Russell Smith wrote:
Plus, as one member just said, the lens has been tried and found good.
Russell
The lenses are tried and found good before they leave the factory floor -- this is part of quality assurance testing. It's just that when they are used, they may have been tried and found up to someone's personal standards, which may be higher or lower than your own standards. Truth is that when a lens is tested for quality assurance, it is set to a very high standard which I can't help but trust.
Maybe for US buyers the deals are not that great, but I can tell you that for Canada the savings can be tremendous. I bought my 70-200 f/4 L for $750 CAD shipped on the B&S, and locally they were selling for ~$950 + 14% tax. Similarily with my 17-40. Recently thecamerastore.com has had a great special on the 70-200 for near the same price I got it, but my 17-40 I purchased at $150 less than their current price, which as far as I can tell is the lowest in Canada right now. Other than my 20D I've bought almost all of my gear used apart from the minor accessories, and I must have saved hundreds of dollars by now, even buying the modest amount of gear that I have.
Anything is cheaper than buying at local camera shops.
The 70-200 2.8L IS was going for $2,000 at a local store I was at the other day. Are you kidding me? It's around $1600 at B&H, and although I pay shipping, I don't have to pay tax which would easily add more than shipping would. Absurd.
ontime wrote:
Anything is cheaper than buying at local camera shops.
The 70-200 2.8L IS was going for $2,000 at a local store I was at the other day. Are you kidding me? It's around $1600 at B&H, and although I pay shipping, I don't have to pay tax which would easily add more than shipping would. Absurd.
Actually, the 70-200 IS is one of the lenses that has recently been priced very well on the B+S board recently. Yes, a number of lenses have been priced in the $1500+ range (and may not sell), but in the past month I've seen at least 2 or 3 priced at $1200, and a bunch that were right at $1400 or a bit less (and languished for awhile). Different people may disagree as to whether or not that is a good deal, but I think it is and regretted buying it new.
like some guy selling Canon 135mm for $725. It is used for 2 YEARS. Brand new sell for $899. Different is $175 and bunch of guys jump in and saying the best deal..what the heck?
Bubble wrote:
like some guy selling Canon 135mm for $725. It is used for 2 YEARS. Brand new sell for $899. Different is $175 and bunch of guys jump in and saying the best deal..what the heck?
That's a 20% price cut, which is a big deal if the lens shows very little wear or was taken care of in a proper fashion.
I've been buying used as of late and I couldn't be happier with what I'm getting. I bought a ball head and L-plate and saved $100 from new. That's a lot of money since I'm a student.
Also bought a 17-40, for about $120 less than new which is about 17%. It was also under warrenty so had Canon calibrate the focus and clean the elements for free. Sharp and clean for almost 20% cheaper? Hell yeah!
I only bought my 70-200 IS new ($1700 ouch) new because I needed the lens next day.
mdude85 wrote:
That's a 20% price cut, which is a big deal if the lens shows very little wear or was taken care of in a proper fashion.
how do we define take good care in proper fashion? a friend of mine here has a wideangle lens and he abused it as hell. Took picture under the rain, bring to the beach with sand blow everywhere. At the end of the trip. he just air blow and clean it up. Heck, it still look brand new (no mark or scratch whatsoever). The guy resell it and buy brand new lens. He always make fun of how stupid people are (when buying his old lens) After seeing all of that, i just don't trust used lens anymore.
