Where to buy used lenses?

[Debow]

So besides Ebay where do you think is a good reputable place to buy used lenses? I checked out Nikon's refurbished section already.

[rickztahone]

So besides Ebay where do you think is a good reputable place to buy used lenses? I checked out Nikon's refurbished section already.

That is actually a great place to keep looking. You will see a great deal pop up one day and be gone tomorrow. Check it regularly.

The other recommendation I have is Keh.com.

Keh is known amongst many photography buffs as being the best place to find great lenses, with great customer service and a great return policy. Their lens rating is super favorable as well, always towards the purchaser and not the seller (Keh).

Go take a look.

Finally, I would recommend forums based specifically with your gear brand. Go to their for sale/trade section and take a look at what is being offered. If you see something you like, make sure that member is a long standing one that many can vouch for.

One site I used to buy a lot of used gear from was Dpreview. They have a ton of people selling stuff. It is a lot more risky there though since there are so many people posting. It is more difficult to find well vetted sellers there.

[Discus-n00b]

Highly recommend Keh.com as well. You may have some luck on BH or Adorama's used sections as well, they rate their gear and from what I hear it's pretty accurate. I never seen the prices as good as Keh but it might be worth a look. Another place you might check is the camera rental places, Borrowlenses and Lensauthority which sell used. Heard some good things about them, and that sometimes they even underrate their gear. Again I don't think you will find earth shattering prices or the selection like you might at Keh, but worth it to check.

Hard to beat specific photography forums, members there take care of their gear and know what they have. A lot of times these pros or enthusiests just get rid of stuff to fund something else so you find killer lenses in great shape.

[brewmaster15]

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?118383-Buying-Used-Photo-gear

:)

[nikond70s]

when i was into photography ebay and craigslist were my to go places. found some really good deals on craigslist. hope to get back into it soon.

[Debow]

Thanks everyone, I'm going to make the move by april on a camera and buying a refurb body and a used lense.

[Discus-n00b]

Thanks everyone, I'm going to make the move by april on a camera and buying a refurb body and a used lense.

You and me both! I have everything in the shopping cart ready to checkout but I chicken out each time. I always do this, I know what I want (I think) but it could take me a month or more to actually order it.

[Debow]

update,

I have been looking at these two lenses, The first I think would be a good walkaround lense for average distance, portraits and fish shots, and the second for distance shots or wildlife shots. I will be going on a cruise in april to Italy, Venice and Rome so I want to capture anything that interest me as this will probably be my only trip there. So let me know some feedback on the lenses. I will be making my move prior to april so I can get acustom to the camera. I found a refurb D500 for a good price and want to save more with used lenses.
https://www.keh.com/shop/nikon-nikkor-18-mm-55-mm-f-3-5-5-6-zoom-lens-for-nikon-f.html
https://www.adorama.com/us%20%20%20%20842794.html

[rickztahone]

The Keh one is your run of the mil "kit" lens. Not a bad price, especially if it is cheaper buying it separate than together.

As far as the Nikon lens, I would prefer the 70-300 4-5.6 aperture. This lens is a little "slow" which means it needs really good light to work to its best potential. Take a look at the Tamron 70-300 4-5.6. I remember I got mine for $300 brand new directly from Tamron.

Please keep in mind, I do not know camera body mounts, so please make sure when you buy a lens that it is the correct mount for your body.

[Debow]

Rick,
So this lense "Tamron 70-300 4-5.6" would be my distance lense, It says fits Nikons mount. Is this the lense that you shoot with? And also what would you advise for the first lense my "walking around lense"

I found it on Keh

https://www.keh.com/shop/tamron-70-300mm-f-4-5-6-sp-di-vc-usd-a005-autofocus-lens-for-nikon-62.html

Also this from Nikon

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/camera-lenses/20061/af-p-dx-nikkor-70-300mm-f%252f4.5-6.3g-ed.html

Looks like it has the same 4-5.6

[rickztahone]

Rick,
So this lense "Tamron 70-300 4-5.6" would be my distance lense, It says fits Nikons mount. Is this the lense that you shoot with? And also what would you advise for the first lense my "walking around lense"

I found it on Keh

https://www.keh.com/shop/tamron-70-300mm-f-4-5-6-sp-di-vc-usd-a005-autofocus-lens-for-nikon-62.html

Also this from Nikon

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/camera-lenses/20061/af-p-dx-nikkor-70-300mm-f%252f4.5-6.3g-ed.html

Looks like it has the same 4-5.6

Yes, I have personally shot with this lens in Sony mount and it was a gem of a lens at that price range. I have no problems recommending it. Again, not sure what mount is what with Nikon, so just make sure it is for your camera mount before buying.
I ultimately ended up getting a Sony 70-200 2.8 and a Sony 70-400 4-5.6 and ended up selling the Tamron. I later regretted it because it was so much lighter than my 70-400 and the 70-200 was not long enough at times. The Tamron was actually a nice addition to those 2 other lenses and I regretted selling it. With that said, the price of that lens doesn't really fluctuate and again, it is a bargain lens at great value.

As far as a walk around lens, you may be asking the wrong person. I use a walk around that is 24-70 2.8 but that isn't a cheap lens. I don't like kit lenses and I don't particularly know the Nikon lineup. Pat may have a better answer than myself here. If it is a cropped camera though, I wouldn't hesitate to say to get a prime just like Pat did when starting and go with either a 24 2.8 or 35 1.4 / 35 f/2 / 35/2.8 (not sure if they make a 35/2.8 mind you).

I can really get more in to detail later when I am at home and can browse around Keh or other sites. Do you know your lens mount though? That would help.

[Debow]

Looks like a Nikon F bayonet mount, I inserted the tec specs. Scroll down to lenses.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/dslr-cameras/d500.html#tab-ProductDetail-ProductTabs-TechSpecs

[Discus-n00b]

I can't comment on quality of the Nikon lenses, I just don't know Nikon so I can't recommend a specific lens. However for Canon I like walking around with something like my 17-40 f4 or 24-105 f4 (though I want to replace the 24-105 with the new 24-70 or new version of the 24-105). Kind of depends on what you tend to shoot. Night City scenes like street photos, any astro, just general low lights especially indoors, or like more intricate details, I'd probably prefer a 2.8. For anything dealing with hardscape landscapes I'd take a f4+ 95% of the time. Fast glass is heavier and more expensive, if you aren't going to be shooting it's range then what's the point? Granted, some new lenses will look better and sharper at f value of X over the old lens at f value of X so there would have to be some comparison where the 2.8 may beat out the f4. And if you have the money to spend, it's nice having the option to go down to 1.4 or 2.8, but in general, I never find myself wishing for fast glass unless it's for a specific purpose...personally. And I sure don't have the money just to have it yet. I'd probably already be shooting f4+ on a landscape anyway or in a lot of other cases, no need to pay an extra 1-2k for fast glass especially when I'd hardly use that fast wide angle for anything but night skies. To Canon an extra stop or two can be worth $1000-2000 which to me the consumer is not worth it in most cases.

I prefer my really fast glass to be in the 35, 50, 85mm prime ranges more specific to purpose than all around lenses. The Canon (Could be this way for other brands) 35 1.4 is one of the most popular lenses in the lineup and prices at $1700, but are you going to buy it over two other insanely popular in the lineup? The 16-35 F4 at $1000 or the 17-40 F4 at $750? Unless you have a reason to I think you'd be crazy to. My point is, look at what you want to shoot, or why you may shoot and choose your lenses accordingly.

I could be totally off base here, that's just how I view it.

[Second Hand Pat]

Devon, since I shoot Nikon with Nikon lens I can tell you what I use for a walk-around lens if you like. It is the 18-200 which is a wide-angle zoom lens. This is it https://www.keh.com/shop/nikon-nikkor-18-200mm-f-3-5-5-6-g-ed-if-af-s-vr-dx-zoom-lens.html. Note that is it intended for a crop sensor so it is a DX lens. Full frame lens are FX. Note that I have used FX lens on my DX bodies but no clue if it works the over way. This is not an expensive lens. I shoot family events, sunrises/sunsets, people, landscapes etc. Basic use this lens for everything except macro and distance work (like shooting birds).

I can post some examples if you like.
Pat

[Debow]

Okay so I think I have found out that I should pursue the lowest F stop I can afford so I think this lense might fit the bill? It's the Sigma 70-200 F2.8. I have looked at the Nikon equivalent but its a little steep $1600 used and The sigma is $1149 new. I rather but one good lense and not have 2 crappy lenses that I wouldn't be happy with in the end.

Here is the Sigma https://www.sigmaphoto.com/apo-70-200mm-f2-8-ex-dg-os-hsm

Here is the Nikon http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/refurbished-camera-lenses/2185b/af-s-nikkor-70-200mm-f%252f2.8g-ed-vr-ii-refurbished.html

[rickztahone]

Okay so I think I have found out that I should pursue the lowest F stop I can afford so I think this lense might fit the bill? It's the Sigma 70-200 F2.8. I have looked at the Nikon equivalent but its a little steep $1600 used and The sigma is $1149 new. I rather but one good lense and not have 2 crappy lenses that I wouldn't be happy with in the end.

Here is the Sigma https://www.sigmaphoto.com/apo-70-200mm-f2-8-ex-dg-os-hsm

Here is the Nikon http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/refurbished-camera-lenses/2185b/af-s-nikkor-70-200mm-f%252f2.8g-ed-vr-ii-refurbished.html

yeah, that is a good lens. I have shot with it in the past in my mount. I have never shot with the Nikon 70-200 though to compare.

My suggestion though, may be to actually get a cheaper tele-photo, like a Tamron 70-300 4-5.6 and get a walk around lens that is more expensive as you will shoot with this more often.

Again, this is all in my opinion, others may think differently.

The reason I suggest the Tamron is because it is actually a really good lens, especially for the price tag and if you ever decide to upgrade that lens, you will basically get back what you paid for it in the first place.

[Debow]

Rick I just saw that Tamron is releasing a new generation of the 70-200 F2.8 at the end of the month check it out and its is a good price. This is it https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1317272&gclid=CLykvcu8_tECFUiBswodhhYHlw&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876%2C52934714882%2C&A=details&Q=

They also have a smaller one too at end of the month a 10-24mm https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1317274-REG/tamron_afb023n_700_10_24mm_f_3_5_4_5_di_ii.html

I do agree with you about spending the money on a walkaround lense I am keeping an eye on these to lenses. Also the one Pat linked that she usese.

[Discus-n00b]

I was about to say Tamron literally just announced one lol. Not sure of it's quality yet though, however from what I read people really love their old Tamron 70-200 especially vs Sigma. I think the new one is priced very fairly especially if it performs, if it can keep up with the Canon 70-200 ii it will be a huge hit and honestly I expect it to from the little I've seen. A 70-200 should be considered by everyone, it tends to be a heck of a lens. On this lens I'd probably pull the trigger on a Tamron vs the Sigma. Each brand tend to have one thing they are better at than the others to be honest. Like the Tamron has better chromatic aberration, Canon has better bokeh, etc. I love the build quality from the name brands personally, the weather sealing and build quality tend to make me spend a bit more money on them but the small brands are nothing to scoff at the quality is there they just aren't built quite as tough usually. I say buy for your budget because the differences are small, but I'd say go Tamron or name brand for this one.

[rickztahone]

I was about to say Tamron literally just announced one lol. Not sure of it's quality yet though, however from what I read people really love their old Tamron 70-200 especially vs Sigma. I think the new one is priced very fairly especially if it performs, if it can keep up with the Canon 70-200 ii it will be a huge hit and honestly I expect it to from the little I've seen. A 70-200 should be considered by everyone, it tends to be a heck of a lens. On this lens I'd probably pull the trigger on a Tamron vs the Sigma. Each brand tend to have one thing they are better at than the others to be honest. Like the Tamron has better chromatic aberration, Canon has better bokeh, etc. I love the build quality from the name brands personally, the weather sealing and build quality tend to make me spend a bit more money on them but the small brands are nothing to scoff at the quality is there they just aren't built quite as tough usually. I say buy for your budget because the differences are small, but I'd say go Tamron or name brand for this one.

Just remember one thing Devon, a 70-200 range is more practical with someone with a FF body than someone with a cropped sensor camera.

I know Matt knows this but just in case you didn't, I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in there.

[brewmaster15]

Im real behind on this one...sorry. just want to say I have the Tamron 70 -200 2.8 in a pentax mount. Not the new version they announced. I ABSOLUTELY love the lens even on my cropped sensor. Im sure itd be great on a full frame as well.Its got its quirks but once you start working with it...it really is an amazing lens given its budget price.

All the pics here..

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?127862-Oh-Yeah-!!!Beach-weather-at-last!

And here..

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?128039-Old-Stones-in-B-amp-W

Were taken with this lens.

Its also been a life saver at my kids concerts and plays thanks to the reach and how fast the lens is. It really is a bargain for what you get,imo.

Hth,
Al