Experience with refurbished lenses fron the Canon store

Curious as to experiences with purchases of refurbished lenses from the canon online store? I received a coupon which makes it attractive, but I am also a little cautious buying a lens that had to be repaired...

I'm not convinced that most of them are anything but "new without full retail packaging". I've gotten a few and other than a soft-ish 70-200/2.8ISii (which went back), all have been flawless. And that seems to match retail lens results.

I've purchased two T4i's, a 70D, 7D Mark III, 5D Mark III and a number of lenses from Canon Refurbished. I just purchased an EF 70-200mm f/2.8 II and an EF 16-35mm f/4 tonight with the 15% off promo code. Everything I've purchased has looked and worked like new. I find it to be a great way to buy.

Thanks, I was looking at the 16-35mm f/2.8 III, But the f/4 with IS is got me thinking!

I've had a 70-200 f2.8 II and an M6, both looked new. In fact the 70-200 was a replacement for a new lens that I had returned 6 times (4 for IQ and 2 for a lose zoom ring). The referb was perfect.

JM_2 wrote in post #18832771
I've [...] 7D Mark III

WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS, I WANT IT.



Agreed with all above comments, I suspect "refurbished" means "new, but the packaging got damaged so we put it in a brown box". Have bought several lenses and at least 2 bodies, all indistinguishable from new.

I just received a 100mm macro lens...refurbished...o​utstanding!!...my only complaint was with fedex ground..when they text you, it will arrive on specific date, and says by end of day..you wait all day...nothing..but that’s a separate issue...

The Canon Refurb store is an excellent source of savings on both lenses and bodies. I've picked up some basic lenses for real cheap (18-55, 55-250 STM) for allowing nieces/nephews to practice with, as well as more advanced stuff (7DII, 5DIV) and they're flawless.

Refurb doesn't necessarily mean that the item needed to be repaired; it may have wound up back for *any* number of reasons, including straight customer returns because that customer didn't like the way the item felt, etc. They just go through and tune 'em up to factory specs and drop 10% or so on prices. Great deals to be had.

For those interested, there is a "Friends & Family" sale going on at the moment and you get some extra savings. See https://shop.usa.canon​.com …AiVFEALw_wcB&gc​lsrc=aw.ds for the details.

My own personal experience with the Canon refurb has been very positive, not one single complaint. To the OP, keep in mind you have return privileges and the same warranty as new.

One downside, specific to your "want" of the 16-35, is they are shown as out of stock. But it might be worth a call to Canon to explore your options. In the case of a relative that desired a certain camera by the birth of a 1st child, they ordered about three weeks before the due date and were given assurances the order would be filled. When it wasn't filled by about a week prior, Canon made a substitution to the next camera up and at no additional charge.

bseitz234 wrote in post #18833129
WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS, I WANT IT.



Agreed with all above comments, I suspect "refurbished" means "new, but the packaging got damaged so we put it in a brown box". Have bought several lenses and at least 2 bodies, all indistinguishable from new.

sigh...typo.

cwall64 wrote in post #18832756
Curious as to experiences with purchases of refurbished lenses from the canon online store? I received a coupon which makes it attractive, but I am also a little cautious buying a lens that had to be repaired...

I have an original 24-70mm f/2.8 that was refurbished (bought from B&H) and a number of folks have commented that this lens is an awful lot sharper than other 24-70's they have seen/used.
I can only guess that the tech doing the repair/refurbish took a lot more care to get the best out of it (or was very, very lucky!) based on this experience I would definitely buy a refurb again...

Oh but funny fact: the M50/15-45 kit is $720 right now at the Canon refurbished store:

https://shop.usa.canon​.com …-63-is-stm-lens-kit-black

It's also $650 new retail at Adorama:

https://www.adorama.co​m …0k1.html?Catego​ryID=68982

Apparently whoever sets the refurb prices doesn't keep track of the instant rebates.

I've bought both one L lens and one body refurbished from canon, and both were like new. the lens had a slight mark on the lens hood, but otherwise, it was mint.

I've bought a few lens from the refurb store and you couldn't tell the refurbs from new.

10 votes YES.