I'm in the market for some quality Canon lenses to add to my kit, but I don't want to pay full price for brand new glass. I've heard that buying refurbished lenses can be a great way to get pro-level lenses at a more affordable price.
Does anyone have experience buying refurbished Canon lenses? Where have you found the best deals and selection? I'm particularly interested in an L series zoom like the 24-70mm f/2.8 or 70-200mm f/2.8, as well as maybe a prime lens or two.
Are refurbished lenses really as good as new in terms of optical quality and functionality? Any risks or things to watch out for when buying refurb?
Wait, before you jump on anything, what camera body are you actually using right now? Are you on an older DSLR or did you move to the mirrorless R series? It kinda makes a huge difference in where the best stock usually is. I learned the hard way when I got a refurbished zoom a while back. I thought I got a killer deal but it arrived with some weird internal dust and the zoom ring was way stiffer than it shouldve been. Ended up being a massive headache to return because I didnt read the fine print. Now I am super cautious about a few things:
- always check if they have a real 180 day or 1 year warranty
- make sure you can return it for free if the glass isnt perfect
- look for sites that show the actual photo of the specific lens, not just a stock image You might want to consider checking out KEH Camera or MPB if the official store is empty. They are usually pretty reliable with their grading but honestly, just be careful with those f/2.8 lenses because pros tend to beat them up before trading them in... definitely test it out the second it arrives.
This thread is gold. Bookmarking for future reference 🔖
No way, I literally just dealt with this yesterday. Small world.
Any updates on this?
