Does a Lens price devalue over time.

[spearce8]

Hi,

New to this game, so it may seem a stupid thing to ask for some, but...

...say I wanted to purchase the canon 100-400 L (bit flush at the minute :D ) and a year or so later I sold it (or rather needed to) could I expect to get the bulk of what I paid back (mint cond, protected, well looked after, etc..etc) I mean lenses aren't like PC Graphic Cards are they, there's no constant stream of new Glasses/updates :)

P.S

Anyone know when the Canon L Series lenses were released, price then, compared to now.

[snoopstah]

I would think you'd be fine unless they released an updated model of the same lens. Of course, if the updated model was worse, that could play to your favour!

Do a completed search on eBay for the lens you're interested in, and check out the prices they go for, second-hand in the UK. I don't think the age of the lens is really a big issue - condition and completeness is much more important.

[kez]

i've never lost any money on any of my lenses, but then i but them second hand, for bargain-tastic prices

as long as you get it for a good price, you should be ok.

[Matholwch]

You can expect your lens to retain most of its value - especially L grade lenses. This is one of the reasons I intend to only buy Canon, as the 3rd party lenses tend to loose their value.
For example, I bought my 17-40mm f4 L new from HK for 420 (inc p&p), and would fully expect to be able to sell it for about £400 (provided that it remains in its mint condition), as the price for it new in the Uk is £533 new.
If kepts in good condition, along with boxes, then they will retain their value.

[wseed]

The Canon camera museum says when the released models and the price in Yen. http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/f_lens.html The 100-400 IS is an old model now and I'm hoping they update it very soon. A little faster and the next gen IS are both sadly missing from this lens.

[homerjhandley]

i have bought two lenses on here for roughly 2/3rds of the price, they were like new.

so i would seriously consider trying to source a 2nd hand one 1st, but ensure that you have the boxes and packaging (ie polystyrene inserts) at a minimum for resale value.

[DamienB]

I sold my 100-400 for 750; I bought it for somewhere around 900 (from Jessops - long story - but basically I screwed them in a manner so beautiful I still smile). That's about the difference you get from subtracting VAT, which I tend to find is the average second hand value of Canon lenses.

[GreyJackal]

I sold my 100-400

How come? You've been taking quite a lot with that haven't you?

[DamienB]

Nope, only used it very rarely between Feb 2004 and June 2005, and never used it after then. The 400 5.6 L gave me so much more consistent and sharper results, plus it performs very well with a 1.4 TC mounted too.

[GreyJackal]

Ah ok, must have just happened to pick the "right" photos to ask what they were taken with :lol:

Not tried the 400 with a TC yet. I've found that I'm almost having to relearn holding it properly after not using it at all over the winter. My pics at Thruxton today were 90% with that and I had to bin an awful lot due to shake.