Late last fall and early winter, there was a lot of discussion about how the financial crash was going to affect photo gear prices, both new and used.

Turns out that new is pretty easy to track, but I don't have the same sense about used gear. I'd be curious to know if anyone has a feeling for whether 2nd hand gear is now more sought after, so it's selling higher than before? Or are all the prices depressed.

Thanks for your input.

S.

The things I have been following - mainly Canon glass - have definitely been rising - at a rate of about 5% ($100 - $300 depending on the total price) in recent months/year. Whether that's a direct consequence of the crisis or simply a filtering through of new prices (more quickly than usual) I'm not sure.

IME - looking at Canon gear - 2nd hand prices have risen, certainly here in the UK. Not too surprising, given the usual relationship 2nd hand prices have to the cost of new kit and the recent increases we've seen in the latter.

I have to agree with the two previous posters.

It continues to amaze me that people are willing to pay up to 80-85% of the original price for new equipment for used gear, especially high quality glass.

Personally I think it makes a LOT more sense to pony up the extra few hundred dollars to be guaranteed a top quality piece of working equipment for the next year or longer depending on the warranty.

Then again, I guess a lot of people simply look at the cost of ownership (and thus risk) as very low since they see such a steady second hand market out there. Evidence of this is all over these forums as you regularly see people reselling used gear they purchased here, sometimes without even using the gear themselves...

Actually, I can kind of understand it on very expensive glass when the difference between new & used can be as much as US$1000 or more. Where it gets a little crazy is when the difference comes down to literally a few hundred. One lens I've been eyeing for a while is $1100 new but goes for $950 used - *that* seems to me to be false economy!

I don't have a problem buying used L glass for 15% off from new as long as the owner kept it like new. It's all about how much you trust the seller.

carlsbadbum wrote:
I don't have a problem buying used L glass for 15% off from new as long as the owner kept it like new. It's all about how much you trust the seller.

That's partially true. But no matter how you cut it any piece of electronic equipment can fail at any time. Most of the time it can be repaired, sometimes it can't.

But either way your out a ton of cash if you bought used gear at a premium and it fails. And it does happen, even if it's not often.

Yes, w/- second hand glass there's no warranty & usually no returns - that's worth more to me than $100 or so (especially when you consider the prevalence of bad copies of some lenses out there). If the venue is eBay or craigslist there are added risk factors to be considered. Obviously, it's a personal call, but for me the appeal of used gear falls dramatically as the price between used & new converge (& we've all seen bidding wars on eBay where the "victor" gets a used item at or above the cost of a new one!).

I track the market for used gear despite the fact I'm not really in the market for anything. Clearly, the increase in retail prices has an effect of used prices. It makes sense. I'm also pleased that I picked up most of my gear over the last three years at prices I practically never see now.

On the new versus/used debate I'm a great fan of buying used. Granted, one needs to have confidence in the seller, but that has always been rather easy to gain on FM with the feedback mechanisms, both old and new. I have never had a bad transaction and along the way I've met some very nice folks who share an enthusiasm for photography. One's reputation for dependability and honesty is worth gold on this site. I've had sellers send me thousand dollar lenses on the PROMISE of my sending a personal check.

With a bit of diligence it really is possible to pick up deals on the Buy and Sell board. It takes luck, no doubt, since most folks around here know prices and recognize a deal when they see one. But the hunt is a delight in itself, though photography is a hobby for me and I never need a particular lens at a particular time. FM is a great place to indulge this hobby!

kdowning wrote:
I have to agree with the two previous posters.

It continues to amaze me that people are willing to pay up to 80-85% of the original price for new equipment for used gear, especially high quality glass.


As long as you are dealing with an honest seller... buying used it worth it. I've got 2 lenses I bought used.. a Canon 70-300 IS and a tamron 28-75. I saw samples before I bought the lens and was able to get tack sharp copies of both lenses without the hassle of returning new lenses.

Even with L lenses... you can still get stuck with a lens that is not as sharp as you would like... something I found out when in the market for a Canon 24-70L.

Exactly. The reason to buy used is:
1. Modest cost savings. (It does all add up.)

2. The ability to ge pre-tested copies of lenses that are prone to wide sample variation.

A trusted seller with a good reputation for testing his/her gear is a good resource to find.
I have found sample variation on wide angle glass to be a real issue. I'd rather let
someone else screen copies for me.