Buying used lens - Considering a used Nikon 500 or 600 prime lens

[criegel]

Has anyone purchased a used 500mm or 600mm Nikon prime lens? If so have you had success? What companies would you recommend? I have also considered renting one of the lens and trying it out first. Is that a worthwhile exercise?

Thanks

 

[Jbear]

Never rented but have purchased from individuals and dealers.
300 VRII-Henry's-Ebay...awesome to deal with.
500AFS-Individual-Ebay-Not great. Lens never performed well no matter what I tried.
500 G VR-Individual-Ebay...fantastic lens.
Sigma 500 f4 OS Sport-Individual-Ebay...even better than the G VR.
Henry's, KEH, Adorama, and Roberts...I've been happy with my dealings with all of them.
Hope that helps.

 

[sh1209]

I just purchased a mint condition 8 month old Nikon 500mm f5.6 pf lens on eBay. Took delivery last Friday and it’s immaculate. List price is $3596 I got this one for $2900

 

[DRwyoming]

I've owned several Nikon 500mm and 600mm f/4 lenses over the years and all were purchased used with no issues. I currently run a 600mm f/4 G lens as my longest lens and like the others it was purchased used. I've had good luck from a number of brick and mortar and online stores that deal in used lenses. The big caveat is to make sure whoever you buy from has a good return policy if you're not satisfied with the lens. The safest bet is a reputable used lens dealer like Cameta, Kenmore, Roberts, Adorama or similar though honestly I've bought excellent used cameras and lenses from eBay though again it's important that the seller has a good return policy and you pay in a way that gives you buyer protections.

And yes, it's a very good idea to rent a big lens prior to buying one if you haven't spent time in the field with one. Running big glass may change your game if you're accustomed to hand holding your longer lenses and staying very mobile. Some time in the field with something like a 600mm f/4 prior to purchase can help you decide if that style of shooting with the associated tripods and the like are how you want to work in the field. Some of the lens rental companies also sell used inventory from time to time and may even apply some of your rental fee to the purchase.

 

[VStammer]

I purchased both of my long lens as used. One was from a professional photographer in which I also have a copy of one of the books he published using that specific lens for many of the shots contained in the book. I trusted what condition it was described to me as and it did not disappoint. The other long prime lens was a previous rental unit from Samy's Camera in California. They provided me piece of mind by offering a return if I was not satisfied. While it was not the cosmetically perfect lens with signs of use, the glass was perfect and functions just fine and I was able to get at a great price! Just ask as many questions as it takes to make you feel comfortable and satisfied. Get lots of pics too. I would never pay the price of a new lens unless I was a professional and could count it as a business expense.

 

[aj500]

Before I took the plunge on a Nikon 500mm F4, I rented one for 2 weeks. Since I was looking to upgrade from my D750 I also rented a D5. It was the best thing I could have done. I shot some BIF and took them to a Moto-America race in Pittsburgh. After the 2 week period I really didn't want to return them. So now came the time to search them out. I ended up buying a used Nikon 500mm F4 from Roberts Camera. They were easy to deal with and the lens was exactly as described. For the D5, I bought a "Refub" (with less than 500 shutter operations) from B&H. Both camera and lens are now my new work horses.

When asked about what lens or camera to buy, I most always recommend the rentals first. I think of it as a test drive. It is nice to get your hands on them and see if it fits your needs.

 

[criegel]

Never rented but have purchased from individuals and dealers.
300 VRII-Henry's-Ebay...awesome to deal with.
500AFS-Individual-Ebay-Not great. Lens never performed well no matter what I tried.
500 G VR-Individual-Ebay...fantastic lens.
Sigma 500 f4 OS Sport-Individual-Ebay...even better than the G VR.
Henry's, KEH, Adorama, and Roberts...I've been happy with my dealings with all of them.
Hope that helps.

Thank you

 

[criegel]

Thank you all for your replies . They were a great help.

 

[Larry Shuman]

I bought a Nikkor 600mm F:4 G VR from an individual on Fred Miranda in late 2015. It spectacular and its has become my normal lens.

 

[Bru]

I’ve purchased four used Nikon big primes over the years without a problem. (two 500 f4 and two 600 f4.) I currently have a 600 f4e that I bought on eBay from a seller named montereypark.

 

[VStammer]

Typically, I might add that since long prime lens are so expensive I would suspect the owners or purchasers of these lens typically are in the pro- to- high end enthusiast level, who usually take very good care of their gear. This is not to say there wouldn't be a dishonest one amongst us, but I would find that to be a rare case.

 

[bobmcg]

I bought a Nikkor 600mm F:4 G VR from an individual on Fred Miranda in late 2015. It spectacular and its has become my normal lens.

Same. I bought a 500mm F4 G lens from a reputable seller on Fred Miranda. It is a great lens and I think I got a better price than going to KEH or one of the other sellers.

 

[Strodav]

bought a used 600mm f/4G from KEH.com with a 2yr warranty. I worked with them over the phone and they found a Bargin condition lens with perfect optics fully functional. Yes it has some superficial scuffs and scratches, but they have no affect on IQ or lens performance. I could not have afforded one otherwise. I find KEH’s rating system fair and honest, their prices competitive and their cust svc excellent.

 

[Woodpecker]

I got my 500 f4 G VR used from a friend of mine and I would probably do it again. Earlier I bought a 200-400 f4G VR used and that was o.k. too.
If you don't know the seller personally - like I did in case of the 500 - and you don't have the chance to go there getting hands on the lens and test it, I suggest to prefer retraders that offer a return policy (professionals in most cases). The lense might be ab it more expensive but you pay the difference as a kind of insurance fee for being able to return the item within 14 or 30 days and that's o.k.

My entire equipment (bodies, lenses, flash(es), angle viewer, ...) I bouhgt used, except my big Gitzo with Gimbal and my 500PF and the only reason I bought those new was that they weren't available used at the time I wanted/needed them.
I would say the experience was positive in more than 90% of the cases.

When I buy used equipment I usually try to find out what it has been used for in the past. Reason is that I once got the chance to look at the gear of a pro photographer following the WRC races around the world and what I saw was a shock of a lifetime. So, whenever the gear was used in outdoor race sport, for action near or on the ocean, I prefer to keep my fingers off even if the price looks tempting. Also a past in sports press photography can be a risk.

 

[Drbobcameraguy]

Has anyone purchased a used 500mm or 600mm Nikon prime lens? If so have you had success? What companies would you recommend? I have also considered renting one of the lens and trying it out first. Is that a worthwhile exercise?

Thanks

If you are looking for a 500mm pf there is one for sale on the Ugly hedgehog. Steve hangs out there also.

 

[cohenfive]

I pretty much only buy used gear. The only exception was my 500pf which at the time wasn't available anywhere and I got lucky to get a heads up from a buddy about one in stock. Otherwise all my gear comes used, up to and including the canon 600mm iii that I recently acquired. I have never had an issue. I tend to deal with people that have a transaction history, I know what questions to ask, and if I have any concerns I just don't do the deal. So far it has served me well.

 

[Chiguy]

I bought a used Tamron SP 70-300 F4-5.6 in mint condition from Roberts Camera in Indianapolis IN and got a 6 month warranty with it and I got free shipping it arrived in one day from Indpls to my Chicago South suburban home. Check them out nice people to do business with also MPB camera is good I have bought my SB910 and 85 mm Nikon macro from them.

 

[Woodpecker]

There's something I forgot to mention:

If I had the choice and I had the money I would always prefer to pay the difference to get an E series lens. As mentioned before I own the 500 f4 G, but hat the chance to shoot its E brother. Due to the overall weight and the way it is balanced it is so much better if it comes to handholding it that I consieder it to be worth the money.
Although I never had the chace to shoot 600 primes, I would expect the difference to be the same if not bigger her betwenn the G and E series.

 

[robertrear]

I'm in the market as well for a used lens but at the moment I have yet to find one. I do have the Nikon 500mm PF but I would love to have a 600mm and keep the 500mm PF for travel.

 

[Jamie Baker]

Five years ago I purchased a used 500 f/4 from KEH. I've also sold equipment there. Most of my gear I buy used at a local camera company and I've never had any problems.