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Reason to buy Canon only lenses.....

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Shivesh Kumar

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I've been watching eBay for used lenses, either of Canon or third party make. To my surprise, Canon seems like holding near about same value even after a good use. So much so, this aution that just ended, the poor guy ended up paying more than he would have paid for the brand new 70-200 f4 L -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1386622859&rd=1

Just in case the link doesnt works - the end price was $630 . A brand new lens at B&H after rebates would not have cost him more than $530.

Another 28-70mm f2.8 aution ended at $880 - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1386698639&rd=1
A new one after rebates is $930.

So the morale of the story is that if you can, buy Canon only and use eBay for selling the gear instead of buying :)

Say cheez......
 
People never cease to amaze me - much like the poor schmoo on Ebay you mentioned. I don't get it. Why buy something from Ebay when you can get a new one, even if it's a few bucks more? You're trusting a complete stranger to tell you the truth about a lens who's history you know nothing about. If it's a good deal, or hard to find items, of course - it might be worth ponying up the bucks to get it. I bought most of my FD glass used and/or through Ebay but all my EF glass so far has been new. You have to be careful, and know what the item's real worth is - both new and used. Just be smart.

I love descriptions like, "...has two small 'cleaning marks' on the front element, but won't detract from image quality." Umm, that may be so - but err, "are you high?" Why would I want such a lens, except for parts? Or a really, really good deal. Sure, it can be argued that such "marks" don't affect image quality... Same thing with dust inside (which is much more forgivable and non-impacting and even normal). But those aren't the kinds of lenses I want in my kit.
Shivesh Kumar said:
I've been watching eBay for used lenses, either of Canon or third
party make. To my surprise, Canon seems like holding near about
same value even after a good use. So much so, this aution that just
ended, the poor guy ended up paying more than he would have paid
for the brand new 70-200 f4 L -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1386622859&rd=1
Just in case the link doesnt works - the end price was $630 . A
brand new lens at B&H after rebates would not have cost him more
than $530.

Another 28-70mm f2.8 aution ended at $880 -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1386698639&rd=1
A new one after rebates is $930.

So the morale of the story is that if you can, buy Canon only and
use eBay for selling the gear instead of buying :)

Say cheez......
Click to expand...
 
I wouldn't go as far as to call people morons, just uneducated or wary internet shoppers. eBay has done a wonderful job of the perception of security for those who cannot and do not have access to pro shops locally.

As internet users of this forum, we find it crazy to buy at retail but we're pretty savvy compared to most people. You really have to remember that there are a lot of people still using 28.8k access and there are places that have party lines still.

Before passing judgement maybe you should think out of the box.

--
Sean
http://www.mmsean.com
http://pbase.com/slowrey

Canon D60, Tokina 19-35mm, 50mm, 85/1.8 USM, 28-70/2.8 L, 100/2.8 Macro USM, 100-400L USM IS, ST-E2, 550ex, Bogen Tripod & Monopod, Microdrives, Transcend, Mindstor and Tamrac Bags.
 
Sean Lowrey said:
I wouldn't go as far as to call people morons, just uneducated or
wary internet shoppers. eBay has done a wonderful job of the
perception of security for those who cannot and do not have access
to pro shops locally.

As internet users of this forum, we find it crazy to buy at retail
but we're pretty savvy compared to most people. You really have to
remember that there are a lot of people still using 28.8k access
and there are places that have party lines still.

Before passing judgement maybe you should think out of the box.

--
Sean
http://www.mmsean.com
http://pbase.com/slowrey
Canon D60, Tokina 19-35mm, 50mm, 85/1.8 USM, 28-70/2.8 L, 100/2.8
Macro USM, 100-400L USM IS, ST-E2, 550ex, Bogen Tripod & Monopod,
Microdrives, Transcend, Mindstor and Tamrac Bags.
Click to expand...
 
boarderphreak said:
Sean Lowrey said:
I wouldn't go as far as to call people morons, just uneducated or
wary internet shoppers. eBay has done a wonderful job of the
perception of security for those who cannot and do not have access
to pro shops locally.

As internet users of this forum, we find it crazy to buy at retail
but we're pretty savvy compared to most people. You really have to
remember that there are a lot of people still using 28.8k access
and there are places that have party lines still.

Before passing judgement maybe you should think out of the box.

--
Sean
http://www.mmsean.com
http://pbase.com/slowrey
Canon D60, Tokina 19-35mm, 50mm, 85/1.8 USM, 28-70/2.8 L, 100/2.8
Macro USM, 100-400L USM IS, ST-E2, 550ex, Bogen Tripod & Monopod,
Microdrives, Transcend, Mindstor and Tamrac Bags.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Sean
http://www.mmsean.com
http://pbase.com/slowrey

Canon D60, Tokina 19-35mm, 50mm, 85/1.8 USM, 28-70/2.8 L, 100/2.8 Macro USM, 100-400L USM IS, ST-E2, 550ex, Bogen Tripod & Monopod, Microdrives, Transcend, Mindstor and Tamrac Bags.
 
I don't know about most folks, but I tend to do some research on things that I purchase. Perhaps I'm a little more obsessed/anal/smart/whatever than most, but I read online reviews, magazines, etc. using whatever resources are available to at least know if the product is good or not and what an average price is.

Sure there are shady shops advertising in magazines, but just the same - shady types on Ebay. In your fact-finding (at least as far as cost) these folks tend to gravitate towards the bottom of the curve. I think like most people here, they don't buy from the most expensive place, nor the least expensive.

But like you were saying - some people might not be aware, or have a slow Internet connection, etc. but printed resources aren't dead yet. I bought all my early gear without the Internet.

I would just think that if you're going to spend several hundred bucks, that you'd at least know what you were doing.
 
Point taken but in my hometown they didn't have "Shutterbug" or any photography magazines. There are still rural areas in the US that have population 300 or less :)
--
Sean
http://www.mmsean.com
http://pbase.com/slowrey

Canon D60, Tokina 19-35mm, 50mm, 85/1.8 USM, 28-70/2.8 L, 100/2.8 Macro USM, 100-400L USM IS, ST-E2, 550ex, Bogen Tripod & Monopod, Microdrives, Transcend, Mindstor and Tamrac Bags.
 
True enough - and I agree, I was perhaps a bit too harsh in my subject line... :)
Sean Lowrey said:
Point taken but in my hometown they didn't have "Shutterbug" or any
photography magazines. There are still rural areas in the US that
have population 300 or less :)
--
Sean
http://www.mmsean.com
http://pbase.com/slowrey
Canon D60, Tokina 19-35mm, 50mm, 85/1.8 USM, 28-70/2.8 L, 100/2.8
Macro USM, 100-400L USM IS, ST-E2, 550ex, Bogen Tripod & Monopod,
Microdrives, Transcend, Mindstor and Tamrac Bags.
Click to expand...
 
A person who is not 'savvy' enough to buy from an online mail order place but they are 'savvy' enough to get screwed on ebay ?

Souds like an oxy-moron to me

--
Michael Salzlechner
StarZen Digital Imaging
http://www.starzen.com/imaging
 
I think that some people are overlooking some possible reasons why these items went for above what we can get them for at readily available sources. The main one being that these items may not be so readily available to the buyer.

Once upon a time several years back I sold my original set of Canon gear, an Elan II/e, Flash and a couple Sigma Lenses. I sold it on eBay, and made more then double what the local pro shop was willing to give me for it. The point? I sold it to a guy in Iceland that was extremely pleased to be able to get a complete setup from one place at a reasonable price. I don't believe they even had a camera shop where he was, let alone a pro shop.

Keep in mind, B&H, Canoga, Delta and them do not ship everywhere in the world. There are also not pro shops or even retail shops in many places. Some people have to deal with places like eBay being their only source for obtaining the equipment that they want. Sure, it may look silly to us to spend that much, but it's probably a bargain to them.

Troy
Shivesh Kumar said:
I've been watching eBay for used lenses, either of Canon or third
party make. To my surprise, Canon seems like holding near about
same value even after a good use. So much so, this aution that just
ended, the poor guy ended up paying more than he would have paid
for the brand new 70-200 f4 L -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1386622859&rd=1
Click to expand...
 
I have just discovered e-bay. I have been wondering about two general points and I would be interested in opinions.

1) What is a reaonable ratio of new price to pay on ebay for photo gear in good working condition, assuming the same gear is easliy available new?

2) What is a reaonable ratio to pay for superceeded equipment (e.g. D30) when a newer version (e.g. D60) is easily available new (as a ratio of the price of the newer gear).

Regards

Steve
 
I've bought a few inexpensive lenses on Ebay -- a Sigma 24mm prime. The guy didn't tell me there were a few dust specs under the glass. He advertised it as mint. Now the photo quality is okay, but it was a $65 lesson that you're putting a lot of faith in someone's description of the equipment.

Because there are so many buyers on Ebay, there's no dickering, no real steals on stuff.

I recommend local online classifieds. That way you're not competing with a cast of thousands and you can look at the stuff hands on.

I looked at a Nikon F2 the other week where the guy told me the condition was "excellent". It looked like it had been buried in sand and only recently dug up.

Ebay is great for sellers, though!
 
I've been buying and selling lenses for a while. The other day, I decided I wanted a 70-200 f/4.

Without checking to see how prices are nowadays (I still remember they went for $680 new at B&H) I bought one for $550 on eBay. Then, AFTER I'd won the auction, I checked and saw that it was $580 at B&H. And the day AFTER that, there was a new $40 rebate. Two days later, B&H has a practically new refurbished unit for $469.

Yup, I feel like a moron.

--
jason: http://www.jcwphoto.net
 
Troy C. said:
I think that some people are overlooking some possible reasons why
these items went for above what we can get them for at readily
available sources. The main one being that these items may not be
so readily available to the buyer.

Once upon a time several years back I sold my original set of Canon
gear, an Elan II/e, Flash and a couple Sigma Lenses. I sold it on
eBay, and made more then double what the local pro shop was willing
to give me for it. The point? I sold it to a guy in Iceland that
was extremely pleased to be able to get a complete setup from one
place at a reasonable price. I don't believe they even had a
camera shop where he was, let alone a pro shop.

Keep in mind, B&H, Canoga, Delta and them do not ship everywhere in
the world. There are also not pro shops or even retail shops in
many places. Some people have to deal with places like eBay being
their only source for obtaining the equipment that they want.
Sure, it may look silly to us to spend that much, but it's probably
a bargain to them.

Troy
Click to expand...
...plus I don't think it's fair to say, as some have,that more or less anybody who pays more for a used item on Ebay than you or I could perhaps have got it new has necessarily been 'screwed'...That makes it sound as if the sellers in these cases must all be slightly dishonest and using theirknowledge of an item's true value to fleece the gullible...No doubt this is true in some cases, but certainly not in all....

I recently sold a (mint) black G2 on Ebay (No micro-drive, just the regular 32mb FC that came with it)....Given that the G3 had just come out that very same week (sod's law! lol), I would have been happy if I'd got £400 for it...As it turned out, only two people actually bid for it, but things obviously developed into some sort of personal contest between them, because the winning bid ended up being £465 + postage...

Naturally, I was delighted but, at the same time, I had no intention whatsoever of 'screwing anybody and I don't feel that I did...

Perhaps I should also add that my local Jessops offered me £210 for the G2, and the assistant at the firm from whom I eventually bought the (secondhand, though pleasingly mint) D30 I was looking for told me, very politely (and quietly! lol), not to throw my money away by offering the G2 to his firm in part-exchange but to save myself 'a good bit' by selling it privately...An honest salesman...Don't meet too many of them either!...lol...
--
Ray
 
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