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

[RMC33]

Recently got a 200 f/2 for $4100 in near perfect condition thats about a year old. A MKII 400 f/2.8 for $7500 that was used ONCE.

I feel bad about the 400 f/2.8 mkII as I bought it from a friend who had no clue what he was doing. He bought a 1Dx, 400 f/2.8 mkII, 70-200 f/2.8 mkII, 50 f/1.2, 1.4 and 2x TC MKIII, full RSS setup: Versa 3, BH-55, Lplate, PG-02 Full gimbal and about another $2100 in accessories. To this day I have no clue why he did it... but I guess its nice to have money.

 

[sandymandy]

3 m42 lenses for 100 euro including flektogon 35mm

 

[charlesa]

A 135 mm f/2 and a 50 mm f/1.2 at 50% of price in perfect condition, a 1Ds III at 33% of the price with 30000 shutter actuations and perfect body. Lucky.

 

[Axilrod]

A 135 mm f/2 and a 50 mm f/1.2 at 50% of price in perfect condition, a 1Ds III at 33% of the price with 30000 shutter actuations and perfect body. Lucky.

So you got a 135 f/2 for $500? And a 50mm f/1.2 for $700? Never seen those lenses anywhere close to that.

 

[RMC33]

A 135 mm f/2 and a 50 mm f/1.2 at 50% of price in perfect condition, a 1Ds III at 33% of the price with 30000 shutter actuations and perfect body. Lucky.

So you got a 135 f/2 for $500? And a 50mm f/1.2 for $700? Never seen those lenses anywhere close to that.

There was a scam on amazon with the 50 1.2 for $850 in Used condition for a few months.

 

[Stewbyyy]

Last year I got a 300mm F/2.8L non-IS in extremely good condition for €1400. Had to sell it after a few months due to personal issues at the time which required me to get money quickly. I've never regretted letting go of it more, it's been impossible to get a deal like that since. I'm stuck with a 300mm F/4 at the moment.

 

[Rienzphotoz]

Best deal was Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II for US$ 1899 from B&H in 2010 ... it was on a limited period sale ... prior to that sale and after that sale it went back to US$ 2299
The second best is Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC which I got a little over a week ago for US$ 1049

 

[Schruminator]

Canon 14L (version 1) for bit under £600 (~$900), which seemed to me to be a helluva deal for the UK.

Mint condition except the lens cap had a few scratches on it, but that doesn't seem to affect the picture quality at all

 

[gjones5252]

Probably 70-200 2.8 is ii for 1350 brand new and with a 4 yr accidental warranty.
I got it because my 70-200 broke under warranty so they upgraded me. Also how I got a 5d iii for 2500 brand new warranty.

 

[JBeckwith]

Well I've only purchased a few lenses but I would say the 24-105 f/4L was the best deal I got. Although I got it with the 5D Mark II kit. The Mk II was $2199 at the time and I got the kit for $2599... making the lens $400.

 

[charlesa]

A 135 mm f/2 and a 50 mm f/1.2 at 50% of price in perfect condition, a 1Ds III at 33% of the price with 30000 shutter actuations and perfect body. Lucky.

So you got a 135 f/2 for $500? And a 50mm f/1.2 for $700? Never seen those lenses anywhere close to that.

There was a scam on amazon with the 50 1.2 for $850 in Used condition for a few months.

No scam actually, bought both from people who did not know the quality of the lenses before selling them off, so quite a good deal on both direct from local people. No scams there.

 

[RMC33]

A 135 mm f/2 and a 50 mm f/1.2 at 50% of price in perfect condition, a 1Ds III at 33% of the price with 30000 shutter actuations and perfect body. Lucky.

So you got a 135 f/2 for $500? And a 50mm f/1.2 for $700? Never seen those lenses anywhere close to that.

There was a scam on amazon with the 50 1.2 for $850 in Used condition for a few months.

No scam actually, bought both from people who did not know the quality of the lenses before selling them off, so quite a good deal on both direct from local people. No scams there.

Nice. I was commenting on someone trying to scam people into buying the 50 f/1.2 on amazon for $850 then shipping a 1.8 MkII in the box. I almost fell for it thinking the same scenario you encountered.

 

[Don Haines]

50mm f1.8..... free..... he just gave it away.... as if after he bought the 50f1.2 he had no need for it

 

[Axilrod]

No scam actually, bought both from people who did not know the quality of the lenses before selling them off, so quite a good deal on both direct from local people. No scams there.

How does someone own a lens and not know the quality of it? Lol sure they weren't stolen?

 

[charlesa]

No scam actually, bought both from people who did not know the quality of the lenses before selling them off, so quite a good deal on both direct from local people. No scams there.

How does someone own a lens and not know the quality of it? Lol sure they weren't stolen?

Rich amateurs buying L lenses and selling them off before they learn how to use them!

 

[cszy67]

Purchased all of my L lenses on during rebates and saved a few bucks on each of them.

Best deals ever on lenses were this past Christmas when I purchased my young daughter the T3i kit with 18-55 for $599. While purchasing the kit through B&H I was able to add the following:

• EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II Lens for $24 (retail $299)
• EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III Lens for $7 (retail $199)

So yes, I added two additional brand new lenses for a total of $31, lol. Gave her the 55-250mm for her birthday a few weeks later and will sell the 75-300mm when I get around to it. Heck, they even threw in a 16 or 32G card for free - great starter kit for an adventurous teen!

 

[CanNotYet]

Bought a used EOS 500N with a 28-105 USM for 50$ this fall. I thought it was the 4-5.6, which costs around 75$ used here. (I know it is supposed to be abysmal, I wanted it to try out the reach on a crop).

When I met up with the seller, it was a 3.5-4.5. Thank you!

 

[KyleSTL]

Couple weeks ago I found a Craigslist ad for a Canon film SLR and a couple lenses. The guy said he bought it a long time ago and used it on a couple of trips. I bought the two lenses alone, a 50mm f/1.8 II and a 28mm f/2.8 (UC code, 1989) for $40 each.

 

[wickidwombat]

300 f4L IS $800 on ebay
24-70 f2.8L $800 on gumtree

I also thought my 600 f4.5 FD in mint condition for $1400 was a pretty sweet deal

 

[AAPhotog]

100mm macro non L $325
50mm 1.4 $225
70-200mm F4 Non IS $400

All of these were bought used in pristine condition. Not a scratch or scuff on them.