[GateCityRadio]

I buy most of my used lenses on KEH. I had issue with one of them (645-A 150mm that wouldn't infinity focus) and they replaced it quickly. I think the only lenses I've owned since new have been the DA50 and DA18-55 II. All of my cameras with the exception of the K200D have been used, all of them work(ed) except a ME-F I had that worked for a month or two then decided to crap out, but that probably was just its time to die and not a fault of the previous owner.

[tibbitts]

It's safe as long as it's either a very inexpensive lens, or the seller has a generous return policy, or you can actually examine/test the lens before buying.

Testing has to be as thorough for a new vs. used lens

[JimmyDranox]

It's safe as long as it's either a very inexpensive lens, or the seller has a generous return policy, or you can actually examine/test the lens before buying.

Testing has to be as thorough for a new vs. used lens

Pentax K-5 second, bought from Romania, from an Ebay clone. Perfect.
Pentax K-5 IIs second, bought from Ireland, through PentaxForum. Perfect
Tamron 70-200mm 2.8 second, bought from Romania, Ebay clone. Prefect
Sigma 50mm 1.4 HSM, second, bought from Cehia, PentaxForum. Perfect
Sigma 10-20mm 3.5 second, bought from Romania, Ebay clone. Perfect.
Pentax D FA 100mm Macro second, bought from Romania, Ebay clone. Perfect
Sigma 70-200mm 2.8 second, bought from Romania, Ebay clone. Perfect.

Those are just the most expensive. I've also bought from Germany, UK and other European countries. The only problem I had, if someone can call it so, was with a defective lens. Instead of those three broken parts, mentioned in the advert, I found another one inside the lens.

I've also bought much expensive, and sensitive optics, for astronomy. Also, no problem.

[tibbitts]

Pentax K-5 second, bought from Romania, from an Ebay clone. Perfect.
Pentax K-5 IIs second, bought from Ireland, through PentaxForum. Perfect
Tamron 70-200mm 2.8 second, bought from Romania, Ebay clone. Prefect
Sigma 50mm 1.4 HSM, second, bought from Cehia, PentaxForum. Perfect
Sigma 10-20mm 3.5 second, bought from Romania, Ebay clone. Perfect.
Pentax D FA 100mm Macro second, bought from Romania, Ebay clone. Perfect
Sigma 70-200mm 2.8 second, bought from Romania, Ebay clone. Perfect.

Those are just the most expensive. I've also bought from Germany, UK and other European countries. The only problem I had, if someone can call it so, was with a defective lens. Instead of those three broken parts, mentioned in the advert, I found another one inside the lens.

I've also bought much expensive, and sensitive optics, for astronomy. Also, no problem.

That's good, but not statistically significant. I've bought various used lenses: most recently, one that was unacceptable, one that was the wrong model; one that was excellent (just like new.) Overall I've had about a 50% success rate in the modern era with both new and used lenses, but again that's not statistically significant. You can get a dozen clunkers in a row, or a dozen excellent lenses, new or used - it's almost entirely luck, although you do have to read the used descriptions a little more carefully.

[jatrax]

I am curious, what repair was needed on your DFA 100 100 Marco WR. I have one bought new and mine seems to be fine. Let me guess: the DA* 16 - 50 needed an SDM repair.

You are correct, the 16-50 needed the SDM drive replaced. The DFA 100mm macro started massively overexposing. Whether it was sticky blades or something wrong with the linkage I'm not sure. It was erratic but at least 50% of the shots would be over by 2 or even 3 stops. Sent it to CRIS and it's good as new now.

[OregonJim]

You can get a dozen clunkers in a row, or a dozen excellent lenses, new or used - it's almost entirely luck, although you do have to read the used descriptions a little more carefully.

There are two, totally separate discussions here.

One is the perceived danger of buying used lenses and having them fail at some point because they are not "new".

Second is the issue of dealing with non-reputable sellers, particularly those on eBay.

The first situation is practically non-existent in my experience.

The second situation has nothing to do with lenses - it's all about dealing with dishonest (or clueless) people.

[stevebrot]

and the frequent confusion about lens fungus being 'communicable' (which it's not).

My microbiology training says I should send my fungused ST 55/1.8 to you so that you can introduce it to the nice stuff on your shelf. In my mind's eye it is a little like what you can't catch from a casual pickup. IOW, there is a first time for everything and it ain't gonna be pretty.


Steve

[mgvh]

Another distinction that needs to be made when I'm buying is whether I'm taking a risk on a 'great' deal or whether I'm paying fair price for what I trust will be a fully functional lens. The pics and descriptions on ebay tell a lot about how much risk you're taking. I've had some instances of getting bad lenses (fungus, haze, frozen/broken parts), but I knew that I was taking a risk and paid much less than if I knew they were a good lens. Goodwill is similar, but you can't count on the descriptions or pics there at all. I sure would never pay a 'full' price for anything on Goodwill. The only other problem I've had is with a lens I bought here in the marketplace at 'fair' price. I got a DA 16-45 when I was still a newbie, and only a couple months later did I discern that it was quite decentered. I sold it on ebay w/ photo examples so the person knew what they were getting.

[tibbitts]

There are two, totally separate discussions here.

One is the perceived danger of buying used lenses and having them fail at some point because they are not "new".

Second is the issue of dealing with non-reputable sellers, particularly those on eBay.

The first situation is practically non-existent in my experience.

The second situation has nothing to do with lenses - it's all about dealing with dishonest (or clueless) people.

It's not so much a lens "failing", or a seller being dishonest - it's that not everybody has the same expectations for quality. Another post mentions a decentered lens. Most sellers don't know what a decentered lens is or how to test for it. Many people think their lenses perform just fine because they don't pixel-peep sufficiently to know that they don't.

[stevebrot]

The only other problem I've had is with a lens I bought here in the marketplace at 'fair' price.

I like your comments. Regardless of where one purchases, it is good to consider the veracity and completeness of the lens description as well as the quality and completeness of the provided photos. I think it is safe to broadly characterize sellers of bad lenses into a few groups:

• Those who truly are ignorant of what constitutes a lens in working condition
• Those who make no claim regarding usability of an item and who claim ignorance of all things photographic
• Those who intentionally hide defect (sin of omission)
• Those whose goal is to rapidly turn an item without knowing its condition with the intent of negotiating an adjustment after the sale if the buyer complains (sell now, apologize later)

It is the last category that I find the most difficult. I had a combined lens(2)/camera deal with a frequent marketplace seller where one lens and the camera were not truly functional. The response was something to the extent of "I never considered that you might actually want to USE them for photography" despite market value being paid for the package. I threatened a PayPal arbitration and the seller relented. The negotiated settlement was that I would keep the functional lens at market value, keep the camera as junk, and return the other (defective) lens (me paying shipping) with the balance being refunded. I lost money on the deal and will never again buy from a certain seller from the great nation to the north of me.


Steve

[panoguy]

My microbiology training says I should send my fungused ST 55/1.8 to you so that you can introduce it to the nice stuff on your shelf. In my mind's eye it is a little like what you can't catch from a casual pickup. IOW, there is a first time for everything and it ain't gonna be pretty.

Send that ST 55/1.8 this way! This part of the country to the north of you is dry, dry, dry... and gets cold, cold, cold. You might not know that on the left coast.
Really, unless someone is a gear-storage idiot or makes a big mistake in handling, the fungus spores (already in the air and in most lenses) won't grow to start secreting their effluvia and etch the coatings or glass. Vastly different from an STD, but nice attempt at FUD... you should ask pntrs.com/t/TUJGRktHSkJHRkpISUVCRkpOSkVN?url=Lensrentals.com if they have a "quarantine room!" Otherwise, they'd be setting up a hot zone for glass destruction down there in Tennessee!

[stevebrot]

already in the air and in most lenses

Perhaps, but colonization of glass requires a specialist* and a specialist has an easier time of it if the next host is in proximity. That is why I used the example of STD. You don't catch one from a sitting on the grass. I suppose I should have used athlete's foot as an example instead.

As for conditions on the left coast, we get a lot of rain, but our humidity is generally pretty moderate. Right now it is 18 C outside with 45% relative humidity. I have done a fair amount of used lens shopping here locally and have never seen a fungus lens from here in the NW US. That being said, eBay purchases from the midlands and south of the U.S. are another story. I have gotten to where I no longer even consider auctions from the Gulf Coast through to the Carolinas. I have no doubt, however, that LensRentals.com has little concern about fungus. Their stuff is purchased new and cycled for sale used (lensauthority.com) before it gets too shopworn. As for where lens fungus comes from, you are correct that it is mostly likely from spores in the environment and the risk is huge in the tropics. My contention is that there is no sense exposing perfectly good glass to a demonstrated potential source of infection regardless of the temperature and relative humidity and what a rental shop in Tennessee does.

BTW...I am not sure what I did with the ST 55/1.8. If I find it, you can have it for the price of postage. I will PM you if it turns up.


Steve

* not much to eat and what is there is not very nutritious.

[ejhc11]

I feel more comfortable to buy a piece of used equipment from a camera forum than trusting someone on Craigslist. There is a little more assurance to buy used equipment from a forum such as this and others when members have a rating evaluation. Being a new Pentax owner I haven't bought a lot of used because the new items have been very good deals lately. But as a Canon person I have bought four bodies used (two 50Ds from Canon forum, and a 30D and Rebel XS from eBay). They have all been just as described and working fine. Plus various other equipment and lenses which none have given me any problems.

I may have been lucky but I feel the majority of members on camera forums are good people. I make sure when I sell that I am there afterwards also. I sold a brand new Canon 6D not a cheap piece of equipment to someone on the other side of the states on a Canon forum. He trusted me with a sale of over $1350, when he received it was as described except the battery wouldn't charge - since I never used the camera I didn't know about the Canon issue with the battery. What I did was order him a new $60 genuine Canon battery, with my Amazon Prime 2 Day shipping as a replacement and ask him to ship back the dead battery to me as an exchange. Once he received the new battery and charged it to verify the Canon 6D was fully functional he gave me a great review.

For me its not problem to buy used or new. If the equipment is in the condition I need it in and at a price I can afford I buy it.

[jatrax]

I feel more comfortable to buy a piece of used equipment from a camera forum than trusting someone on Craigslist.

Good advice, at least folks on a camera forum know something about the gear and respect it. I do a lot of estate sales and I've found things ranging from a beat up super-tak 50mm with massive fungus infection for $300 to a pristine F series 50mm f/1.4 in the case for $75. You just never know what you will find or what the seller thinks they have.

The key is to have a good, thorough inspection routine and to not get caught up in the moment. If the price is too high or the condition poor just walk away.

[boriscleto]

My best lens deal to date was a Craigslist purchase. PZ-70 with a Tamron 28-200 and a FA 50/1.7 for $100. The 28-200 & 50 are probably going to be sent to KEH soon along with my K-5 as part of a D7000 trade...