Used quality equipment vs. new middle ground? Figured I would throw this out there as an amateur who is still learning and have recently been asking this question to myself a lot. A...

DMerg10 Loc: Long Island, NY

Figured I would throw this out there as an amateur who is still learning and have recently been asking this question to myself a lot. A couple things about me that are important. First of all I have always liked shiny and new and second I am on a very limited budget.

Is it better to spend your money on high quality used equipment or buy the best new equipment possible on the same budget?

illininitt

Get a Canon T7I with a touch-screen and be set for life. I bid for a new T7I body on greentoe.com and it was accepted. Take the $$$ you save and go to Hawaii on Southwest (they start flying there next year.) Fares will be "dirt-cheap" to start.....and 2 bags fly free! If you don't like how the pictures (24 mp) come out....hit the "trashcan" button and move on. Life is too short!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Unlike a lot of folks will probably do, I'm not going to tell you what to purchase. I'll just say that if you purchase used equipment from a highly reputable company, you'll probably get more bang for your buck. Most of the big name camera companies have a used department. The big camera store names, B and H, Adorama, etc., are also a good source of high quality used equipment.

Although funded as a birthday present, I purchased a used camera for about 1/2 of what it cost new. When it arrived it looked brand new, even though it has been used a bit. It's worked perfectly since. To think about purchasing a new one would be out of the question. So, it's a top of the line, almost brand new at a very good price. So, think about purchasing high end used, but from a high end dealer.
--Bob

DMerg10 wrote:

Figured I would throw this out there as an amateur who is still learning and have recently been asking this question to myself a lot. A couple things about me that are important. First of all I have always liked shiny and new and second I am on a very limited budget.

Is it better to spend your money on high quality used equipment or buy the best new equipment possible on the same budget?

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

DMerg10 wrote:

Is it better to spend your money on high quality used equipment or buy the best new equipment possible on the same budget?

It depends on whether you want quality equipment or not.

DMerg10 Loc: Long Island, NY

rmalarz wrote:

Unlike a lot of folks will probably do, I'm not go... (show quote)

Thanks for the response. I was just throwing it out there to start the discussion and I think I agree with you completely. I just purchased a used 24-105mm L and the picture I posted I took today and compared to the photo I got with my 28-135mm of the same the difference in IQ was hard to miss but until you can make the comparison it is hard to quantify. I currently shoot a lot of waterfowl, birds, etc. so I made the big splurge last year and bought a new Canon 7D MKII. I have an old T3I as a backup and some old kit lenses that I am trying to sell as seed money and my plan is to purchase a used 5DMKII or 6d to have a Full Frame sensor as a backup.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

DMerg10 wrote:

Figured I would throw this out there as an amateur who is still learning and have recently been asking this question to myself a lot. A couple things about me that are important. First of all I have always liked shiny and new and second I am on a very limited budget.

Is it better to spend your money on high quality used equipment or buy the best new equipment possible on the same budget?

Most of my equipment has been purchased used.
I buy mostly from private parties from Craig’s List to get the most bang for my buck!
I’m very patient and look long and hard to source a good deal.
Rarely do I need something right NOW as a result from a massive GAS thrombosis!!! LoL
SS

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

DMerg10 wrote:

Figured I would throw this out there as an amateur who is still learning and have recently been asking this question to myself a lot. A couple things about me that are important. First of all I have always liked shiny and new and second I am on a very limited budget.

Is it better to spend your money on high quality used equipment or buy the best new equipment possible on the same budget?

Are you familiar with re-furbished gear? It is also shiny and new (and warranted), but considerably less expensive. Remember that 1 image captured by a new camera renders that camera USED! Good gear is used much longer as used than it was as new.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Of all my equipment, the vast majority, but not all, has been purchased used - mostly from my local camera store ( a plug for Southeastern camera in Raleigh, NC), but occasionally on UHH, Ebay and even locally from Craigslist. I shop carefully and have never (yet) been disappointed. I calculate I’ve paid about an average of 60% of the retail value which has allowed me to build up an inventory I could not have afforded buying new.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

when I want quality, I go for used equipment.

VTMatwood Loc: Displaced Vermonta in Central New Hampsha

Nearly all of my gear (film and digital) was purchased used or refurb. More bang for the buck and all that. I'd rather spend the cash on a trip to go shoot something interesting than on the gear itself.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Mix of new and used. Just depends on what’s available and how soon I need or want it.

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

DMerg10 wrote:

Figured I would throw this out there as an amateur who is still learning and have recently been asking this question to myself a lot. A couple things about me that are important. First of all I have always liked shiny and new and second I am on a very limited budget.

Is it better to spend your money on high quality used equipment or buy the best new equipment possible on the same budget?

I can not tell you what to do, but I can tell you what I have done. I consider myself an “advanced amateur” who has exhibited in galleries and sold printed images. All of my equipment is pro quality or nearly so. Most of my equipment
Was purchased used from a variety of sources including Craigslist, eBay, on line stores and local dealers. I can not afford to buy new and the used pro quality equipment is in excellent condition and 1/2 price. Pros will upgrade as soon as they can. For example, I bought a Nikkor AFS 70-200 f/2.8G VRII lens in near new condition with box, etc from a local dealer for C$1200 and he took my used AF 80-200 f/2.8D as a trade-in.

Like everything, you have to know what you’re buying, be able to evaluate the condition yourself. This is just my opinion, I am sure there are others.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

DMerg10 wrote:

Figured I would throw this out there as an amateur who is still learning and have recently been asking this question to myself a lot. A couple things about me that are important. First of all I have always liked shiny and new and second I am on a very limited budget.

Is it better to spend your money on high quality used equipment or buy the best new equipment possible on the same budget?

"Used" covers a huge range. I would suggest you get what you want as a refurbished item.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

All of the lenses and cameras I have were bought used. No issues and I saved myself a lot of money.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I agree with Jerry, get a refurbished item and with a warranty if possible. If you have a limited budget you don't want to get something and find out a month later is is broken and even worse, gray market. That can put a real crimp in your budget!