GH4 Caution, eBay sells lot of dusty lens

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ajm1945

Member
Many unscrupulous people selling their abused lens on eBay, usually the only reason is the lens inside get so dusty, they just sell them on eBay, I hope no one here does that. I got lens from this guy on eBay (nikshooter61), his stuff is realy dirty.

I used my iPhone to take a close up, using SLR and GH4, it is hard to spot these dusts.
 

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Second hand lenses get dusty...the older the dustier. If you shine a torch up a lens and then look across it kind of sideways you'll be horrified. Yet the image is just fine. Now fungus is bad, but mostly because it will get worse and affect the monetary value of the lens. Haze is bad. Oil on the blades can be bad. I'm okay with a little dust. I've got a 100% fungus 200mm nikon, can't see through it with the naked eye. Yet the only effect it has on the image is that it is a little soft and a little less contrasty. Actually makes for a great effect lens, equivalent of a pro-mist filter but better looking. Takes those wrinkles right out of the picture.

Does it effect the image? Is that lens abused in any way other than what you've shown? Looks okay to me. Brand new out of the box I would still expect to see maybe 10% of what I'm seeing there.
 
Most reputable lens sales on ebay will include close up photos and descriptions detailing dust, fungus, oil etc. It's always a crap shoot buying lenses you haven't examined personally, but there is feedback from sellers, so stick to 100% positive feedback. BTW that lens has dust, but probably won't show up in your images unless it's on the back element and stopped way down. Just use it and if you hate it sell it on ebay and mention the dust to perspective buyers.
 
I've had good luck buying used lenses on ebay. I just shop the private party ads (not camera dealer ads) where the seller says things like: "hardly used" and provides closeups of the lenses and has recent or fairly good feedback from buyers. The are a fair number of private party type ebay sellers who are financially well off and so they freely buy state of the art camera equipment brand new then hardly use it and then sell some of it in a year or two.
 
Most lenses can and should be serviced periodically. Especially cine lenses. If you got a good premium lens cheap off E-bay that you want to keep, it is worth getting it cleaned.
 
I always buy lenses from keh or off craigslist where I can examine it in person first. Always been too afraid to get a messed up lens and have to deal with all the shipping hassles and eBay seller bs.
 
I never buy expensive lenses used that I cannot inspect. Expensive being $100+. I've never tried KEH. For all my fun, cheap, Minolta lenses I just buy them from ebay and only buy the ones that say there in good condition with clear glass (unless I plan to take it apart and clean it, which is how I got my 50mm F1.2 for just $35.) I have never gotten one that had unacceptable dust, fungus or was damaged, but like I said, all descriptions and photos pointed to them being in good shape.
 
Egg Born Son said:
I've got a 100% fungus 200mm nikon, can't see through it with the naked eye. Yet the only effect it has on the image is that it is a little soft and a little less contrasty. Actually makes for a great effect lens, equivalent of a pro-mist filter but better looking. Takes those wrinkles right out of the picture.
Click to expand...

Brilliant!
 
If you are looking on ebay, then you have to get used to the fact that lots of it is crap that the owners want to shift. It isn't a source of carefully loved equipment. It's for bargains and a bit of a punt. If they describe a product as "two years old", "bought new one" "no external scratches" then it's up to you to add the rest of the sentences.
"two years old, and worn out already"
"bought new one that actually works"
"no external scratches because it's lived in a fluffy sock for months - most of which is now inside!"

The only hope is they are business sellers when you get loads of protection and simple refunds just because that's the rule.

If you want good quality old kit, then the specialist local dealer is the way - ebay for cheap and cheerful.
 
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