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Archive 2020 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

John_Benson
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

I have a 200mm 1.8 lens that I have had since new. I have used it about 3 times and I have finally figured out I will never use it again. Suffering from GAS. I have looked and can't find a fair value for this lens. Any suggestions? I want to put it on the Buy Sell board.

Mar 04, 2020 at 01:16 PM

jcolwell
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

I came to the same conclusion, about four years ago. If you sell it on eBay (where I'm active), I'd start with an appropriate price (see below) for a "Buy It Now" sale, and leave it there for a couple of weeks. Make the photos of the item as appealing as possible - at least, don't use blurry mobilephone shots - not that anybody with a 200/1.8L could ever do that. If you set it up for an auction listing, then make the minimum bid pretty close to what you'd set for using BIN. Set a low value for the auction minimum-bid at your peril.

No matter where you sell it, if it needs to be shipped, then make sure that its insured for full value, or you'll be out of luck if it gets lost or broken. (Buyer gets refund from your bank account, via Paypal [probably], and you get broken lens, or nothing.)

A quick survey of eBay sales in the past few months shows a couple in Excellent [E] condition sell for about $2685 US, and a couple more in Near Mint [M-] condition sell for about $3600 US. That's almost exactly the same average selling prices as shown in the last update of Lens$db, in Sept 2018.

Good luck.

Lens$db, http://tinyurl.com/jcolwell-lensdb

Mar 04, 2020 at 01:48 PM

tcphoto
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

As suggested, I'd search completed eBay auctions, forum classifieds and http://bokehmarket.com. You will have to decide whether you have the patience to wait for perfect buyer who's willing to pay a premium price or offer a bit of a deal to sell faster. I've given up selling on ebay because their fees have gone out of control and factor in PayPal fees as well. Here is a link to an auction that may be comparable https://www.ebay.com/itm/Excellent-CASE-Canon-EF-200mm-f-1-8-L-USM-Ultrasonic-Lens-Japan-650-/153836730124.

Mar 04, 2020 at 02:44 PM

JimmyJames
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

I looked for a very long time and about two years ago finally pulled the trigger on the newer f2 version. However guessing it is if near perfect shape, I'd suggest $3200-3400.

Mar 04, 2020 at 03:22 PM

JohnSil
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

John, there are several factors with the 1.8.
Most importantly the lens has cult status as an incredible lens. Those that want it, want it!
Don’t know where your lens falls but the last ones made are more desirable than the first ones made.
The Focus By Wire is a concern, hence the newer the better.
If you’ve only use it 4 times it should be mint!
Hopefully you’ve taken some unique images with it that ONLY that lens can take and flaunt them!
I bought mine about 10 years ago for $3500 in excellent condition and among the last 100 made.
I figure I could sell mine fore about $3000 today but that’s just a guess.
Other small factors like still having the keys to the trunk and the lens cap being in good shape come into play as well.
Don’t forget to mention the focus preset and the 3 focus speeds with an ultra low speed for shallow DoF manual focus. Good luck!!
John

Mar 04, 2020 at 04:30 PM

mb126
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

3000 to 3500 seems right. I sold mine recently for around 2 and while the optics were good, the outside was not great.

Mar 04, 2020 at 05:37 PM

John_Benson
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

Thanks everyone for your reply. As mine is as new will try for $3200 to include pp & shipping.

Mar 04, 2020 at 05:44 PM

Optics Patent
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

The majority on EBay are under $3000. Those who sell
For $2750 are netting $2400 as most of the buyers are paying an added $250 sales tax.

List here for $3000 and you’ll have a fast sell and do far better than eBay.

Mar 04, 2020 at 10:12 PM

KINGOFKNGS
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

Any reason why you plan to not use it? I love mine. I've used it on the 1DX3 recently and found it to work really well. I was actually a bit more impressed with it adapted to the A9 with IBIS. Shockingly good handheld there. I think pairing it with the IBIS of the R5 could be just as good, if not better given the higher resolution!

Mar 04, 2020 at 11:10 PM

JohnSil
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

KINGOFKNGS wrote:
Any reason why you plan to not use it? I love mine. I've used it on the 1DX3 recently and found it to work really well. I was actually a bit more impressed with it adapted to the A9 with IBIS. Shockingly good handheld there. I think pairing it with the IBIS of the R5 could be just as good, if not better given the higher resolution!

He says he's only used it 4 times since new?
I think many just don't realize how big and heavy that lens is. The objective lens is the same size as a 500mm!
With a camera they are 10 pounds, that's no easy shooter!
I use mine sometimes for 6-8 hours at a time on occasion but at the end of the day I am wasted. My arms, shoulders and back have all done a full days workout. Like splitting wood or using a chainsaw all day!! Some shooters can barely push a pencil all day!! LoL
I found without a handle my hand would start to cramp up in about an hour because the foot is so small and awkward. A handle made ALL the difference in the world!!!
Depending on someones physical condition it might be an impossibility other than just a few shots to play with it.
Some complain that a puny little 100-400 is a big lens. LoL
It's no cake walk of a shoot, that's for sure!!!
John

Mar 04, 2020 at 11:47 PM

mdvaden
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

JohnSil wrote:
He says he's only used it 4 times since new?
I think many just don't realize how big and heavy that lens is. The objective lens is the same size as a 500mm!
With a camera they are 10 pounds, that's no easy shooter!
I use mine sometimes for 6-8 hours at a time on occasion but at the end of the day I am wasted.

It's a lens I'd enjoy, but use infrequent. Preferably, I prefer lighter gear and even remove battery grips these days. On the other hand, I'm an arborist and do pruning often. Many arborists I know, including women, work 5 days a week with chainsaws that heavy and carry limbs and trunk sections 5 times that weight throughout each day, over 200 days each year.

So back to the lens, for someone in reasonably good physical condition, a fair price for a great lens seems most important.

Others mentioned looking at Ebay. I would compare Ebay, but also factor Ebay's commission if selling on the forum where there's no commission.

Mar 05, 2020 at 12:28 AM

mikeinctown
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

Not sure about now, but a few months back there were at least a half dozen 1.8 lenses on sale on the forum here with relatively decent pricing. (far less than was quoted above as selling on eBay) Even the newer 2.0 which has better focusing is selling for a tad under $4k here in S&S.

Not sure why eBay would collect sales tax unless you are a frequent seller. A private sale like like a single lens should not have sales tax involved.

Mar 05, 2020 at 02:32 PM

psa_fm
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

mikeinctown wrote:
Not sure about now, but a few months back there were at least a half dozen 1.8 lenses on sale on the forum here with relatively decent pricing. (far less than was quoted above as selling on eBay) Even the newer 2.0 which has better focusing is selling for a tad under $4k here in S&S.

Not sure why eBay would collect sales tax unless you are a frequent seller. A private sale like like a single lens should not have sales tax involved.

If there is local sales tax where you live ebay collects the sales tax in almost all states now. It sucks. The seller has no control over it. And they buyer doesn't find out they are going to be charged sales tax until they go to the checkout section and pay.

Mar 05, 2020 at 02:49 PM

drimer
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

$3200 like new seems fair.

Mar 05, 2020 at 04:26 PM

John_Benson
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

I am 79 and just don't get much shooting there days. If I could find a way to take it with me I would.

Mar 05, 2020 at 06:22 PM

GoGo
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Canon 200mm 1.8 lens price ?

Hey John,
The way to honor the past and this wonderful hardware is to insure that you hand it forward to a deserving practitioner of the craft (photography).
love to chat some time.
Giorgio

Nov 27, 2021 at 09:41 PM


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