What is the best lens deal you ever got?

[westernminnguy]

Just for fun...

What is the best deal you ever got on a lens?

This would be a lens that you love, works great and got it for what you consider a very good price.

That said, I got a few months old, mint, 70-200 f2.8 IS USM for $1,000 a couple years back.

Now, truth be told, I rarely do anything but buy new and usually pay the going price. The 70-200 is the exception and I do love that lens.

Any other good buys out there?

Again, just having fun here.

[pixel_junkie]

4 month old CANON 35L - $630 total

[By-tor]

I bought a BNIB 24-105mm L from Canon for $499. I ended up buying 2 and sending one to my son in Italy..

Not a bad deal..

[90c4]

I had two crazy good deals:

85mm F1.2 II for $650
50mm F1.2 for $650, then traded it for $200 and a 35L - so my 35L was effectively $450

and some decent deals:
70-200mm F4 IS for $600, then sold it for $800
15mm f2.8 Canon fisheye for $400
135L for $600
50mm 1.4 $200
85mm 1.8 $200
70-300 DO IS $600
24-70 for $700

[octospit]

Originally Posted by westernminnguy

That said, I got a few months old, mint, 70-200 f2.8 IS USM for $1,000 a couple years back.

wow! that is one of the best deals i've ever heard of! lucky you!

just recently got a 24-70mm L for $930 on ebay w/shipping...i thought that was decent for used lens until i got it. it was almost brand new, practically unused!

got the nifty fifty for $40. that was almost unused too.

[yuribox]

Right after Thankgiving, I walked into a Bestbuy and found two 5D Mark II. Bought two of them, sold on Ebay for $3,500 each.
Then I sold my original 5D for $1,400. Bought used 1Ds Mark II for $1,900 and 180mm macro lens.

[Mr B Snappy]

Originally Posted by yuribox

Right after Thankgiving, I walked into a Bestbuy and found two 5D Mark II. Bought two of them, sold on Ebay for $3,500 each.
Then I sold my original 5D for $1,400. Bought used 1Ds Mark II for $1,900 and 180mm macro lens.

And I seem to recall there being a heated thread about that kind of thing at the time!

[Goos]

Getting a Canon 200L f/2.8 now from Calumet in San Francisco (I live in Sweden) and compared to the swedish price I'm getting a 37% discount, might be more if the dollar keeps dropping compared to the swedish currency, either way it's pretty sweet

[FlyingPhotog]

Oddly enough, based on where prices are at right now, I'd have to say the most bang for the buck(s) I've gotten is actually my 300mm f/2.8L IS

I caught B&H on a day where the price was down nearly $500 from where it is today.

[darosk]

I got my immaculate Magic Drainpipe (80-200 2.8L) for $600 on the 'Bay.

[BroX]

Originally Posted by Goos

Getting a Canon 200L f/2.8 now from Calumet in San Francisco (I live in Sweden) and compared to the swedish price I'm getting a 37% discount, might be more if the dollar keeps dropping compared to the swedish currency, either way it's pretty sweet

I ordered my 40D in England also benefiting from the exchange rate, but by the time they could deliver the camera (and charge my account) the Swedish krone had gone down so I ended up paying about the same as I would have in Sweden. Well, you can't win 'm all can you?

[nightcat]

dec 2008, I bought a 60mm 2.8 macro, advertized as new... looked new, works great! $250.

[thatkatmat]

Bought a legendary "Beercan" (Minolta AF 70-210 F4) for $50 pretty much new in box (20 yr old lens) Sold it for $375 when Sony introduced the Alpha series. Actually I made over 3K $ in about 2 months, buying local Minolta glass and selling online to Sony folks.

[ed rader]

Originally Posted by Mr B Snappy

And I seem to recall there being a heated thread about that kind of thing at the time!

yup. the socialists were up in arms .

ed rader

[90c4]

Originally Posted by ed rader

yup. the socialists were up in arms .

ed rader

I was part of that discussion - and in the end bought and sold 9 bodies with the 10% coupon and no tax and sold them for between $2800-$3200 and made over $1200 in Best Buy credit! It ended paying for my own 5D2 and covered all of my lenses.