Some objectives have such a prohibitive price that only a few can afford them. But that the money does not stop you from getting that goal with which you dream so much, since an alternative and very practical way to achieve it would be to buy it second-hand . Yes, there is a whole alternative world of second hand where everything is sold and bought, where prices are negotiated, authentic bargains are achieved but where many are also scammed. At the time we saw a series of tips to buy a second-hand camera and today it is the turn of the objective that will accompany you If in your order of priorities you cannot afford to pay a new lens for your SLR camera, it may be time to consider taking a look at what is second-hand. The offer is wide, very very wide, and sometimes you can have some pleasant surprise, such as a ridiculous price or a goal that is no longer manufactured today. Let's see what you should look for, although later we will see each of the points in detail.
- Physical appearance
- Crystals
- Target Buttons
- Focus controls and focal length
- Coupling
- Diaphragm
- Focus quality
- Photo quality
- accessories
- Third Party Objectives
- Price
- Returns
- Trust
- Secure payment method
- Warranty
- Compatibility
TIPS TO BUY YOUR NEXT SECOND-HAND LENS
Of course, an objective is something that can easily fool us, so do not even think about launching a second-hand purchase without taking into account the following series of tips.1. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Make sure the lens has no scratches or scratches on its body. A simple exterior scratch may be due to a sharp fall or blow in the background so be careful.2. CRYSTALS
Look at the outer crystals of the lens and verify that they have a homogeneous surface and that they have no scratches or dust.3. OBJECTIVE BUTTONS
The objectives have buttons whose functions are vital and should not be underestimated. Check if the manual focus / auto focus shift buttons, image stabilizer, etc., work correctly.4. FOCUS AND FOCAL LENGTH CONTROLS
Try the focus and focal length controls, they have to turn smoothly but they are not worn and too loose. Also notice if they produce any strange noise when turning.5. COUPLING
Make sure the lens fits correctly with the body of your camera without having to force much.6. DIAPHRAGM
Check that the aperture of the diaphragm can be controlled correctly (from the camera)7. FOCUS QUALITY
Check if the approach effectively focuses and blurs correctly. If you take the camera with you, check if the autofocus responds to the focus points of your camera. Make sure the lens focuses automatically and manually.8. QUALITY OF THE PHOTOS
Take your camera with you and do several tests with different settings and in different conditions. Then check the photos. Ideally, you should visualize them on the screen of a computer in order to detect any small spots or strange spots, but if you do not have the computer with you, try to visualize them on the camera screen using the «increase» function.9. ACCESSORIES
Do not sell a lens without a cover, unless they compensate you with a very attractive price.10. THIRD PARTY OBJECTIVES
As a general rule the second-hand objectives of third-party manufacturers (such as Sigma and Tamron) lose value with use and their second-hand price usually reaches half of what they cost new. On the other hand, a Nikkor or Canon lens, however widely used, will rarely cut its price in half. Keep it in mind when buying. It is very important to try to find out the "new" price of the objective that they sell to us in order to know how much money we save.12. BARGAIN THE PRICE
Depending on the country and the store where you are trying to make the purchase you may be able to haggle the price, especially if the seller is a private individual.13. RETURNS
Ask if you have the possibility of returning the objective if it does not work for you or does not convince you.14. TRUST
There are only two correct ways to buy a second-hand objective : buy from a known or reputable seller (for example Amazon or eBay sellers with thousands of positive votes) or buy from a site where they allow you to freely test the objective before buying it .15. SECURE PAYMENT METHOD
If you are going to buy online, try, whenever possible, to use a secure payment method (such as Paypal). Avoid payments for sending money (WesternUnion type) because they offer no guarantee. Paypal instead offers intermediation and arbitration services.16. WITH GUARANTEE
The targets used may also have collateral. Many stores offer small warranty periods (from 6 to 12 months). Find out about it.17. COMPATIBILITY
Check the compatibility of the lens with your camera. Obvious. I can't think of any more advice. Do you know any more advice you want to share with blog readers? Tell me tell me.. Note: If you liked this article, spread it among your friends, pleaseThe most recent upgrades to the HTMLG online editor are the tag manager and the attribute filter. Try it for free and purchase a subscription if you like it!
