11-15-2016, 11:50 AM
I love second hand lenses pretty much everything.
There are only a few cases I'd buy brand new lenses.
-A newly released lens that I've got to have. Even though I'm not a professional photographer, I shoot a lot of interiors for my work. Luckily, my boss is also a photographer and he has quite a good arsenal. Last year we bought the Canon EF 11-24/4. If I were earning money directly from my interior shots, I'd buy that lens instantly for myself, as soon as it came out. Wouldn't even hesitate or wait a few months for a used one. I also bought most of my APS-C Sony NEX lenses that way.
-I know that I won't be losing much if I sell it soon. I don't live in the US or EU and some stuff are much cheaper there (Some are much cheaper here). I've bought a lot of lenses while traveling and asked friends who live in the US to bring me some with them. Even if I decide to sell those after a few months, I can pretty much get what I paid for them new by selling them here. I sometimes even make money that way.
-Sometimes the price difference isn't that great. Zony 55/1.8 brand new costs about 800$ here and it's about 600$ used. Also keep in mind that I get 2 years warranty if I buy it new, unlike most other countries. For Fuji lenses, it's 3 years which is even better. Moreover, I can finance it with my credit card and pay 100$ per month for 8 months.
-Sometimes you can't even find it used. If I wanted to have a Batis right now, there is one used for sale in my country. One. And it's not even in the same city that I live in. The price difference isn't that much neither.
-If I were a professional, I could've gotten tax deductions from brand new items. Can't do that with second hand.
-Some lenses fail much more often and I'd like to have every single day of warranty to back me up in that case. 55/1.8, I'm looking at you again.
-I can buy it online, try return it and get a full refund. Never done that though.
-I get about 18% of the price back if I buy something while traveling, Tax Free shopping is fun. Sometimes it ends up cheaper than used, especially if you also catch a deal.
-I've seen ridiculous deals, especially local. Some people would cry if I post a list here so I won't but it includes 50% off on some Zeiss lenses.
-Fujifilm outlet here sells store demos for used market price for full 3 year warranty. Add financing to that and you're literally looking at the best of both worlds.
There are only a few cases I'd buy brand new lenses.
-A newly released lens that I've got to have. Even though I'm not a professional photographer, I shoot a lot of interiors for my work. Luckily, my boss is also a photographer and he has quite a good arsenal. Last year we bought the Canon EF 11-24/4. If I were earning money directly from my interior shots, I'd buy that lens instantly for myself, as soon as it came out. Wouldn't even hesitate or wait a few months for a used one. I also bought most of my APS-C Sony NEX lenses that way.
-I know that I won't be losing much if I sell it soon. I don't live in the US or EU and some stuff are much cheaper there (Some are much cheaper here). I've bought a lot of lenses while traveling and asked friends who live in the US to bring me some with them. Even if I decide to sell those after a few months, I can pretty much get what I paid for them new by selling them here. I sometimes even make money that way.
-Sometimes the price difference isn't that great. Zony 55/1.8 brand new costs about 800$ here and it's about 600$ used. Also keep in mind that I get 2 years warranty if I buy it new, unlike most other countries. For Fuji lenses, it's 3 years which is even better. Moreover, I can finance it with my credit card and pay 100$ per month for 8 months.
-Sometimes you can't even find it used. If I wanted to have a Batis right now, there is one used for sale in my country. One. And it's not even in the same city that I live in. The price difference isn't that much neither.
-If I were a professional, I could've gotten tax deductions from brand new items. Can't do that with second hand.
-Some lenses fail much more often and I'd like to have every single day of warranty to back me up in that case. 55/1.8, I'm looking at you again.
-I can buy it online, try return it and get a full refund. Never done that though.
-I get about 18% of the price back if I buy something while traveling, Tax Free shopping is fun. Sometimes it ends up cheaper than used, especially if you also catch a deal.
-I've seen ridiculous deals, especially local. Some people would cry if I post a list here so I won't but it includes 50% off on some Zeiss lenses.
-Fujifilm outlet here sells store demos for used market price for full 3 year warranty. Add financing to that and you're literally looking at the best of both worlds.