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

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#21
Re: What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens? I'll start...

I found an excellent condition FL 55mm from the original owner for $70 on Craigslist plus its 10 original Hoya/Lucky filters (Skylight 1A, polarizer, red, green, yellow, orange, blue, etc.). Then I bought the Ed Mika glassless conversion kit for $135. So for about $200 I got an EOS-ready 55mm f/1.2...! My favorite lens.
 
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#22
Re: What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens? I'll start...

I have software that searches Craigs list forabout 300 miles around me. I've found some really good deals over the years, 24-70mm L for $600, 35-350mm L for $500, 28mm f/2.8 for $15, 70-200mm f/2.8 IS for $800, 35mm L for $800, 135mm L for $600, and lots more. I am just patient, and move quickly when someone offers a deal. The lenses were all in excellent condition and had no problems. I also couldn't resist a Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 IF for $1100. It was a bit rough, and cost me $700 to tune up, but had no major issues.

I played with it on my 5D MII and on a Nikon D40X as well, since it had electronic focus, it would AF on even a low end Nikon DSLR.
 
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#23
Re: What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens? I'll start...

Buying from Craigslist I got my 70-200mm f2.8L for $750. It was 3 months old, under warranty and had only been used 3 times so was in mint condition. The seller was asking $1300, I was willing to pay $1000 but went in with a low offer expecting to haggle a bit but he took it. Was sure there must be something wrong, but when I met him to inspect the lens I was blown away :-)
 
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#26
Re: What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens? I'll start...

My best was a sigma 300mm f2.8 with 1.4x converter. I bought it in 2005 on eBay for $1200. Used the hell out of it for sports and wildlife, then sold it January of this year. I sold the lens and converter separately and came away with $2050 after fees. All that went to used 400mm f2.8 is I that I love, but sometimes I miss that sigma.
 
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#27
Re: What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens? I'll start...

$850 on my 135mm f/2L, which is more or less like new. Pretty new date code.
$450 for a probably NOS (certainly great condition) TS 35mm f/2.8, box and everything (foam padding in the carry case is a mess and got all over the lens though).
$1000 for the TS-E 90mm f/2.8. Free Hoya 58mm MRC Haze filter.
 
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#28
Re: What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens? I'll start...

The prices @BH is aprrox. half off compared to Norway, so everytime someone goes to NY I get the 50% off on new gear, pretty good deal!

Best deal I've done, is on a new 300 f2,8 L IS, it was 44000,- nok's in Norway at the time, which is $7413. And I paid nearly $600 in shipping and insurance, and still only paid $4000 for it!! I was afraid it had been a demo-model or something, but according to the date-code it was made by Canon only 1 month before I purchased it. Best deal ever for me at least.
 
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#29
Re: What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens? I'll start...

My best is a 180mm macro which was described as being ex demo, but the seller had a few of them, and they couldn't all be demo models, I paid 50% of the new price, but when it arrived it was clear it had never been out of the box, everything was perfect, and complete. Only thing is with a full set of macro kit, it doesn't get used as much as it might, the 100mm IS L is just that bit better to cart around.
 
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#30
Re: What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens? I'll start...

Flake said:
My best is a 180mm macro which was described as being ex demo, but the seller had a few of them, and they couldn't all be demo models, I paid 50% of the new price, but when it arrived it was clear it had never been out of the box, everything was perfect, and complete. Only thing is with a full set of macro kit, it doesn't get used as much as it might, the 100mm IS L is just that bit better to cart around.
Click to expand...

I occasionally use it as a telephoto, taking it with my 5DII and 24-105 out on a walkabout. The 180 is really good as it means you dont get so close to the subject - and therefore scaring it away
 
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#33
Re: What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens? I'll start...

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.
 
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#34
Re: What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens? I'll start...

Here are my best deals (all aquired on CL):

  • Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 - $50 (broken, fixed for $0)
  • Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM- $75 (broken, fixed for $20, so $95 total)
  • Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM - free with 20D, sold 20D and ended up spending $111 total for the lens (poor planning on auction end on my part, should have been net $0)

On the camera front:

  • (2) Digital Rebels purchased broken, fixed, and sold on eBay for $70 net profit (after fees and shipping)
  • Rebel XTi - $100 (with infamous dirty shutter button issue) sold my XT after I fixed it, and netted $45 profit for the upgrade
  • (6) Canon 420EX flashes - $300 (selling all but two on eBay, and breaking even)

Constantly scoping CL for deals and potential projects.
 
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#36
Re: What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens? I'll start...

willrobb said:
Buying from Craigslist I got my 70-200mm f2.8L for $750. It was 3 months old, under warranty and had only been used 3 times so was in mint condition. The seller was asking $1300, I was willing to pay $1000 but went in with a low offer expecting to haggle a bit but he took it. Was sure there must be something wrong, but when I met him to inspect the lens I was blown away :-)
Click to expand...

What kind of software are you using? it is free out there or this is something that you developed on your own?
I normally search several cities around me, and can see the use of such software. I am new to this DSLR thing, and don't want to be spending all the money like no tomorrow. So I find myself searching CL too often.
Let me know if I can have access to such software. Thanks
 
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#37
Re: What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens? I'll start...

KyleSTL said:
danski0224 said:
TS-E 24mm II for $900.

:)
Click to expand...

Wow! Jealous. I would love to have a TS-E to play with, especially that or the 17mm.
Click to expand...

A less expensive way to get into a Canon TS lens is described at this thread on CR Forum:
http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=2337.0
I did this and so far it has been fantastic. My 35mm f/2.8 TS cost about $750 all said and done...
 
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