Broken Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 What To DO??

So I bought this Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 non-VC off Craigslist for $250. The seller said the only thing wrong with the lens was the zoom ring was a bit rough, as in it didn't zoom in/out smoothly. After testing it out, checking that the aperature still functioned and the lens actually still zoomed in and out, I bought the lens.

Brought the lens home and later that night, i played with it some more and realized the zoom ring was actually broken, all together. Sometimes it catches and zooms and sometimes it just goes round and round and round and ro....

The optics are still sharp at certain focal lengths but the focusing is limited, as if it's always trying to focus near or at infinite. At 50mm, for instance, I can only focus on objects up to ~3ft, beyond that it cannot focus. Even when I close down to f/22, for example, anything past 3ft is still out of focus.

Question is, what should I do with it now? I figure I have these options.

Option 1 - Repair it through Tamron? Initial estimates based on my description was $150-$300

Option 2 - Sell it for dirt cheap and cut my losses. Put money towards a fully functional version or even a Sigma version (I dislike Tamron's motor noise)

Option 3 - Keep it since it still works well for close shots but not well enough for a walk-around lens.

Option 4 - Paperweight.

Contact the seller and ask for a refund.

Sell it and cut your loses... No point in keeping a lens wthat is not functioning to it's full potentia, repair will cost you more than what you can buy it for used. Paperweight? maybe if have enought money laying around for anther lens

Good luck!

locky wrote in post #11040213
Contact the seller and ask for a refund.

yeah, tried that many many times already. I talked with him the next day but it was 4th of July weekend and he was on his way out of town, plus he had already "spent the money on rent". I left for a 2-week trip for Asia 2 days later. Got back a couple months and he's ignored all my communication attempts.

Sadly, that's the risk you take with Craigslist.

locky wrote in post #11040213
Contact the seller and ask for a refund.

I wouldnt give a refund if you buy something after testing it in person.. unless the seller was really dishonest!

Did you just call them for a guess or send it in for a formal estimate? It might be worth paying the shipping to get a precise estimate cause it's definitely worth fixing for $150ish, just probably not for $300. The worst case is you're out the shipping costs for both ways but I'd think it's worth a shot.

yuriyo923 wrote in post #11040233
Sell it and cut your loses... No point in keeping a lens wthat is not functioning to it's full potentia, repair will cost you more than what you can buy it for used. Paperweight? maybe if have enought money laying around for anther lens

Good luck!

I think this is your best advice.

I'd immediately contact the seller and do my best to get my cash back. If that failed, I'd sell it for a small loss (around 175) and use it towards a used Canon 15-85.

duane0524 wrote in post #11040709
I think this is your best advice.

right, consider it a craigslist lesson

HeelToe wrote in post #11040183
So I bought this Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 non-VC off Craigslist for $250. The seller said the only thing wrong with the lens was the zoom ring was a bit rough, as in it didn't zoom in/out smoothly. After testing it out, checking that the aperature still functioned and the lens actually still zoomed in and out, I bought the lens.

Brought the lens home and later that night, i played with it some more and realized the zoom ring was actually broken, all together. Sometimes it catches and zooms and sometimes it just goes round and round and round and ro....

The optics are still sharp at certain focal lengths but the focusing is limited, as if it's always trying to focus near or at infinite. At 50mm, for instance, I can only focus on objects up to ~3ft, beyond that it cannot focus. Even when I close down to f/22, for example, anything past 3ft is still out of focus.

Question is, what should I do with it now? I figure I have these options.

Option 1 - Repair it through Tamron? Initial estimates based on my description was $150-$300

Option 2 - Sell it for dirt cheap and cut my losses. Put money towards a fully functional version or even a Sigma version (I dislike Tamron's motor noise)

Option 3 - Keep it since it still works well for close shots but not well enough for a walk-around lens.

Option 4 - Paperweight.

at least he dropped a hint for u to check it out.

elogical wrote in post #11040701
Did you just call them for a guess or send it in for a formal estimate? .....

I described what the issue was via email and they responded back with $150-$300 but they had to see the damage first. It's pretty messed up, I'm predicting closer to the $300 range for this repair.

watt100 wrote in post #11040866
right, consider it a craigslist lesson

*sigh*...lesson learned!

Yeah, I was prepared to deal with a rough zoom ring but wasn't expecting a broken one. Considering the zoom ring was obviously more than "a bit rough", I can't say that the seller was being completely honest with me.

yuriyo923 wrote in post #11040233
Sell it and cut your loses...

I'm probably will end up going this route. So, anybody want to buy a cheap Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8? The zoom ring "is a bit rough" hahaha

What should I ask for this defective lens? $175? $150?

Plenty of people will be interested, post it for sale and ask for offers over $100-150 see what you can get. Good luck!

HeelToe wrote in post #11044581
Yeah, I was prepared to deal with a rough zoom ring...

Noooooo! Never buy gear that feels mechanically dodgy. If it works, then chances are it won't do for long - it'll have been dropped, dinged or have something inside it!

I'd be having words with the seller. Dude knew he was selling a POS...

this is where i never understand why people would buy something known broken(at least iffy) knowing if paying just $100 more one can get a legit good product.

I know that feeling- terrible- hope it gets resolved, but otherwise just get rid of it and forget about it: the last thing you want is it sitting around your house, reminding you of the time you got cheated!