Used ... What's a used "L" really worth ?

macroimage wrote in post #13527554
That is very nice. Being in Canada, when I order from Adorama, I don't get the free shipping offers so I pay $40-50 for shipping, HST (12% tax) on the shipping, HST on the sale price, currency exchange (near par these days but the credit card companies take a few percent anyway), a $8 handling fee from FedEx for handling the customs issues, HST on the handling fee, etc etc. After all of that, it isn't always worth it, and often is cheaper to buy from a Canadian distributor in recent months.

That's why I always buy from b&h, they use purolator for shipping, cheaper shipping and clear custom for you! Adorama uses FedEx, way more expensive!

mdvaden wrote in post #13527470
...

Tangent

Not exactly related, but maybe someone can tackle this question ... does Ebay have a function that automatically makes bid for people, to counter one I make? I bid on a lens yesterday, starting at like $600, 4 times in 2 minutes. Every time I entered the bid, a window and refresh showed the minimum bid rose. All the way to $750. So I quit. Then today, about 12 hours later, the $750 is still sitting there unchallenged.

I'm sure that when it came to this situation the guy merely had his Maximum bid set well over what you were bidding, and when you stopped outbidding him his max bid stopped as well. It's a very common thing to see on many ebay listings. I've lost a great deal of items to people who have more in their maximum than I am willing to bid.

kinyocase wrote in post #13528014
I'm sure that when it came to this situation the guy merely had his Maximum bid set well over what you were bidding, and when you stopped outbidding him his max bid stopped as well. It's a very common thing to see on many ebay listings. I've lost a great deal of items to people who have more in their maximum than I am willing to bid.

Its practical in one way, but a tad bit irritating, sitting there having to keep entering bids one right after the other.

thestone11 wrote in post #13528001
That's why I always buy from b&h, they use purolator for shipping, cheaper shipping and clear custom for you! Adorama uses FedEx, way more expensive!

+1 ... I've placed two orders with B&H in the past couple of months. Both orders arrived in about a week. All in I saved more than enough to make it worth while than buying locally.

When I first started photography, I mean "picture taking" a few years ago, friends have always told me camera lens are good investment and they maintain their value very well.

I couldn't afford very expensive gear, but I did manage to buy a couple "L" lens through the years. Recently I'm trying to sell my 70-200mm f/4 IS in 9.5/10 condition and with UW date code since I would like to take advantage of the rebate on the f2.8 IS MK2.

I listed my lens for $950, which is approx. 20% off what I paid for brand new (tax not included) but I have been receiving offers ranging from $500 to $750, which is 45% to 35% off what I paid for brand new. I know it's still better than buying a brand new car off the dealership, but I wouldn't say "good investment".

mdvaden wrote in post #13527470
Tangent

Not exactly related, but maybe someone can tackle this question ... does Ebay have a function that automatically makes bid for people, to counter one I make? I bid on a lens yesterday, starting at like $600, 4 times in 2 minutes. Every time I entered the bid, a window and refresh showed the minimum bid rose. All the way to $750. So I quit. Then today, about 12 hours later, the $750 is still sitting there unchallenged.

alann wrote in post #13527561
Yes on the auto bid. You set your max bid and it will out bid any bid placed until it hits your max. It will then notify you and ask if you want to raise your max amount.

There are quite a lot of SW out there,generically known as "Sniper" or "Bidwatcher" wich are capable of doing the auto-bid.

mdvaden wrote in post #13527470
Should have asked this months ago ... but what is a used "L" lens really worth? I'd imagine that some of you who have owned them, and had some fixed, might best be able to answer this question. Personally, I don't know how much value of an L lens is salvageable, based on components that will wear out vs. those that don't.

A Craigslist ad prompted me to post this. A Canon used 35L 1.4 was advertised for $1250. A quick online search showed I could buy one today brand spanking new for as low as $1279. After a second email, I found out that the used lens was not just over a year old, but a 2005 lens bought used about a year and a half ago.

Generally, on Craigslist, it seems that used L lenses are selling just 5% or 10% below retail store cost. So what do you think sets the real value of a used L lens? Is there a length of ownership that should be considered like half-life? And would a half-life mean half price? Or do the components last so long, and repairs so cheap, that the value can remain high for a decade?

Tangent

Not exactly related, but maybe someone can tackle this question ... does Ebay have a function that automatically makes bid for people, to counter one I make? I bid on a lens yesterday, starting at like $600, 4 times in 2 minutes. Every time I entered the bid, a window and refresh showed the minimum bid rose. All the way to $750. So I quit. Then today, about 12 hours later, the $750 is still sitting there unchallenged.

1. A used L is worth about 80-90% of new price depending on the lens and conditions. But 80-90% is for one in good condition.

2. Yes, it is explained here. http://pages.ebay.com …uy/automatic-bidding.html

Craigslist, in my experience, is filled with 10% people needing to get rid of their junk at really low prices, and 90% delusional people who think their used Macbook, iPod, Lens, or 95 Mustang is worth 98% of what they paid for it new years ago.

macroimage wrote in post #13527554
... Being in Canada, when I order from Adorama, I don't get the free shipping offers...

We have recently agreed terms with an alternative shipping provider for our Canadian customers. However, I understand there have been problems getting the tariff calculator to integrate with our existing website. In the meantime, if you email me: Helen@adorama.com with details of what you'd like to order I can arrange a USPS shipping quote.

Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay.

I have a 70-200mm MkII 2.8 lens that at 14 months old needed an £700 IS barrel replacement.

I also have a 6 year old 24-70 lens with a scratch on the sensor facing lens that takes incredibly consistent sharp pictures. The age doesn't reflect the build quality or usage so value is totally subjective.

However there are folks who don't shop around before listing things or who never shopped around when they bought their lens in the first place and price it higher or equal to the new price. These will never usually sell.

IMO, $500 is a good used price for the non-IS f/4. I would say $900-$950 is reasonable used price for the IS version. $750 or less would be a steal but I'm like you and wouldn't sell it for that price.

nsfour wrote in post #13530446
When I first started photography, I mean "picture taking" a few years ago, friends have always told me camera lens are good investment and they maintain their value very well.

I couldn't afford very expensive gear, but I did manage to buy a couple "L" lens through the years. Recently I'm trying to sell my 70-200mm f/4 IS in 9.5/10 condition and with UW date code since I would like to take advantage of the rebate on the f2.8 IS MK2.

I listed my lens for $950, which is approx. 20% off what I paid for brand new (tax not included) but I have been receiving offers ranging from $500 to $750, which is 45% to 35% off what I paid for brand new. I know it's still better than buying a brand new car off the dealership, but I wouldn't say "good investment".

configsys wrote in post #13531199
IMO, $500 is a good used price for the non-IS f/4. I would say $900-$950 is reasonable used price for the IS version. $750 or less would be a steal but I'm like you and wouldn't sell it for that price.

Totally agree and i thought i listed with a reasonable price.