Buying Used?

[MikeB]

Should you be skeptical when buying used lenses? What should you ask the seller?

 

[gparr]

Yes, you should always be skeptical. You, of course, want to see and hold the lens. If you can't do that, the risk factor goes way up unless you're buying from a reputable operation, such as B&H, that offers some kind of guarantee/warranty. There's a firm that sells primarily used equipment. I can't think of the name, but any reports I've heard about them have been positive. It'll come to me.

What to look for?
--Shake it. If it rattles, pass
--Study the lens body looking for imperfections that suggest it's been dropped or hit against something. You can tell if paint/coating is worn away from use or has been chipped away from collision.
--Check the glass on both ends at several light angles for scratches. If there are scratches, pass.
--Check the focus and zoom mechanisms. If they're smooth, it's probably OK, If they are not smooth or you get a gravely feeling, pass.
--Put the lens on YOUR camera body, not the current owner's body. Take some photos. Does everything work as it should? It's best if you can take some pictures and go home and study those photos to make sure they are in focus and look good. If not, rely on your LCD display.
--Be sure to test with manual focus and then autofocus on several subjects.
--Check the apertures throughout the range. Use the DOF preview button to make sure the lens is stopping down properly.
--Does the lens come with lens caps for both ends? If not, that suggests that the lens has almost always been on a camera or may have been stored without the glass covered. Not a big deal, but a small red flag, nonetheless.
That's probably more than you wanted. Hope it helps.
Gary

 

[MikeB]

Thanks, Just the information I was looking for. I have been watching several 18-200mm VR lenses on Ebay. I want to get one. Used ones are going in the $500 range but I have not worked up the courage to bid on one.

 

[gparr]

Forgot about that one. Vibration reduction/image stabilization for Canon, requires small gyro motors of some kind. These things have proven very durable, but they're one more thing to "go wrong," and worth checking.

I apologize for being overly cautious, but I have seen so many people get taken for a ride with used camera equipment, that the subject always makes me nervous.

Gary

 

[MikeB]

Thanks Gary. It makes me very nervous since I am knew to the SLR's I have had mine for a couple weeks and still do not know anything

 

[gnoles]

I've had good luck with http://www.keh.com for used equipment. My 300 2.8 and my 70-200 2.8 came through them. I think they are based out of Atlanta.

 

[gparr]

Yes, KEH is the used-equipment seller I couldn't recall. I know of three people who have had good results with them.
Gary

 

[Hypertek99]

Make sure the person you are buying used from has good feedback!!

 

[Gimili the Great]

here is something worth using http://www.toolhaus.org/ for you ebay users

maybe worth making it a sticky in the buying thread

this is one of the best ways to check the seller you are buying from on ebay it makes life simple since you can look at the neutral and negatives only and dont have to weed through the positives