Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

I bought a used 70-200 2.8 vr II about a month ago from KEH, looks brand new and works like a charm.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

The low price may be due to that being an older version or model of that lens. I have Tamron (Pentax-KAF) 18mm-200mm Zoom that is likely the replacement for your model. I think mine's the second version and there is s third. I bought mine for my Pentax K-3, K-5, and K-20D cameras. The lens I bought was say just less than $100 from a fellow UHH member. I can't image a third party company like Tamron making both a 28- and 18- version of such a simlar lens at the same time.

I've found the Tamron 18-200mm to be a pretty nice lens. It is no match for my Pentax brand smc-Pentax-DA* f2.8 16-50mm high end Zoom. One issue I have with the Tamron is it does have a slight amount of blue-yellow fringing with certain lighting conditions. That is something I've never seen with any of my 30+ Pentax and Takumar prime and zoom lenses. I have a few other off or third party lenses but I can't speak for them as I never really use them. The only non-Pentax lens other than the Tamron that I regularly use is a Vivitar (Pentax KA mount) 19mm f/3.8 lens.

B&H surprised me as well but not to your degree. Last Fall I purchased a used Fuji X100T camera for about $930. This was rated at 9+, it was the highest rated and with the highest price. But when I received it I found that it appears to nearly new. It only seemed to have 600 exposures on it. Years ago I bought a used Pentax K-5 from a private seller on eBay. It had some 45,000 exposures on it. That is what I'm used to, not a nearly new camera used. The K-5 is still my main camera.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Mike - the new version of the Tamron 18-200 has VR, but a review I read indicated it wasn't as good as the previous version - the one I have - the Aspherical LD IF XR - which has no stabilization, but, with a Pentax - there's no need, anyway - as they all have IBIS. I bought it as a kit lens - with the K-50 - for an extra $200 … the 18-55 Kit Lens would've cost me $150 on top of the $200 paid for the K-50 - so it really didn't make any sense to buy the Pentax. I bought a 50-200 Pentax for a hundred, some time later. Never had any problems with either lens. The Tamron - is absolutely sensational. And the Pentax sharp as a tack!

User ID

The stated range is established over time, and updated.
It is useful info. It is NOT meant to state "inventory on
hand" ... as you have noted. Now you "understand why".

The historical pricing gives you a perspective about the
actual inventory on hand. If you want "9.5" grade but
all thaz on hand ATM is "8" and below ... the historical
data tells you the price of what you're waiting for, and
acoarst you can arrange to be notified when available.

.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

OF COURSE, you can, Ggab ….

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Chris:

The Tamron lens I have is a (Pentax mount) XR Di II AF 18-200mm XR LD Asph. (IF) Macro Zoom Lens. Yes, all Pentax DSLRs have IBIS. I just checked, I paid $135 for the used Tamron. I use it on occasion with my K-3, K-5, or K-20D cameras. I don't really use zoom lenses with my IR Converted K-100D, usually only a 35mm or 50mm prime lens. I have a smc-Pentax-DA 18-55mm Zoom "Kit" Lens (third version) that came used with a used camera I bought. It is actually very sharp, just not as "fast" as my smc-Pentax-DA* f/2.8 16-50mm (high end) Zoom! Actually most of my equipment was bought used!

Photocraig

I also endorse KEH. I've had excellent experiences with them---including B+W filters at bargain prices without a blemish anywhere. In their newsletters they urge people to not be fraid to go Ugly--amd so do other commentators.

The inventory/auto update function is far easier to execute with a system with for product because each item is identical for the same SKU (Stock Keeping Unit). For Used, however, each individual unit of a product type is unique, and therefore don't fit into an available off the shelf inventory system.

In Software systems--like in clothing-- custom equals expensive--which is the last thing a Used Department wants to impose on its cost structure.

KEH's folks are very nice, low pressure and helpful. They helped guide me to the right DSLR body to buy, and why, and when I purchased, the rep went to the inventory and hand selected the best body, an EOS 50D for me and my price point. When I received it it was in nearly new condition with their EX rating.

With their return policy and their good folks and STELLAR reputation over many years, I'd buy an ugly item and take my chances and return it if it didn't fit my needs.

But judging them, or any of the other used sellers who all share this issue, isn't legitimate and in this case perhaps self cheating. (Which leaves the bargains for the rest of us.)
C

Oldman73

KEH can be hit or miss, I have been fortunate to hit on a few occasions. They are good people to deal with.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

That's the same one, Mike … gold band - right? … One absolutely fine lens!!! … The 18-55 Pentax Kit Lens - is one I never got. Bought the Tamron, instead - WITH the K-50 (effectively, my "Kit" Lens!!!) The SMC Pentax DA-L 50-200 ED WR I bought later was for the K-3 I'd bought - used - previously, but, after I sent the K-3 back, it's mainly been a shelf-warmer! … It's a very sharp lens, though - surprised the hell outa me, I'll tell you - especially, considering what I paid!

I think that's the only lens I've bought, used, though. And, both the of the dig cams I bought used, were sent back - not had very good luck buying used cameras. But, that's alright - I have a dozen DSLRs! That's all one needs! … Each main one has a back-up roughly equivalent ('cept the K-50!)

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

And I've had good luck buying used. My K-20D (14MP Digital) and K2 DMD (film) were purchased new. Also I once had (my first SLR) a Pentax KM and K1000 SE both purchased new but they got stolen back in 1987. Pissed me off too because the MFs also got my SunPack 611 ? (whatever) Flash, Luna Pro meter, and a rare-ish smc-Pentax-K 30mm f/2.8 lens! And more. I've also had a Pentax ME Super, and MX camera bodies bought used. The MX was probably my only real disappointment in a used camera. I found it had a few minor defects. The ME Super became redundant with the near Pro K2 DMD once I mainly went digital. I really miss the K1000 SE as it had a split image focusing screen and is great in decent light!

To tell you the truth, I'm not really happy with the K-3 (24MP) as it is horribly noisy in low light / high ISO. And the menus are harder to follow. I guess I got caught up in the pixel race. I should have bought a K-5iis (16 MP, no AA filter) instead.

The most recent I bought used for my wife from B&H is a Fujifilm X100T. It came with only 600 exposures on it!

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

We've all been there, Mike … the same gal who stole my Canon A1 took with it my Sigma 21-24mm WA Zoom, my SunPak 510 - the one with all the colored filters (still have all those) my own Gossen Luna-Pro, my Soligor Spot Meter, my Vivitar Zoom Flash Meter I'd only just bought, and a host of other small stuff - my feeling is she was planning to sell it all piecemeal over time. Took me a long time to recover after that … still haven't, really … but I've been a lot more careful who I bring home, since - let me tell you!!!!

I had been planning to replace that K-3 I'd bought used, but, then, found I had to send back, but, when I found I could get a D7100 cheaper than a K-3 would cost me, new - I went that route. I guess I'd always planned on getting the K-3II - but my mind had a hard time wrapping itself around the idea I'd get a GPS but only by sacrificing the built-in flash. Yes, for the GPS, but no for not having a built-in flash on an APS-C camera. They all (all the ones I have, anyway) have them. Sure, they don't help much, but they do help a little. Let's put it this way - I'd rather have it, and not need it, than don't have it and do need it!

The pixel race? … Was there one? … I musta missed it!!!! Who won? … Seriously, my K-50 with its 16MP, and my D7000 - also, with 16MP - are two of my best-performing cameras! … And, you know what else is way up there? … You'll never believe this! … My very first DSLR - my lowly entry-level Canon Rebel T3 - it has a WHOPPING 12MP!!!!! … Why, that's as much as the newest Panasonic GH4, and two of the Nikon Classics everyone talks about all the time - the D300s (the predecessor to the D500) and the D700 !!!!!

Fuji's making some nice cameras, lately, Mike - and they all have those precious Fujifilm simulations. Those two slide ones are my favorites. Been thinking about an X-H1 - which has the 5-axis IBIS - the newer X-T3 lacks … but the reviews on it have not been very favorable - not like for the X-T2, and X-T3.

Not sure I'll ever buy another body w/o IBIS (of some sort) though ... which leaves out all Canons (for the moment) and all Nikons but the Z series. So, it's down to Pentax or Sony, or that Fuji X-H1, price-wise.

Glad your missus is enjoying her new X-100T, Mike ... are you sharing it, or no?

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Oh, yes. We are sharing it. I have to figure out how to use it before I can teach her. It is massively more complex and different from my various Pentax cameras. It is a bit limited with having only the attached
23mm lens, so I am now thinking I should have jumped right in and bought the Fuji X-Pro2 (Hybrid EVF/OVF Rangefinder MILC) so I could have changeable lenses and even use my Pentax lenses. It might have been cool to later buy a second such body so we each could have one. She wants her own camera so she does not have to worry so much if she damages one of mine. She is free to use my cameras but does not want to. From time to time I'll coerce her to use one of my cameras. She even sometimes gets better images than I do! She wanted her own film SLR camera so I bought a full old Pentax Spotmatic system with many lenses for her but as her eye sight has been getting poor she really NEEDS an AF camera and lenses.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

AND IBIS, I would think, too, Mike … so, that means most Fuji bodies are out!!!! … FOCUS in on a Pentax. That K-70 is quite a camera - and it's small enough - to be comfortable in a woman's hands, too. Or, look around for the now-discontinued K-S1 (lots of LEDs - she might like that, plus color and texture options) or the newer K-S2 which has multiple color options, in the baseplate. Both of those are fantastic cameras and are small - which means - perfect for a woman (or child.) I think Amazon has some of those - definitely, the latter, if not also, the former. It's a real shame Ricoh discontinued them both. Oh, well!!! ...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Mike - not sure which camera only has a 23mm lens, but the Fujifilm X-T100 (a MILC) usually comes with a 15-45mm lens, but, of course - being an interchangeable mirror-less camera, you can buy it with any lens you choose - as long as it's Fuji. Of course, I suppose, with an adapter, you can use a Pentax lens. Most cameras, sold today, can be used with lenses from other manufacturers, with adapters, but some - only in a limited fashion. You may not get AE, or AF, or any combination of other features. It's better to use the lenses manufactured by the camera maker, or those produced by Tamron, Tokina and Sigma - in order to retain all features. Other lens-makers, who, primarily produce either wide-angle, or short teles, or macros, or special-purpose lenses, like perspective-control lenses, or special effects lenses - make them primarily for Canon and Nikon, and some, now, too - for Mirrorless designs, and are Manual Only.

Enjoy your new Fuji X-T100 or whatever other camera you choose to buy for the missus. Happy shooting!