how good and how much for used Sigma 70-200 f2.8

A friend came across a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 for $475 and was asking me if its a good deal. I don't know the used market for 3rd party lenses so asking on here

The markings on the lens says APO EX HSM. It did not say DG or macro or OS or whatever other abbreviations Sigma uses. I tried to look online and didn't find much. I assume this is 1 of the first versions.

Is this a good lens and a good price?

He said the body is in good condition with mainly just marks around the tripod mount area. He took off the tripod mount and saw that the black coating on the lens was all scratched up underneath probably from how the tripod mount was installed. Glass is clean.

He said the focus ring and zoom ring were pretty loose especially compared to my Canon 70-200 IS but I don't know if its generally just like that from Sigma.

Any ideas or should I tell him to get a Canon 70-200 f4 non IS?

anybody..is this a hard question to answer? i'm trying to help out a friend but I have no idea about the sigma lenses and how it would compare

I'd get the 70-200 f4 from Canon.

According to what you've said about the markings, that is probably the original 70-200 HSM from sigma, not even the HSM II (since that has a II after the HSM), and it is definitely not worth $475. If it was the HSM II, it would be a different story.

If its the original HSM, tell him to get the canon f4 non-IS. If its the HSM II, tell him if he wants 2.8 and doesn't mind a heavy lens, its a good choice.

thanks for the reply. he passed on the lens and is looking for a canon 70-200 f4