subscribe 0330 333 1113I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.ukI 21 September 2019 47I’msure we all know the feeling – a
highly desirable new lens is announced
that would, surely, give an extra creative
impetus to your photography. The only
problem is the sky-high price. I’ve lost count
of the number of times I’ve got to the end of a
manufacturer’s press release enthusing about
its latest optic, only to exclaim ‘How much?’
when the RRP is finally revealed.
Of course, it’s not realistic to expect
brand-new designs to cost the same as 5-
or 10-year-old lenses, even when the base
specifications are essentially the same. The
latest lenses are sharper and can focus faster
and more accurately, while featuring video-SECOND-HAND LENSES TestbenchAndy Westlaketrawls through thesecond-hand market to find the best bargainused lenses you can buy for under £200friendly features such as stepless apertures
and completely silent operation. But this in turn
means that bargains are to be had second-
hand, as early adopters pick up the latest and
greatest kit and sell their existing lenses.
In this article, I’ve trawled though the used
market to pick out some of the best bargains
currently available for under £200. You’ll
notice that I’ve steered clear of some of the
most obvious recommendations, for instance
cheap full-frame 50mm f/1.8s. Let’s just take
it as read that these generally represent the
best-value lenses you can buy. Likewise, you
can’t really go wrong with 85mm f/1.8s or
macro lenses in the 90-105mm range.I’ve included plenty of lenses for APS-C
DSLRs, as this still represents the largest
group of cameras in regular use by enthusiast
photographers. But I’ve also picked out some
favourites for the longer-established mirrorless
systems. It’s true that there aren’t many
genuinely cheap lenses for the likes of Sony
and Fujifilm, even second-hand, but some
bargains can be found if you look hard enough.Howmuch should you pay?
Priceson the used market vary widely for any
given lens; obviously you’ll pay a premium for
one in ‘as new’ condition. Equally, you should
pay less when buying privately through an
online marketplace such as eBay, but this
means giving up the reassurance you’d get
from a specialist retailer that the item has been
fully checked and correctly graded and comes
with a proper returns policy. If this is important
to you, I’d suggest sticking with reputable firms
such as Wex Photo Video, CameraWorld,
Park Cameras, Grays of Westminster, Camera
Jungle, London Camera Exchange and MPB.
Third-party lenses may well also be priced
differently depending on the lens mount.
In this article, I’ve included indicative prices
taken from http://www.mpb.com covering ‘good’
to ‘as new’ condition.
In general, the main rule with buying used
is always to be absolutely sure of what you’re
getting, before handing over your cash. If
you’re thinking of buying online, be sure to
read the description and examine photographs
of the lens very carefully first. But with due
care and attention, it’s a great way to expand
your lens arsenal and creative options
without breaking the bank.Moremoneylens for yourGoodlenses
don’t have to
cost a fortune:
all of these can
be found used
for less than £200THANKS TO MPB FOR THE LOAN OF LENSES USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS ARTICLE.