Looking for best quality lenses but clueless

I'm looking for preowned a.k.a used camera lenses that give back the best picture quality possible. Anything between 8mm and 200mm. I don't know what brand as I haven't picked a camera body yet.

...and money is not a factor? Or do you have a budget?

Y'all got a few things to do before asking the question.
1. Pick the system you want to invest in
2. Set your budget
3. Set your crop factor
4. Pick you focal ranges.

From there, folks can start recommending otherwise all you will get is a list of each systems best lens and endless debate on why Canon/Nikon/Sony lens is better than the others.

The other thing you can do. Look at the cost of the lens. Generally $$$ = better quality.

Budget up to $600. I'm looking for a full frame dslr camera in the used market. I'd like to get the quality of a z 6 at the 400-600 price point.

gjl711 wrote in post #19415952
Y'all got a few things to do before asking the question.

1. Pick the system you want to invest in

2. Set your budget

3. Determine what you type of photography you are most interested in (Landscapes, portraits, street, sports, etc)

3a. Set your crop factor
3b. Pick your focal ranges.

4. Purchase your first lens

From there, folks can start recommending otherwise all you will get is a list of each systems best lens and endless debate on why Canon/Nikon/Sony lens is better than the others.

^^^^^ This. If you don't follow that order, I can almost guarantee you'll waste money and/or be unhappy with the gear you purchase. Going through that process will also give you an idea of relative pricing and quality. The only thing I would change in that process is what I wrote in red.

There are a small handful of used lenses that can be had for around $600 and still give you above average image quality, but that should not determine the brand or body you purchase. $600 will not get you "best" image quality from any camera body, from any brand.

Sebastian Riel wrote in post #19416052
Budget up to $600. I'm looking for a full frame dslr camera in the used market. I'd like to get the quality of a z 6 at the 400-600 price point.

Is that body and lens or body only? Does it have to be mirror-less? The $600 limit is going to greatly reduce your pool. I have seen a few 5DIIs and 6Ds go for just under that. A few 1DXs for a bit over that but that's body only. At that price point you might be better served if you look at the crop market as well.

Sebastian Riel wrote in post #19416052
Budget up to $600. I'm looking for a full frame dslr camera in the used market. I'd like to get the quality of a z 6 at the 400-600 price point.

These sites will show you what you get for $600:

https://www.keh.com/

https://www.mpb.com/en​-us

KEH is a great site but keep in mind that you probably can do better from a private party. Not much but some. For a $600 budget, every little bit helps I think. As a resource its great. Go to the advanced filters, set your price limit and you will see your options.

Sebastian Riel wrote in post #19416052
Budget up to $600. I'm looking for a full frame dslr camera in the used market. I'd like to get the quality of a z 6 at the 400-600 price point.

$600 CAD = $465 USD (in case anyone didn’t see that you are from Saskatchewan)

$600 CAD for a FF body AND lens?
Maybe for a 6D and Nifty Fifty, maybe.

FarmerTed1971 wrote in post #19416540
$600 CAD for a FF body AND lens?
Maybe for a 6D and Nifty Fifty, maybe.

If your willing to look around a bit I have seen 5DIIs for under $200 and KEH has a 24-105 f/4 for $390. Gets you really close for a pretty decent kit. No doubt, a FF camera and lens for $600 is going to be a challenge.

Nikon D700 is also around $300 USD. Maybe that with a used Tamron 24-70 (or 28-75)?

Thank you guys that does help. The local market here is fodder muck if you get my meaning. The camera shops are slightly better. They sell at suggested price points. Local market always sells at ridiculously high value, even 16 years later. I just offered $50 for a (she said, no way) K100d for $300.00 ? A joke. 6mp without 4 double aa batteries, and max 30 second shutter... I've haven't seen any full frame camera's locally.


I've seen images with the fujifilm GFX100s. I'm impressed. But then I thought. Could it be the lens I'm enjoying more? The contax 100-300 4.5 to 5.6 manual focus?
I laughed when I saw a "super" pro show me a 50 carl zeis lens. It was all about the bokeh. He said the colors were better as well. He said most of their lenses are better then the brand name camera's. I didn't
believe him at the time. But I'm starting too.

I've changed my mind. As much as I want a full frame. I'd settle on anything at or over 10mp with bulb setting. So no limit on shutter. Very good lens. I still don't care about brand.

I'm looking for cheap camera body with above specs. No doubt pre owned.

Lens range 100-300 , can be manual focus. Can have adapter tube for whatever camera I buy.
Micro lens mm doesn't matter to me.
Wide angle lens for getting in close and representing big architecture. Or any lens that's good for architecture. I don't want any lens that's in between 17 and 99mm.

I've been checking out Keh.com. Thank you guys. I'm awaiting email response to a whole host of questions. Too bad their email form stops at 500 words. I wrote 2000.