Purchasing Used Lens

[Hill Country Hack]

I found a Canon 70-200mm f2.8 non IS on craigslist for a good price and I am picking it up tomorrow. The seller posted several quality pics including the front and rear lenses. The lenses looked scratch free. There are a couple of very minor defects on the lens ring where the filters screw in, but otherwise in excellent shape. I am excited about this purchase, but I don't want to purchase a dog.

I plan on mounting the lens to my camera, take several test shots at differing focal lengths and running the USM through cycles of focus. I will download the images to my lappy and peek at them looking for issues, prior to handing over my money. What else can/should I do (besides close visual inspection/test shots/mechanical checks) to make sure the lens is in good shape before I spend my hard earned $$?

[zona5101]

visually inspect for mold or other contaminates within the lens, shake it, listening for anything rattling around, stop down the the aperture blades and visually inspect they close and open freely and completely, listen to the lens focus with no grinding, grittiness. manually zoom and focus for smoothness and operation. Be sure and shoot shots of subjects where you can check the sharpness on a well defined edge.

[bigben6]

I would shoot at differing focal length AND apertures at each focal length....

so 200mm 2.8, 8, and 16

[Hill Country Hack]

Originally Posted by zona5101

visually inspect for mold or other contaminates within the lens, shake it, listening for anything rattling around, stop down the the aperture blades and visually inspect they close and open freely and completely, listen to the lens focus with no grinding, grittiness. manually zoom and focus for smoothness and operation. Be sure and shoot shots of subjects where you can check the sharpness on a well defined edge.

Thanks for the additional pointers. I plan on giving this a very good going over. I'll walk away if there is anything I feel uncomfortable with.

This guy is also selling his body on a seperate ad to "do other things". I'm guessing to pay the rent or replace his admittedly lost phone.

On stopping down the lens and inspecting. I mount the lens, set the apeture, remove the lens and look though from back to front and vice versa?

[Aegea]

Originally Posted by Hill Country Hack

This guy is also selling his body

Was it just me that gave this a double take?

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by Hill Country Hack

Thanks for the additional pointers. I plan on giving this a very good going over. I'll walk away if there is anything I feel uncomfortable with.

This guy is also selling his body on a seperate ad to "do other things". I'm guessing to pay the rent or replace his admittedly lost phone.

On stopping down the lens and inspecting. I mount the lens, set the apeture, remove the lens and look though from back to front and vice versa?

I was thinking of using the stop down button (depth of field preview)- you can just press that look into the lens and see the blades.
Some old lens with an aperture ring have a linkage on the rear of the lens that can be manipulated with your finger - i do not know if this lens would have that...

[Hill Country Hack]

Originally Posted by Aegea

Was it just me that gave this a double take?

Thanks for pointing that out