texasmama

Hello again...still looking fit a zoom for my nikon D90.. And since my budget is limited I was thinking about a nikon 80-300 since it a 2.8!!! Used Even though it doesn't have vr... Or a 70-200 2.8 without vr ....can anyone recommend places to price these? I understand ill have to brace myself or use a tripod/ monopod.. Thank you in advance...

Kuzano

I don't know how you feel about eBay, but as far as a significant pricing guide, I might check KEH, B&H, and Amazon for used prices, but would never pass up eBay as a price guide. More likely you will find more of what you seek on eBay.

What most people miss on eBay to get to actual sales closed listings is to look for the item you seek (do not limit your search to specific categories.... search All Categories).

Your specifications are defined enough to find the items you are looking for. People constantly list items in WRONG categories, so you miss some the information you are looking for, if you do not stay IN ALL CATEGORIES. Searching in more limiting categories (like lenses and filters) is a mistake if you are just looking for closed sales price information.

An example would be to list one of the lenses you are considering in the search window and in All Categories. After all, you are simply looking for final prices. So, when you complete the search, look down the left sidebar for "sold listings", check the box and you will be switched to the final sales amounts for the last 60 days.

It is of no value to look at open auctions or sales because the information on completed listings is shown separately.

Of course you may participate as a buyer, but if eBay is not your cup of tea, at least it is one of the best places to gather value information.

The difference between looking at KEH, and Amazon for used pricing is you are looking at asking prices for the items, which may not be relevant. At least on eBay, you have the information on actual selling prices. The value information on eBay is "real" sales closed, not asking prices, if you go to the "completed" or "sold" listings.

I just went to eBay and searched Nikon and found almost no 80-300 2.8 (does such a lens exist). I searched 80-200 2.8 and found over 700 listings in "sold listings". Then I searched 70-200 and found again over 700 sold or completed auctions.

NOTE:.. Even on a general search of the internet I do NOT find an 80-300 Nikon lens in f2.8.

Of course the variants of those lenses in refining the search down may bring those numbers down, by inserting more search information. In any event, you can range through those closed listing to develop an average for used prices.

Frankly eBay closed sales are a more realistic in real life, than any asking prices at resellers, no matter how good the reputation is, because you never really know if the items sell for asking prices, which tend to be high.

I've been selling on eBay (camera's mostly) for fifteen years and teaching eBay classes in community college community education courses for ten years.

eBay is the pulse of real and the largest data base of used or closed listings that I know of, and also a source of best buys if you take your time and are cautious. Particularly pay attention to feedback, with high sales numbers and the best percentages for good FB. I never buy, and I never suggest buying from any seller with numbers less than 100 feedbacks, and a percentage of 99.5% positive.

Still, I don't want to push eBay as a place to buy unless you take care, or are comfortable with it.

But, it still is the best place I know of to get average sold prices. You can't do that at KEH and Amazon, or any other camera outlet.

PhotoPhred Loc: Cheyney, Pa

Try B+H Camera/Video or Adorama. You might look at used or refurbished lenses. I have the Nikon 70-300 with VR, not as fast, but works well with my d5100. Happy shopping.

GPoyner Loc: North Dakota

What's your budget?

texasmama

Ill check ebay out...do you know if the nikon 70-200 only comes with vr? quote=Kuzano]I don't know how you feel about eBay, but as far as a significant pricing guide, I might check KEH, B&H, and Amazon for used prices, but would never pass up eBay as a price guide. More likely you will find more of what you seek on eBay.

What most people miss on eBay to get to actual sales closed listings is to look for the item you seek (do not limit your search to specific categories.... search All Categories).

Your specifications are defined enough to find the items you are looking for. People constantly list items in WRONG categories, so you miss some the information you are looking for.

An example would be to list one of the lenses you are considering in the search window and in All Categories. After all, you are simply looking for final prices. So, when you complete the search, look down the left sidebar for "sold listings", check the box and you will be switched to the final sales amounts for the last 60 days.

It is of no value to look at open auctions or sales because the information on completed listings is shown separately.

Of course you may participate as a buyer, but if eBay is not your cup of tea, at least it is one of the best places to gather value information.

The difference between looking at KEH, and Amazon for used pricing is you are looking at asking prices for the items, which may not be relevant. At least on eBay, you have the information on actual selling prices. The value information on eBay is "real" sales closed, not asking prices, if you go to the "completed" or "sold" listings.[/quote]

:thumbup: :thumbup:

texasmama

Thank you..:)

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

I'm not familiar with a Nikon 80-300 f2.8 but the 70-300mm f4.5 is a fine lens if however you're shooting in low light conditions the 70-200mm f2.8 will be the best choice. What are you shooting? Outdoors? Indoors?

texasmama

Hoping to spend less than $800..2,000 is had to justify when I'm just a hobbyist..

texasmama

Outdoors.. Some time ball game run late... I. Photograph my kids mostly... I really love the ease of separating your subject from the background with the fast lens... I only own one fast-ish lens, nikon 50mm 1.8 ... So I thought I could afford one of these lens if I sacrificed the vr?!?

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

Well in low light the f2.8 will give you the best performance but they are pricy. Maybe a used or refurbished lens from someplace reputable like B&H or Adorama but stay with a supplier who stands behind their sales.

GPoyner Loc: North Dakota

Check out the 80-200 f2.8, they had many versions made; last I looked Adorama had one that was an AF-S 80-200 F2.8. I was also in the same delima but I shot low light so needed a fast zoom; I ended up with the 70-200 f2.8 VR for about $1,300. You can also look at Sigma and Tamron for those fast zooms....thanks GP

Kuzano

I saw all the lenses you listed in the "closed listings" except the 80-300 in f2.8, for WELL UNDER your stated budget. I saw a lot of the lenses listed and from people with numerous excellent feedback in the $400 range.

Somtimes (and not talking about you) I am amazed at people's reluctance to use eBay or consider it a reasonable resource, when you look at the actual listings.

Many of the listings on eBay are sold by the very resellers everyone on these forums tell you to go to instead.

Yes, some people have had negative experiences (a small number) on eBay, just as a few people have had negative experiences with the noted resellers.

Approached cautiously, as I would hope anyone would do, eBay can be just as safe as any online or brick/mortar transaction.

I've saved untold hundreds and thousands of dollars using eBay over fifteen years, because I also buy there. Just watch the sellers closely. There is more information to guide you to good sellers than any other sales venue you can find.

Sorry for the preach, and I don't know how you feel about eBay, but it will do your first request on this thread... be a real value resource.

texasmama

Thank you..:)

texasmama

Kuzano

Here is a sampling of that lens 70-200 VR you purchased... listing 400 sales, on eBay over 60 days most recent.

The validation here is that you paid near the going price. Good information on a large sampling.... the particular eBay search that derived this list was Nikon Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VR. Then on the sidebar, check "sold listings".

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Lenses-Filters-/78997/i.html?_from=R40&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&_nkw=Nikon+nikkor+70-200+2.8+VR

Thanks for that post to assist the OP.