Advice on buying a used lens

[Arrow Head]

I'm going to look at a used Canon 300mm f/4 L IS USM that someone is selling. They want $1050 for it and it has a date code UV, so it was made in 2007. It's supposedly in mint condition. I've never bought a used lens, does $1050 seem reasonable to any of you who have bought and sold used lenses? If I bought this lens new on Amazon, with tax it would be around $1550. I'm really nervous about spending that kind of money without a return option. When I buy a new lens, I like to shoot for a few days to see what the lens can do. Any tips for giving a lens a quick run down on the spot when you can't download to a computer to evaluate the lens quality in more detail? Thanks in advance.

[huntnphool]

I'm going to look at a used Canon 300mm f/4 L USM that someone is selling. They want $1050 for it and it has a date code UV, so it was made in 2007. It's supposedly in mint condition. I've never bought a used lens, does $1050 seem reasonable to any of you who have bought and sold used lenses? If I bought this lens new on Amazon, with tax it would be around $1550. I'm really nervous about spending that kind of money without a return option. When I buy a new lens, I like to shoot for a few days to see what the lens can do. Any tips for giving a lens a quick run down on the spot when you can't download to a computer to evaluate the lens quality in more detail? Thanks in advance.

Thats way too high for that lens, you can get the same lens with IS for that price, I'd pass.

[Arrow Head]

I'm sorry, it is an IS, I'll update my post.

[huntnphool]

Here is proof. http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/pho/3631591209.html

[huntnphool]

I'm sorry, it is an IS, I'll update my post.

Still a bit high, the one in the link comes with the tripod ring, and if the 1.4x he has is a Canon brand its a very good deal.

[Arrow Head]

Yeah, I'm looking at that one too. Still waiting to hear back. I left the "IS" off and it's my first post! Rookie mistake.

[huntnphool]

Yeah, that's the one I'm looking at. I left the "IS" off and it's my first post! Rookie mistake.

So he already dropped his price by $100?

You want to take your camera and take some pics with it. Listen for the IS motor, it should not be loud or felt. Take your laptop and card reader, check out the images. Run it through several different apertures and make sure its adjusting properly.

[Arrow Head]

Thanks for the advice Phool, I went and checked out the used lens with the extender today. He wanted $950 for the 300mm L IS and another $120 for the 1.4x extender. The date code was UM which puts the lens at 1998. The extender was a 1.4x not a 1.4x II. I just couldn't pull the trigger on something that old, so I decided to pass. Thanks again for the advice.

[huntnphool]

You should be able to find a newer version of the 300mm for $1000 though, just keep your eyes open, they are out there.