Used Canon 70-300L - What is a reasonable asking price?

I sent my 5-year-old 70-300L to Adorama asking for a quote. The lens is in good condition except for some scratches where I mounted a third-party tripod mount. They valued the lens at $400 and offered me 70% or $280. Is this reasonable, or should I offer it on this forum?

RodneyCyr wrote in post #18645467
I sent my 5-year-old 70-300L to Adorama asking for a quote. The lens is in good condition except for some scratches where I mounted a third-party tripod mount. They valued the lens at $400 and offered me 70% or $280. Is this reasonable, or should I offer it on this forum?

I've seen them go here for around $700. It is such a nice lens... I can't bring myself to sell mine. I have the 100-400ii and that gets the use.... but I keep the 70-300L in case we go overseas on a non-photocentric vacation.

RodneyCyr wrote in post #18645467
I sent my 5-year-old 70-300L to Adorama asking for a quote. The lens is in good condition except for some scratches where I mounted a third-party tripod mount. They valued the lens at $400 and offered me 70% or $280. Is this reasonable, or should I offer it on this forum?

$280 is the equivalent of giving it away and you can do far better selling it outright. There is no way I would for one second consider selling mine for either of those amounts.

i'd say it's worth $600 minimum. they don't hold their value well. I owned a couple of copies but about a year ago I moved back the the 70-200L f4 IS because I get more consistent results with the shorter zoom when doing long exposures. I know what you mean about third party rings chipping the paint on that lens and in general I think the newer white lenses are more prone to chipping.

Phoenixkh wrote in post #18645486
I've seen them go here for around $700. It is such a nice lens... I can't bring myself to sell mine. I have the 100-400ii and that gets the use.... but I keep the 70-300L in case we go overseas on a non-photocentric vacation.

I won't part with my 70-300L. Unlike you it is my default walk-around lens. I find it so much easier to carry and use compared to the 100-400ii. On close walking trails I find the smaller lens long enough. Which means it sees use and the 100-400 not so much.

Rod

Adorama currently shows 2 used on their web site. One is priced at $909, the other is $949. That’s a lot more than the $400 value they’re telling you, even allowing for less than “excellent” condition!

https://www.adorama.co​m …al-Length_70-hyphen-300mm

Mike

RodS57 wrote in post #18646071
I won't part with my 70-300L. Unlike you it is my default walk-around lens. I find it so much easier to carry and use compared to the 100-400ii. On close walking trails I find the smaller lens long enough. Which means it sees use and the 100-400 not so much.

Rod

around here, for birding, I'm at 400 or 560mm... 300mm only works in my backyard.... but I love the images I get from the 70-300L. I can take it traveling.. it takes up almost no room in the camera bag because it stands upright. So, three lenses.... 16-35 f/4IS and the 24-105... 70-300L, I'm ready for most things. I have the 70-200 f/2.8 ll but it's a bit heavy to be lugging around when I wouldn't be able to use my gear cart. Like a vacation where we have to fly.

Phoenixkh wrote in post #18646091
around here, for birding, I'm at 400 or 560mm... 300mm only works in my backyard.... but I love the images I get from the 70-300L. I can take it traveling.. it takes up almost no room in the camera bag because it stands upright. So, three lenses.... 16-35 f/4IS and the 24-105... 70-300L, I'm ready for most things. I have the 70-200 f/2.8 ll but it's a bit heavy to be lugging around when I wouldn't be able to use my gear cart. Like a vacation where we have to fly.

Same here. If no wildlife photography is involved, my 6D with the 70-300, 24-105, and the 16-35 is my preferred combo for travelling.

the great thing about the 70-300L is in a pinch it's an excellent wildlife lens. originally that's why I bought it because there were too many times that I didn't bring my 100-400L along and my longest lens was 70-200.

With the scratches, Adorama will likely ask $849 and probably accept $799(or less). I'd say, given the condition of the lens, $400 is not a bad offer. If the OP wanted to go through the hassel of selling, either locally or online, asking would be $795 and get offers of $650. Then have to package the lens and ship. Is it worth it to make $250?

Up here (Canada) I’ve seen them on sale for 1,100 C$. New for 1,819 C$.

I recently purchased a used 70-300L that is as clean as a brand new lens. I paid just over $800 for mine and I've been extremely happy with it. I almost always use it on my Canon 80D, and with the 1.6X crop factor it is the equivalent of a 480 mm lens when extended to full reach. I love shooting birds in flight, and this combo is ideal for that. Sometimes I use it on my 7DII, but I honestly like it better on the 80D. Being an old guy, weight has become an issue (with back and sciatic nerve problems), and I find this combo very easy to carry on short hikes.

Phoenixkh wrote in post #18646091
around here, for birding, I'm at 400 or 560mm... 300mm only works in my backyard.... but I love the images I get from the 70-300L. I can take it traveling.. it takes up almost no room in the camera bag because it stands upright. So, three lenses.... 16-35 f/4IS and the 24-105... 70-300L, I'm ready for most things. I have the 70-200 f/2.8 ll but it's a bit heavy to be lugging around when I wouldn't be able to use my gear cart. Like a vacation where we have to fly.

That is the same setup I now have with my 5DIV for travel -- covered with overlap from 16-300 with high quality and (relatively) light weight -- Dave

.

notastockpikr wrote in post #18646995
With the scratches, Adorama will likely ask $849 and probably accept $799(or less). I'd say, given the condition of the lens, $400 is not a bad offer. If the OP wanted to go through the hassel of selling, either locally or online, asking would be $795 and get offers of $650. Then have to package the lens and ship. Is it worth it to make $250?

.
But $400 was not the offer. . Didn't the OP make that clear?
.

RodneyCyr wrote in post #18645467
They valued the lens at $400 and offered me 70% or $280.

.