Best / Safest place to buy a used lens

PistolPete · 17 May 2012 at 15:31

Hi All,

After hiring a 24-70 f2.8L and a 24-105 f4L from lensforhire.co.uk I've decided I want to purchase a 24-70 - I have seen them new for about £950 and that's a little steep for me so I'm going to have to buy used.

I'm hoping that the pending release of the 24-70 MK II will mean that there will be an abundance of the current model on the used market soon and I can stretch to about £700.

I'm not keen on the Bay (too many horror stories, not for me so I dont want it to be my first!) and you dont see many popping up on the members market.
I had a look at MPB and nothing at the moment so the question is where else would people trust in looking for lenses??

Thanks

Paul11 · 17 May 2012 at 15:35

talk photography and canon POTN if your member and enough posts to access the for sale section on there

PistolPete · 17 May 2012 at 15:47

Member of TP, but never posted

Never heard of the other one.... that's now bookmarked. thanks.

D.P. · 17 May 2012 at 16:15

I would never buy a lens wirhout seeing it in person and testibg it. Find a local camera shop with 2nd hand lenses.

ARD · 17 May 2012 at 16:18

London Camera Exchange sometimes have good used lenses in, and you can try them first

http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/

theheyes · 17 May 2012 at 17:27

LCE are pretty good but I don't think some of their used prices are that much better than new.

Raymond Lin · 17 May 2012 at 17:39

Potn is mainly North American based so the chances of finding one on there are fairly slim but not impossible.

An Exception · 17 May 2012 at 17:55

ebay is probably the 'safest' if your using paypal

Steves1982 · 17 May 2012 at 18:51

^^

That's where I get my 2nd hand gear from. At least your covered by Paypal if it's not as described or doesn't turn up.

I have used TP but there isn't any protection apart from using your own methods to verify the seller.

Lord-Jaffa · 17 May 2012 at 22:51

You won't get one new now, no where has them in stock since its been replaced by the MkII, which is over 1k more

I purchased mine from ebay this week, £750, just hope its ok when it gets here!

Phate · 18 May 2012 at 07:39

I've had 3 lenses from TP now

PistolPete · 18 May 2012 at 08:22

Lord-Jaffa said:
You won't get one new now, no where has them in stock since its been replaced by the MkII, which is over 1k more

I purchased mine from ebay this week, £750, just hope its ok when it gets here!

The MKII is still pre-order everywhere I'm seen it and there are places that are selling the MKI new to get rid of stock.

I counting on a few "gotta haves" selling their MKI to offset the cost of the MKII

drunken fool · 18 May 2012 at 08:31

I've used MPB in the past, very good service

PaulyD · 18 May 2012 at 09:58

Another vote for Talk Photography, had no issues with my dealings over there, MM over there "seems" as safe and friendly as here

Derek W · 18 May 2012 at 13:16

Been to the shop up in Beauly last year when i was in the area, Ffordes Photographic are quite good.

http://www.ffordes.com/

and as mentioned above MPB has a good range as well

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/

Lord-Jaffa · 18 May 2012 at 15:30

PistolPete said:
The MKII is still pre-order everywhere I'm seen it and there are places that are selling the MKI new to get rid of stock.

I counting on a few "gotta haves" selling their MKI to offset the cost of the MKII

None are in stock, I checked!

PistolPete · 18 May 2012 at 15:49

Lord-Jaffa said:
None are in stock, I checked!

Not checking hard enough - first site I just looked have 4 in stock @ £1089.95 inc free delivery
Another site I just found has stock at £1089.95 + £8 delivery.

Lord-Jaffa · 18 May 2012 at 19:29

PistolPete said:
Not checking hard enough - first site I just looked have 4 in stock @ £1089.95 inc free delivery
Another site I just found has stock at £1089.95 + £8 delivery.

I know the site you are talking about with 4 in stock, and I would never ever order anything from there, they say they have stock but you wait weeks for it to be dispatched, and its almost impossible to contact them to cancel the order.

PistolPete · 18 May 2012 at 19:42

Well I have my eyes open in a few places for a used one - fingers crossed

An Exception · 18 May 2012 at 23:34

maximusmi2 said:
^^

That's where I get my 2nd hand gear from. At least your covered by Paypal if it's not as described or doesn't turn up.

I have used TP but there isn't any protection apart from using your own methods to verify the seller.

I got my D700 from TP, but for large ticket items like that I'd only do cash on collection...