The inner workings of a Canon lensBuying a used lens is a very
good way to save some money on, what can be, a very expensive
hobby. It's also a good way of finding out if you want to invest
in a new version of a lens. However, there are some potential
pitfalls, as with any used item. This article will help you to be
successful in your used lens shopping.
!! Steps !!
Check the seller's reliability. Purchasing a used camera lens will be
helped by knowing the reputation behind the seller.
* If you're purchasing from a store that sells used items, be sure
to check their return policies. Ask questions about what they're
prepared to do in the event that the lens doesn't work or isn't
what you were after.
* For online auctions, do your background research. Check the
seller's statistics and ratings, along with comments. If they deal
specifically in photography equipment, are the comments generally
positive, revealing that this seller knows their gear and is
genuinely concerned to help customers? And _always_ check the lens
price against the price for a new lens, and against other lenses
being sold on the same and other auction sites.
* For auction house auctions, do your homework in advance. Take
along your camera and try it with the lens. Most auction houses
not only encourage this but require it as part of the terms of
sale, as you're buying "as is". Ring up to find a good time to
visit before the auction to test out the lenses.
Ask questions of the seller. Where you can, ask the seller why he or
she is selling the lens. While not all sellers will be completely up
front with you, most will because they care about their reputation,
especially if they're known within photography circles.
If it's an online auction purchase, read the description thoroughly.
Does it make any mention of condition? If not, ask questions well
before the end of auction. If you're not satisfied with the answers,
let it go. Expect to see photos of the lens from several angles. No
photos, no purchase. No or evasive answers to your questions, no
purchase. Questions you should have answers to include:[1]
* Are there scratches or blemishes on the front and rear lens
elements?
* Is there oil on the aperture blades? Do they snap into place
quickly?
* Does the inside of the lens have any dust or fungus?
* Are you also including the hood, both lens caps, user manual, and
original box?
* Check the shipping policies. Has the seller explained how the item
will be packed and the shipping method? If it's unclear, ask. The
item is fragile and should be shipped with the greatest of care,
and you should be aware of the shipping costs in advance.
Hope this wasn't on the lens! Check for physical damage first. If
you're purchasing it locally or from a store, pick the lens up
and give it a thorough looking over. Can you identify any
scratches, dents, nicks, or cracks? If the lens is dusty, use a
blower brush and rubbing alcohol first. If you see anything, ask
what happened to the lens and why the seller considers that the
damage hasn't impacted the lens.
* Shine a light through the lens. Use a small flashlight to
illuminate the lens from different angles. Also look through the
lens at a bright light source, such as sunlight on a wall, or a
lamp. Look for cracks, dust, blockage, etc.
* Large scratches should be obvious. Deep and large scratches tend
to be more of a problem than finer ones, especially if located on
the rear element.[2] Avoid buying a lens with a scratched rear
element; you can be a little less concerned with finer scratches
on the front element provided you've proof it doesn't impact the
images taken.
* If it's possible, take a photo of the bright sky or something
bright at the smallest aperture with the most compressed JPEG;
check the photo for blemishes.[2]
* Listen for rattling noises or loose pieces. This can be an
indicator that something is damaged from drops or knocks, and even
if the loose piece is not an issue, it could indicate that
something else is about to give way.
Check the working condition of the lens. Consider using a blower
brush on the lens and a little rubbing alcohol. This will help to
reveal anything that is stuck on or within the lens. Some of the
specific things to look for include:
* Eroded lenses; while slight erosion won't impact the quality of
the picture, severe erosion will impact the pictures and make them
appear "blotchy".[3]
* Be wary of light damage. While some sellers may insist this is
easy to fix, it's a lens, and nothing to do with a lens is ever
cheap.
* Check the contact points. This only applies to more modern lenses.
There needs to be a good and consistent contact between camera and
lens.
* Check the filter threads. It doesn't take much for those threads
to lose their usability; a small ding and you can't get a filter
on, or off, your lens. If buying online, be sure that you get a
decent picture and that it is of the lens you're actually
purchasing, and not simply one that is "like" the lens.
* Test all of the switches. If any of them are loose, check that
they still work as they are supposed to.
Look at the aperture blades. Watch for sticky aperture blades; the
oil coating aperture blades will gel together if the lens has not
been serviced regularly and this will make them sticky. The effect
will leave you with over-exposed or under-exposed photos.[4]
* Do the aperture blades move smoothly? Are there any nicks?
* To test the aperture blades, bring a depth of field preview
feature down to its lowest aperture. Look through the lens and
press the depth of field preview button. Sound aperture blades
will move into place immediately, and the viewfinder will go dark.
If there is any problem with the aperture blades, there will be a
delay in moving or turning dark.[4]
Check the condition of the mount ring. You
want to be able to fasten the used lens to
your camera without breaking either the mount
or the lens. In addition, make sure that it is
the right kind of mount. Depending on what
type of camera you own, and its age, the mount
may vary. Double and triple check.
* If purchasing online, ask questions about the mount ring and mount
if the description is unclear.
* If purchasing in a store, take your camera in with you to check
the fit.
If you're buying a zoom lens, be sure that the lens zooms easily
and without interference. Also, make sure that it doesn't
'telescope' itself out on its own.
* While a loose zoom action won't impact picture quality, it's an
annoying thing to have to constantly remember and work with. It is
possible to tape with care but that's a last resort fix for a real
budget buy.
* Lenses that have been knocked or dropped a lot may not extend to
their full range anymore. Check by twisting the zoom ring back and
forth.
* Repair costs for the zoom feature can be costly.
* Check the focus of the lens. You want to be sure that you can get
focus. If it's a focus assist, check the assist function, and also
its manual focus ability. The focus mechanism should move in and
out with ease.
Let price be the determiner. If you do find or learn about damage to
the lens, and you're still prepared to risk it, only do so if the
price is so right that the lens is a bargain. Better still if it's
free, or you're only up for postage costs.
* Check Craigslist and Freecycle for unwanted lenses. Cheap or free
is best when there is damage involved.
* Always bear in mind that problems with a lens can be expensive to
remedy, and can leave you with a repair bill that may have made a
brand new purchase a better option. Buy with your eyes wide open.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Always bear in mind that problems with a lens can be expensive to
remedy, and can leave you with a repair bill that may have made a
brand new purchase a better option. Buy with your eyes wide open.
!! Warnings !!
* Avoid buying a lens suffering from lens fungus. It's usually
beyond repair and even if reparable, fungus tends to etch the
glass.[5]
* Be sure to get insurance on your lens if shipped to you.
* Ensure that there will be a full refund apart from postage return
costs if you return a damaged lens via post to an online seller.
!! Things You\'ll Need !!
* Access to lens or appropriate description
* Blower brush
* Rubbing alcohol
* Appropriate cleaning cloth
* Budgeted top price, along with price comparisons
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Clean a 35mm Film Camera and Lens
* How to Repair Lens Problems on Your Digital Camera
* How to Clean Digital Camera Lens with a Vacuum Cleaner
* How to Adapt if Your Lens Is Too Sharp
* How to Adjust Your Digital Camera's White Balance
!! Sources And Citations !!
* The idea for this article and some of the information comes from
LightStalking.Com, http://www.lightstalking.com/buying-a-used-lens
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
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