What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens?

[ronobvious]

How about $200 for a barely used Canon 45mm TS-E?   Picked it up at our camera club's picnic 3 years ago.  I could turn around and sell that for 800-1000.   

[docsavage123]

I got a mint Sigma 12-24mm Mark 1 off ebay last December for £350  like new, but my best deal by far was from the now defunct ebay company URGALAXY which sold me a new Canon 400mm F5.6L for £700 which was and still is around £1000 now, so £300 off my favourite and best lens. I know it was a gray import but at that price and I have had it since 2007, I am not complaining.

[torger]

My was an overpriced Canon TS-E 24mm II. Out of stock everywhere except in one store, that took the opportunity and have it priced €200 higher than everyone else. I got it anyway, took some nice pictures with it during my vacation in the summer which I could not have taken without that lens. Now it is back in stock and cheaper, but vacation and the summer is long over. So I'm glad I got it at that time even if the deal in terms of money was not that good.

[TexPhoto]

I got pretty much all my equipment for fantastic deals...mostly because of the Bing Cashback that we had about 2.5 years back
 Canon 40D                        (2.5 years back): 650$ after cashback
 Canon 50 1.8                    (2.5 years back): 75$ after cash back...I ended up giving this lens to a friend.
 Canon 100mm Macro:       (2.5 years back): 440$ after cashback. Best IQ of any lens I own.
 Canon 24-70                     (2.5 years back): 1120$ after cashback
 Canon 10-22                     (2.5 years back): 660$ after cashback...I just sold it 2 weeks back for 650$. The guy must be cusssing his luck after seeing the Amazon deal yesterday.
 Canon 70-200 2.8 IS          (1.5 years back and used): 1350$ after cashback on eBay. This is the only lens I got used....but it was in great condition and no problems so far.
 Canon 580 EXII : 3                                     50$ after cashback.
 Canon 5DMkII                   (2 months back): 2050$ from henrys in Canada...maybe I should have waited a month or so...but its ok.
 Canon 16-35                    (2 weeks back): for 1300 after Price Match from Adorama because of the Amazon deal yesterday.

A buddy of mine got a barely used 10-22 for 450$....some rich kid was bored of his gift...

I miss Bing Cashback.... But since its been gone, prices have risen (that and the yen/$ exchange rate), but if I sold all my equipment I could come out on top pretty easy i think.

I got my 7D brand new for $1205 after bing cash back.

[aaronh]

I just bought a like new 70-200L 2.8 IS II on craigslist for $1400!

[K-amps]

I just bought a like new 70-200L 2.8 IS II on craigslist for $1400!

Wow... Is that guy selling more stuff? 

[aaronh]

I just bought a like new 70-200L 2.8 IS II on craigslist for $1400!

Wow... Is that guy selling more stuff? 

I wish! Want my mark 1? 

[K-amps]

I just bought a like new 70-200L 2.8 IS II on craigslist for $1400!

Wow... Is that guy selling more stuff? 

I wish! Want my mark 1? 

haha... I already overpaid for my mk.ii

[Kernuak]

I've had a couple of good deals. I go the 135mm f/2 from Canon's eBay Outlet shop, refurb for £680, instead of the usual £900, with a full Canon 12 month warranty. But a couple of years ago, I also paid £2800 for a mint 300 f/2.8, used twice, when it was selling new for around £3800. About 75% and 74% respectively.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I bought some things today from a gentleman who advertised on Craigslist.  He was the type of person to keep everything, all the purchase receipts, paperwork, boxes, etc, and everything was like new.  You could see from his home that he took good care of everything.

I'm ready to start playing with my new toys as soon as it stops raining.

70-200 f/2.8 non IS $350

1.4X MK I TC - $120

Canon 77mm 500D closeup lens $51

Canon EF-25mm extension tube $40.

[ScottyP]

I was buying my camera and lens(es)just 2 weeks before our baby was due, so I had to pounce fast.  I really wanted to get the 17-55 f2.8 lens, but I felt I needed to get one of the bigger zooms (18-135, or 17-85).  Or else I was thinking I needed to get the 2-lens package with 18-55 and 55-250 so I'd have a focal range covered. 

Then a family member had their camera bag stolen and decided to quit taking pictures altogether.  She had her 55-250 lens at home when the camera was stolen.  This filled (temporarily) my need for a zoom, so I was free to buy the camera only, and splurge on the 17-55 2.8 as a walk around/main lens.

[briansquibb]

Just bought a 600 in very good condition for £3900 and with the extra money I have saved for the 600 I bought a 8-15 fisheye.

The 600 you can all guess how good it is - but the fisheye has blown me away with its artistic potential

Here is one from my first testing shots

[unkbob]

the fisheye has blown me away with its artistic potential

Fisheyes reach their full potential when they are underwater, and attached to the optic nerves of fish.

[Fandongo]

the fisheye has blown me away with its artistic potential

Fisheyes reach their full potential when they are underwater, and attached to the optic nerves of fish.

Haha, close.  But to truly reach its full potential it must be hand-held video... by Michael J Fox... during an earthquake.

[stessel tank]

Picked up a used "300 f2.8 is" for $2500 in Japan last October

This lens is in mint condition without a scratch on it like new,most of the used stuff in Japan is well maintained

Going back to Japan later this year again hoping to bring back something white again maybe 500 f4 or 600 f4