Sometimes they come with little extras like a hood ($40) or a filter ($20). These lenses do not come with a warrenty from Canon. The concern with buying used is if you can't look at the lens closely, or test the lens there could be issues. so buying from someone local is always a better idea... but again, it's used.

Let me know if any of you have any good or bad experiences.
So far the one lens i've purchased on Craigslist worked out great and so did the MR-14EX (ring flash).

 

[jrtader]

I've purchased new and used lens from B&H, and bought used ones off Ebay. If you do buy off ebay you really need to be careful, there is alot of garbage. Lenses that claim to be good but when they arrive can contain mould on the inner glass elements of the lens or oil on the shutter blades.

Ebay lenses can be mostly sold by people that have had lenses sitting in their closet for a few years which creates a stagnant environment for these issues that I have mentioned and to the untrained eye (in most cases the seller) may very well be un aware of. That being said there are good lenses on ebay. just be careful try to buy from someone that knows how to inspect lenses for these very issues.

B&H on the other hand has staff that can inspect the lenses correctly and lists them accordingly. The 100 mm macro lens I have, and is a dam fine investment, well worth the money. If the lense is available used on both ebay and B&H, I say go with B&H even if it costs a little more.

 

[summoner12]

I've purchased new and used lens from B&H, and bought used ones off Ebay. If you do buy off ebay you really need to be careful, there is alot of garbage. Lenses that claim to be good but when they arrive can contain mould on the inner glass elements of the lens or oil on the shutter blades.

Ebay lenses can be mostly sold by people that have had lenses sitting in their closet for a few years which creates a stagnant environment for these issues that I have mentioned and to the untrained eye (in most cases the seller) may very well be un aware of. That being said there are good lenses on ebay. just be careful try to buy from someone that knows how to inspect lenses for these very issues.

B&H on the other hand has staff that can inspect the lenses correctly and lists them accordingly. The 100 mm macro lens I have, and is a dam fine investment, well worth the money. If the lense is available used on both ebay and B&H, I say go with B&H even if it costs a little more.

I think B&H has a used one... I forget the price. it is rated as a 9+..... My car needs brakes so I think this lens might be put on hold....

 

[Jono]

double post

 

[Jono]

A good lens can be serviced. Although this is obviously not want you want from a newly purchased lens it does mean that you wont end up buying an expensive paper weight. Just make sure there are zero scratches on the glass and you should be ok, everything else can be fixed/cleaned. This can be expensive but its always a gamble buying 2nd hand items you wont see until after you have paid, especially off the net. You may be better checking in with your local camera shop, they often have good 2nd hand items.

 

[HecticZ]

Give CalumetPhoto a try. Sometimes they have used stuff here and their.

http://www.calumetphoto.com//

 

[summoner12]

A good lens can be serviced. Although this is obviously not want you want from a newly purchased lens it does mean that you wont end up buying an expensive paper weight. Just make sure there are zero scratches on the glass and you should be ok, everything else can be fixed/cleaned. This can be expensive but its always a gamble buying 2nd hand items you wont see until after you have paid, especially off the net. You may be better checking in with your local camera shop, they often have good 2nd hand items.

Have you ever had a lens serviced? I wonder how much that costs..... my 28-135 IS USM has debris inside.... I wonder if it would be worth cleaning up. The lens isn't that great but it is still a nice enough lens to keep around, and one I've had since the beginning.

Give CalumetPhoto a try. Sometimes they have used stuff here and their.

http://www.calumetphoto.com//

I love calumet! The studio I worked at used to rent from them all the time. The one in chicago off the Kennedy is just like the one in LA.

 

[jrtader]

You could call Canon and get a quote from them to service a lens.