How much to pay for a used lens - Canon

I borrowed a Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6 is usm lens this past weekend for some outdoor sports shooting in bright sunny daylight. Results looked great, good bokeh, sharp focus. Wondering what is a good price to pay for this on the used market in say, 9/10 condition? I have aspirations of going for the "L" line eventually, but I can't at the moment ($$$ :rolleyes. This 300mm gave me nice reach on a nice bright weekend.
All thoughts are welcome...
Thanks in advance...
Pete

Go to the SELL forum of POTN and check prices. Got to E-Bay and search "Completed" or "SOLD" items.

The only comment I have about the lens is that you can do better for less. I had the 70-300. My only complaint was a bit of softness at 300mm and f/5.6. At all other FL and apertures it was nice enough for me. Two options you may want to consider are the Tamron 70-300 and the EFs 55-250. Both are significantly cheaper than the 70-300. Reviewers and users like both of these alternatives.

I will only consider a used lens if I can get at least 20% off the price of a new one. And that's if the lens is in outstanding condition. Otherwise, I'll spend the extra for a new one. If you're patient, you can get some great deals on used lenses. Patience is the key.

I would look at a new Canon 55-250. It is a nice unobtrusive lens with good reach.

nightcat wrote in post #16282197
I will only consider a used lens if I can get at least 20% off the price of a new one. And that's if the lens is in outstanding condition. Otherwise, I'll spend the extra for a new one. If you're patient, you can get some great deals on used lenses. Patience is the key.

I see that applying to L-glass. You should be able to get consumer lenses like the 28-135, 18-135, 55-250 and 70-300 for 30-40% of MSRP. Paying 80% of MSRP for that glass in nuts.

There are a number of them for sale or sold recently on FredMiranda and looks like the going prices range from around $280 - $350. The one listed for $350 is advertised as "New".

When I bought mine in 2009, I bought it for $350 in perfect condition. Resold 1.5 years later for $400. For this lens I really think it is a waiting game for good deals from people who want to get rid of it fast. I have seen them go for as low as $250, but that was bought out in less than an hour.
I think you should look at the $350-$400 range for a like new condition copy.

I sold my mint 70-300 IS USM for $335 a year ago. It was retailing at that time for $440 or so new. So, that's a pretty good depreciation for essentially an as-new lens. Non L lenses don't quite hold their value.

I'd say like $350...they're actually probably going up a bit in price now...there was a time where you could tack it on to the purchase of a body brand new for i think like an extra $250 or something crazy...so people were buying them to sell them, to make the body price even cheaper...they are doing the same thing now, however the price is $350

doesn't really have much to do with non-L, has to do with the fact that canon made a lot of them available for a lower price...so the used market has a lot more of them available now

DreDaze wrote in post #16283010
I'd say like $350...they're actually probably going up a bit in price now...there was a time where you could tack it on to the purchase of a body brand new for i think like an extra $250 or something crazy...so people were buying them to sell them, to make the body price even cheaper...they are doing the same thing now, however the price is $350

That's what I did... picked it up as a bundle with the camera for $200 off, so effectively I paid $250 for it. It was a great lens but not long enough for my birding goals, so I sold it and got a 100-400L.

Thanks for all of the advice. Now the wheels are turning !!!

$300-325

Check HERE: http://www.jcolwell.ca …y/lens$db/Lens$​db-v25.pdf

Good luck!

I saw it mentioned further up in the thread, but I buy and sell a lot of used gear. I simply can't afford everything I want to try all at once but the Buy/Sell forums make it easy for me to see what is out there with very little out of pocket expense.

Some lenses command a higher percentage of the new price than others due to being new on the market, over/under saturation, etc. but I typically look for stuff in great condition at no more than 80% of the new retail cost at BH Photo. If I can't get a 20% discount for taking on the risk for buying used and potentially lose out on a warranty, I'd just as soon wait a while for another deal or buy new. So far, this has ensured I get good quality equipment at a price I can re-sell within a week or so if I need to.

YashicaFX2 wrote in post #16282353
I see that applying to L-glass. You should be able to get consumer lenses like the 28-135, 18-135, 55-250 and 70-300 for 30-40% of MSRP. Paying 80% of MSRP for that glass in nuts.

I certainly agree, you wouldn't pay 80% for the lenses you mentioned. Many used lenses I've purchased I've paid as much as 50% off MSRP. This is what I was referring to when I said... "If you're patient, you can get some great deals on used lenses. Patience is the key."