Puttin’ Flava in Ya Gear
Leave no stone unturned when searching for your new gear.
It’s time. You’ve reached a limitation with your current gear, or you want to go in a different direction. Don’t listen to those who would accuse you of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). You need to have the right tool for the job. You’ve identified the gear you need, thought long and hard about it, and you have a ballpark figure for the price. Don’t release the shutter until you’ve explored all your purchase options.
The easiest and most expensive option is to just buy new. Either from your local big box electronics store, camera shop, or an online retailer. You shouldn’t reject this avenue out of hand. It’s important to compare prices; the difference between new and used may not be much, especially for your more budget-friendly lenses. It’s comforting to know you have a solid return policy if something isn’t right, and who doesn’t love a brand new thing? Develop a go-to retailer to start your price comparison. I am in the US, and mine is B&H Photo Video. Another reputable vendor here is Adorama. Starting your search there will give you a baseline to evaluation your other contenders.
Photography specialty retailers, both online (B&H, Adorama) and brick-and-mortar (local camera shops), usually also maintain a used inventory. There are some online sources that only sell used equipment. Two of the most reputable are MPB (based in UK, also with a hub in the US) and KEH (US). The advantage of sourcing used equipment from one of these vendors is that the item is thoroughly inspected and graded according to condition, and their return policy is sound. I have personally bought and traded lenses through MPB, and I have found it to be a fair and straightforward process. This is a great choice if you are upgrading a lens, and know you won’t be using the old one. You can probably make a little more money selling it yourself, but a quick transaction and credit toward your new purchase may be a reasonable trade-off. I have purchased lenses and a camera body in both “like new” and “excellent” condition from MPB, and they all looked “like new” to me. It’s not just for lenses and bodies; you can also find accessories like tripods and gimbals there. From most expensive to least expensive, I have found B&H/Adorama used >>> KEH >>> MPB.
Photo of Biggie, taken with used Canon 6D Mark II and used Canon 85mm f/1.8, both purchased from MPB.
Moving down the budget list, we have online classifieds and marketplaces. These include eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Mercari, and other similar sites. Times have changed since the infancy of eBay, and there are reasonable buyer protection policies in place for most of these sites now. My Craigslist experience: I got a good deal on a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens after a brief negotiation, the transaction was smooth (cash in person, in a public place, with my husband there), and the lens was like new, in the box. My Facebook Marketplace experience: I got a great price on a Canon 40mm f/2.8 lens (did not negotiate, was priced well), used a credit card (funds are held until item is received and reviewed), and received the item quickly and in like-new condition in the original packaging. My Mercari experience: I paid $50 less for a Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens than I could find it in “excellent” or “like new” condition on MPB, received the lens, and on inspection found the autofocus to malfunction. The funds, paid via credit card, are held until the item is received and reviewed. The return process included taking multiple photos of the item and packaging, filling out the online form, and printing a return label to send it back to the seller. I was refunded by Mercari quickly, and saw that the seller reposted the same item for a lower price, noting the autofocus issue and advertising it as a manual lens. Caveat emptor. I ended up buying the 85mm used from MPB, and it is my pride and joy.
Accessories can be sourced almost anywhere. For those little bits and pieces, I head straight for my beloved Harbor Freight. Clamps, tie-downs, and LED lights are just the beginning. My best Harbor Freight find has been hard-sided Apache cases with pick-apart foam. They have been described as 90% of the quality of Pelican cases for 50% of the price. These are great for transport, and for storage of my speedlights (I keep my lenses and bodies in a dry cabinet when I am at home). Something that is not labeled for photography could be just the thing you need. Form follows function, darling.
You may not even need to leave your house. When I needed a snoot for a series shot, I grabbed a mailing tube I had lying around and a couple of strips of duct tape. Sorted. Need a lens case? Almost everyone has at least one koozie in a drawer somewhere. Foam board, poster board, almost any big flat white thing? There’s your reflector. The same creative energy that you apply to your photography can reveal a treasure trove of cool photography swag that’s been yours all along.
Photo taken with my mailing tube snoot. Click image to see series.
All your equipment doesn’t need to come from the same place. Evaluate each purchase for your use case. Comparison shopping is easy to do these days, and your research may lead you to an even better fit for your needs. By keeping your practical needs at the forefront and entertaining a variety of options, you can feel confident in your decisions as you outfit yourself for your next great shot.
