Buying a used Canon EF-S 18-135 STM lens. Any advice?

I am looking to buy a used Canon EF-S 18-135 STM lens. I have never bought a second-hand lens before. What should i look for/be aware of when it comes to purchasing a used lens?

Thanks!

mtndew wrote:

I just purchased the 18-135mm STM for the extra reach as a walk around lens. It's a white box lens from a kit. Paid $292.00 on ebay. You might want to check the white box out. Mine didn't have the warranty with it but neither would a used lens. How much is the used lens you are looking at? If you decide to go the ebay white box route let me know. I was very happy with the vendor I purchased it from. The white box is $250.00 to $300.00 cheaper than lens sold as new with the warranty and box with graphics. The white box is a new lens, it was just taken from a kit where the camera was sold as "body only."

Because its a white box does not mean it does not have a warranty.  I picked up a white box 18-135 stm from Amazon about a year after release and it came with a Canon USA warranty.  I do think that it cost a bit more money with a warranty.

I have been shooting Canon for 46 years and have never had  a problem with a Canon lens so I am not sure a warranty is worth the extra cost plus its only one year

Dave

sashab wrote:

I am looking to buy a used Canon EF-S 18-135 STM lens. I have never bought a second-hand lens before. What should i look for/be aware of when it comes to purchasing a used lens?

Thanks!

I haven't heard of anyone having problems with this lens so far (which is a count in your favor).

Just put it through the usual paces. Check for wear and tear, check the AF, check the image stabilization, check for decentering (and CA), check for odd noise (this lens is very silent). Take some photos and see if you like them.

Good luck,

R2

I just received my new white box 18-135stm on Monday. The lens was part of a kit. I also got it from Ebay for $295 which included express two day shipping from a seller who had a lot of feedback and a very high rating.

It came with the US warranty card and the serial number on the card matches the number on the lens. The lens is perfect and looks like it has never been unwrapped.

About the lens itself, I am using it on a 70D and I truly wasn't expecting the 18-135stm  lens' image quality to be as good as it has turned out to be. In the handful of photos I have taken with it this week, I am amazed at how nice they have turned out, and very sharp IQ.

I was expecting the IQ to be pretty decent from all the reviews I read,  but I wasn't expecting the IQ to be this good. It's really amazing Canon has put out a lens this good for the price the lens is selling for.  I know it's not L quality and it's a slower lens, but for me, even though I'd like a 70-200L f4 IS, I already own the truly excellent 55-250stm and now this 18-135stm, I don't know that I really need an L when both of these have such nice IQ and are relatively light and so easy to carry.

mtndew wrote:

I just purchased the 18-135mm STM for the extra reach as a walk around lens. It's a white box lens from a kit. Paid $292.00 on ebay. You might want to check the white box out. Mine didn't have the warranty with it but neither would a used lens. How much is the used lens you are looking at? If you decide to go the ebay white box route let me know. I was very happy with the vendor I purchased it from. The white box is $250.00 to $300.00 cheaper than lens sold as new with the warranty and box with graphics. The white box is a new lens, it was just taken from a kit where the camera was sold as "body only."

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the advice! I think I will definitely go the white box/ebay route. If you could recommend a seller that would be awesome!

Thanks again,

Sasha