Would you buy a used EF 300 L f4 with AF not working?

You are correct! I guess I feel like it does since it is shorter and I barely have any throwaways. Good catch!

macroimage wrote in post #18488944
If it is an EF 300mm f/4L USM (without IS), then it is more than 7 years old for sure, not that it much matters how old an EF lens is if it works well. ....

Actually the pre-IS version was introduced in 1991 and discontinued in 1997, when the IS version was introduced.

So a non-IS lens is at least 20 years old and might be as much as 26 years old.

But, I agree... age doesn't mean a whole lot. If a lens has seen little use and good care, it might be fine.

At least, until it needs repair. Then you might have trouble getting it fixed. Some far newer Canon EF lenses are unrepairable, for all practical purposes, because replacement parts aren't available.

hell no

No, I definitely would not.

blue9 wrote in post #18487162
I have a chance to buy a used one for a 1/5 new price.

DreDaze wrote in post #18491046
if it was working it'd be like $450..so 1/5 of that you're talking like $90-$100?

The OP said 1/5 of new price. . Where are you seeing new Canon 300 f4 lenses for $450? . According to the most recent information, you are way, way off. . One fifth of new would be around $270.

No!

Tom Reichner wrote in post #18509817
The OP said 1/5 of new price. . Where are you seeing new Canon 300 f4 lenses for $450? . According to the most recent information, you are way, way off. . One fifth of new would be around $270.

Hosted photo: posted by Tom Reichner in
./showthread.php?p=185​09817&i=i226834303
forum: Canon Lenses

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since he didn't mention IS in the original post, i assumed it was the older non IS 300mm f4...which you're not getting new...but can pick up used for like $500

but i did miss him writing 1/5 of the 'new price' so now who knows what the lens is

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DreDaze wrote in post #18510552
since he didn't mention IS in the original post, i assumed it was the older non IS 300mm f4...which you're not getting new...but can pick up used for like $500

but i did miss him writing 1/5 of the 'new price' so now who knows what the lens is

Well, he said that the lens was about 7 years old, and compared the price to the new price. . Both of these facts pretty much mean that he could only be referring to the current version, which has IS.

blue9 wrote in post #18487162
I have a chance to buy a used one for a 1/5 new price. AF is not working and it's around 7 years old.

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Tom Reichner wrote in post #18511626
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Well, he said that the lens was about 7 years old, and compared the price to the new price. . Both of these facts pretty much mean that he could only be referring to the current version, which has IS.


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Ok, you win...i said it wasnt worth $100... definitely not worth anymore...the op doesn't seem to care enough to return to the thread either

Price dependent.