Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

scottab · 12-28-2014, 03:30 PM

Hello everyone and thanks in advance for your input. I have rented a Pentax SMC DA 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 ED AL (IF) DC WR from lensrental.com. I wanted to see if I liked it before I purchased one. I have decided that I do like the lens and want one. My dilemma is do I buy the one that I have rented for 410 dollars or buy a brand new one from BH for about 420 dollars, plus about 14 dollars for express shipping. I would want to have before next weekend. I am leaning towards buying a new one from BH. Just having a hard time making up my mind. What would you do?

Flugelbinder · 12-28-2014, 03:34 PM

Does that lens work fine? No focus shifts, softness, etc? Are you willing to risk a not so good lens and having all the trouble of returning it?

Rimfiredude · 12-28-2014, 03:35 PM

It is up to you, but you are running out of time.

**jatrax** · 12-28-2014, 03:36 PM

I have no issues with buying used, in fact I have better luck buying used than new as far having a lens fail. However, the issue here is what is the warranty that will be supplied by Lens Rentals? You would get a full year from B&H if you are in the US, longer in some other countries. So unless Lens Rentals is giving you that I would go with B&H. If they are giving you the 1 year warranty and you are happy with the copy you have then sure just keep it instead of risking getting a poorer copy.

DSims · 12-28-2014, 03:49 PM

Yes, keep the copy you have if you like it, just as long as the warranty's OK with you.

Or save a little money and buy used from the forum Marketplace here, if you can get one in time.

Na Horuk · 12-28-2014, 03:52 PM

If the difference between used and new is only $30, go for new. You get box, warranty, everything. Unless the rented lens is absolutely perfect and you have difficulty finding a new lens in your area.

btnapa · 12-28-2014, 04:10 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by scottab

Hello everyone and thanks in advance for your input. I have rented a Pentax SMC DA 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 ED AL (IF) DC WR from lensrental.com. I wanted to see if I liked it before I purchased one. I have decided that I do like the lens and want one. My dilemma is do I buy the one that I have rented for 410 dollars or buy a brand new one from BH for about 420 dollars, plus about 14 dollars for express shipping. I would want to have before next weekend. I am leaning towards buying a new one from BH. Just having a hard time making up my mind. What would you do?

Ask them if they would apply the rental cost towards the purchase. If they do, you have better deal. Otherwise, new would be my recommendation.

johnyates · 12-28-2014, 04:17 PM

Judging from the articles I've read on their blog, LensRentals.com - Photo/video thoughts from the largest rental house, I'd buy from them. You already know it's a good copy of the lens. Brand new, you may or may not get a good copy.

chromo · 12-28-2014, 04:41 PM

Buy new

**sergysergy** · 12-28-2014, 04:47 PM

Unless the used one is like $100 less buy new so that you have warranty.

scottab · 12-28-2014, 05:13 PM

Thank you everyone for your comments. The price I mentioned for the rental lens is with the rental fee applied towards the purchase price. I have put the lens through all of the tests on my K20D and K5 that I could think of. It works very well. I have a good copy, but the standard warranty is not as long as buying new. But If I do buy new I may not get such a good copy. I know that BH is good to work with if you are not happy. So I am leaning towards buying a new one from BH mainly for the 1 year warranty. I have used the marketplace here, purchased a K5 and grip from site member Winder. Happy New Year everyone.

scottab · 12-28-2014, 05:15 PM

Made this one yesterday morning in the Flint Hills with my newly converted black and white infrared Pentax K20D and the Pentax SMC DA 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 ED AL (IF) DC WR rental lens. ISO 400 F 11 1/180th 53mm. I had the chance to put the lens through its paces. From 18mm ot 135mm at varying F stops. I am very pleased with the results.

**filoxophy** · 12-28-2014, 05:40 PM

Seems you rented a good copy...I might be inclined to stick with what I know. That's worth something, right?

There's no correct answer here, except in retrospect.

normhead · 12-28-2014, 06:14 PM

Lens rental has better lens testing equipment than Pentax does. If they say it's good, I'd take that over new in the box as long as it was in pretty much new condition.

Pioneer · 12-28-2014, 06:16 PM

Lensrental takes REALLY good care of their lenses. I would buy it from them since you already know what it can do.

12-28-2014, 03:30 PM	#1
scottab Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 76	Not sure what to do? Need your thoughts. Hello everyone and thanks in advance for your input. I have rented a Pentax SMC DA 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 ED AL (IF) DC WR from lensrental.com. I wanted to see if I liked it before I purchased one. I have decided that I do like the lens and want one. My dilemma is do I buy the one that I have rented for 410 dollars or buy a brand new one from BH for about 420 dollars, plus about 14 dollars for express shipping. I would want to have before next weekend. I am leaning towards buying a new one from BH. Just having a hard time making up my mind. What would you do?

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12-28-2014, 03:34 PM	#2
Flugelbinder Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Toronto - missing the ocean Posts: 466	Does that lens work fine? No focus shifts, softness, etc? Are you willing to risk a not so good lens and having all the trouble of returning it?

12-28-2014, 03:35 PM	#3
Rimfiredude Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Washington Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,176	It is up to you, but you are running out of time.

12-28-2014, 03:36 PM	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	I have no issues with buying used, in fact I have better luck buying used than new as far having a lens fail. However, the issue here is what is the warranty that will be supplied by Lens Rentals? You would get a full year from B&H if you are in the US, longer in some other countries. So unless Lens Rentals is giving you that I would go with B&H. If they are giving you the 1 year warranty and you are happy with the copy you have then sure just keep it instead of risking getting a poorer copy.

12-28-2014, 03:49 PM	#5
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Yes, keep the copy you have if you like it, just as long as the warranty's OK with you. Or save a little money and buy used from the forum Marketplace here, if you can get one in time.

12-28-2014, 03:52 PM	#6
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	If the difference between used and new is only $30, go for new. You get box, warranty, everything. Unless the rented lens is absolutely perfect and you have difficulty finding a new lens in your area.

12-28-2014, 04:10 PM - 1 Like	#7
btnapa Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 1,621	Originally posted by scottab Hello everyone and thanks in advance for your input. I have rented a Pentax SMC DA 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 ED AL (IF) DC WR from lensrental.com. I wanted to see if I liked it before I purchased one. I have decided that I do like the lens and want one. My dilemma is do I buy the one that I have rented for 410 dollars or buy a brand new one from BH for about 420 dollars, plus about 14 dollars for express shipping. I would want to have before next weekend. I am leaning towards buying a new one from BH. Just having a hard time making up my mind. What would you do? Ask them if they would apply the rental cost towards the purchase. If they do, you have better deal. Otherwise, new would be my recommendation.

12-28-2014, 04:17 PM	#8
johnyates Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Saskatoon, SK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,345	Judging from the articles I've read on their blog, LensRentals.com - Photo/video thoughts from the largest rental house, I'd buy from them. You already know it's a good copy of the lens. Brand new, you may or may not get a good copy.

12-28-2014, 04:41 PM	#9
chromo Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: North Coast NSW Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 581	Buy new

12-28-2014, 04:47 PM	#10
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,175	Unless the used one is like $100 less buy new so that you have warranty.

12-28-2014, 05:13 PM	#11
scottab Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 76 Original Poster	Thank you everyone for your comments. The price I mentioned for the rental lens is with the rental fee applied towards the purchase price. I have put the lens through all of the tests on my K20D and K5 that I could think of. It works very well. I have a good copy, but the standard warranty is not as long as buying new. But If I do buy new I may not get such a good copy. I know that BH is good to work with if you are not happy. So I am leaning towards buying a new one from BH mainly for the 1 year warranty. I have used the marketplace here, purchased a K5 and grip from site member Winder. Happy New Year everyone.

12-28-2014, 05:40 PM	#13
filoxophy Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 1,133	Seems you rented a good copy...I might be inclined to stick with what I know. That's worth something, right? There's no correct answer here, except in retrospect.

12-28-2014, 06:14 PM	#14
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Lens rental has better lens testing equipment than Pentax does. If they say it's good, I'd take that over new in the box as long as it was in pretty much new condition.

12-28-2014, 06:16 PM	#15
Pioneer Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wandering the Streets Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,411	Lensrental takes REALLY good care of their lenses. I would buy it from them since you already know what it can do.

Not sure what to do? Need your thoughts.

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!