Originally posted by Docrwm +1. Goodwill is the biggest crapshoot there is when it comes to gear in my experience.
Yeah, it is, but sometimes you win the crapshoot, grin....
(MK gently pats her beautiful black KX and Vivitar 100MM....)
Actually a good portion of the MF lenses in my kit came from Goodwill one way or the other. Not all, but probably 3/4 and most of them were in good shape. Camera bodies, that's touch and go. I've had a few good ones, more bad ones probably, but I've only once or twice gotten a lens from there that had fungus or that had mechanical issues so I really cannot complain. If it were not for Goodwill, CL, and other local thrifts I'd be much less well outfitted for my job than I am now. Except for the odd black Pentax I rarely take a chance on cameras alone or with kit 50's. I'm on there looking for lenses I don't have, lenses I think are good and can use.
If a good camera comes with so much the better. But my top reason for bidding is lenses not cameras usually. I tend to go for a lot of off brand stuff besides. I don't automatically think Takumar every time I am perusing the auctions on there. There are often a lot of good lenses to be had for less that are not Taks. I always look up the lenses I am eying before I put them on my watch list. It pays to do your homework on there. But you really have to watch the shipping because of late it can be very high for camera gear...
As for that auction I suspected it would do well but not that well. The 85mm was the draw there, obviously. Those cameras they're on there by the dozen so is that 50 and the zoom. That 85mm goes for like $200 something normally, doesn't it? Must be someone wants it REALLY bad....