Canon L lens - 2nd hand/finance?

Ben:

Ben:

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Ben
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Hey
I think at last I've decided on a lens to use for wildlife and generally anything that needs a versatile focal range.
After many reviews, opinions, searches I think the Canon 100-400mm L IS comes out top.
Some of them seem to date back quite a bit (first released in 1998 I think)

Second hand they still go for around £800.
Just looking for some advice on members past experiences as to whether its best to buy new where possible and get the warranty or save maybe £400-500 on a older 2nd hand one.

Jessops are doing 0% finance for 6/12months with a deposit.

Any advice would be great,
Thanks,
Ben.
 
I usually buy second hand, because if you decide you no longer need it for some reason you can sell on again without having lost much if anything. MPB (ad at the top right) have one in at the mo, and they also give a 6 month warranty on their s/h stuff (which they are good about honouring too after I had a problem recently).
 
I recently bought one of these off the classified section, paid £825 for a 2006 model, which is probably a little on the expensive side in hindsight. The only danger with this lens is that it's more prone to taking in dust, and the one I bought does have a small speck on the front element. However, it doesn't appear on images, so I'm not bothered by it. The cheapest I found for a new UK model was £1080, so for me, the saving buying second hand was definitely worth it.
 
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I recently got my 100-400L for £799 + delivery including a 6 month warranty from MPB.
It does have some internal dust but this expected and it makes no difference to IQ.
This is an expensive hobby and I am all for saving money if the used price of an item is a good saving over buying new.
 
I've bought all my lenses second hand, but this is probably one of the ones you need to be most careful about due to the dust issues. You see them come up on here occasionally, and it's probably a far more trustworthy place to buy than ebay.
 
grum said:
I usually buy second hand, because if you decide you no longer need it for some reason you can sell on again without having lost much if anything. MPB (ad at the top right) have one in at the mo, and they also give a 6 month warranty on their s/h stuff (which they are good about honouring too after I had a problem recently).
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basically what this man said, MPB warrenty their stuff so if it turns out to be duff its not a big deal
 
Chilos said:
I've bought all my lenses second hand, but this is probably one of the ones you need to be most careful about due to the dust issues. You see them come up on here occasionally, and it's probably a far more trustworthy place to buy than ebay.
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This lens is know for internal dust, generally there is nothing to worry about unless it causes a problem with IQ and personally I have yet to hear of this being an issue.
The same applies the 17-55 f/2.8 IS as well.
 
second hand is always the best way. I have found buying brand new and selling down the line I tend to lose a large chunk. If financing it seems Jessops have the best deal on atm
 
If you do buy new, take a look at CameraPriceBuster.co.uk. I just bought a 100-400mm from Martins Camera Shop because it was about £150 cheaper than Jessops at the time.
 
DarrenC said:
I normally like to buy new, then I know how it's been treated.
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I would like to think that someone who has the best part of £1200 to spend on a lens would treat it reasonably well ;)

Got my 100-400L from MPB yesterday and it's superb! :D
 
Well done Ben, I think you've got a pretty good price for it there.
 
Russ77 said:
I would like to think that someone who has the best part of £1200 to spend on a lens would treat it reasonably well ;)

Got my 100-400L from MPB yesterday and it's superb! :D
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:O I bet that was the one I had my eye on! lol
Glad you're pleased with it, excited to get mine haha :)

Chilos said:
Well done Ben, I think you've got a pretty good price for it there.
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Me too :D
 
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