A little advice needed

Photography is a hobby for me, I don't make any money off it. Mostly I photograph events, family, couple of weddings.
Friend of mine is selling his 16-35 mk II and offered to give me a very attractive "friends" discount if I decide to buy it from him.
Previously, with my 7D I had Tokina 11-16, which was a wonderful lens, but in over a year, I found out that I used it once or twice. The rest of the time, it either sat in a closet or in my bag unclaimed and bored.
I rarely do landscapes.
I've seen some people use it for some interesting effects in events photography or for large groups of people, but I don't think I can justify a price tag for a couple of photos a year.

If I get into landscaping or architecture, I could always acquire one, I guess.

I guess, I've just answered my own question?

what was the question?

are you asking if you should buy the 16-35 even though you rarely used your 11-16?

It's an expensive piece of glass, even with a friend's discount, if you're on fence. If you are not planning to move to FF, I'd pass. There are better lenses to cover that focal range on a crop and their prices are more reasonable. I think the 16-35II is a compromise lens for full framers, until Canon comes up with a true 14-24mm equivalent.

If the discount is good enough, you can see what you think, and if it's not for you just sell it for the same or more money.

If you already have a lens in that range and you never use it, I wouldn't buy another lens in the same range, esspecially if it's going to be a $1000 top notch lens, unless you are planning on reselling for profit.

You are saying "IF" but you have the means right now and don't utilize it.

mafoo wrote in post #13547002
If the discount is good enough, you can see what you think, and if it's not for you just sell it for the same or more money.

Yea...but if it's really a 'friend', you'd help them sell it rather than take the profit yourself. I had a friend do this to me in my youth...bought some musical instruments from me at a friends discount and sold it to another friend of mine at a profit. Grr.

Either buy it and keep it, or use your connections to help your friend get fair value.

^ Best way to do it. Never make money off friends. It's bad buying/selling karma.

Nope, I didn't buy it yet, just considering. I wouldn't want to profit off a friend, it's just not cool.
I'm already shooting FF, but almost never use that focal range.
I've figured if I get into landscapes, I might get 17-40 or even consider Sigma 12-24, but it looks like I'm better off saving for something I could actually use.