Unless you’re buying a rare collectible that has spent its entire existence in storage, most lenses will show some signs of wear and tear. Examine the lens carefully to see if it matches what the seller described in their listing.
Especially important is the mount. It shouldn’t be scratched and the contacts should be clean.
Check the condition of the lens
When buying used lenses it’s important to carefully inspect them for any damage or imperfections. It’s always best to buy from a camera store or dealer that can guarantee the lens will work and have a reasonable return policy.
Typical wear and tear like scratches on the rear lens element and barrel are expected and should not impact the optical performance or characteristics of the lens. However, small blemishes can affect the appearance of the image and should be taken into consideration when evaluating the price.중고카메라판매
Also look for marks on the outside of the lens that indicate it has been disassembled or repaired. This is an indication that the seller may not have been careful when handling the lens or the lens could be damaged during shipping. Check that the lens has its front and rear caps and any other accessories it should come with. If the lens rattles when shaken it could mean some parts have come loose.중고카메라렌즈
Check the focusing ring
The focusing ring controls the movement of the lens element to focus. It should rotate smoothly without any grit or stiffness. A cracked or gouged ring would compromise the seal on the lens and render it less weather-resistant.
In addition to examining the glass for scratches and (God forbid) cracks you should also check the focusing and zoom rings for looseness or unusual noises. If the rubber feels hard and dry it is probably time to replace it.
On modern lenses there are small electronic contact points on the back of the lens that communicate with the camera body to control things like aperture, autofocus and optical image stabilization. These pins are typically gold and if the previous owner wasn’t careful or used a lens cap, they can become corroded. This will cause data communication errors that can affect AF, OOF and exposure settings. Look for signs of corrosion and clean the contacts if necessary.
Check the mount
The mount is an important indicator of how well a lens was treated. Brassing — when the brass is exposed beneath the paint or chrome on the lens mount — can indicate heavy use. Brassing may be fixed by rubbing the lens mount against a soft cloth.
Checking the mount for scratches is easy in bright light. Lighter scratches caused by poor cleaning technique are more difficult to detect.
If the mount is damaged, it will be very difficult to screw in filters. Examine the threads carefully and bring your own filter to test if they are cross-threaded.
If the seller is willing to allow you to mount the lens on a camera body, do so and thoroughly test it out. If the auto focus and aperture controls function properly, the lens is likely in good condition. If the image stabilization works, that is a major bonus as well. You can test it by taking a series of handheld photos with and without the stabilization feature enabled.
Check the hood
Examine the lens hood for damage or imperfections (a small scratch is okay, but any signs of rust, mold or fungus are a red flag). Look for black dots in bokeh caused by dust or bad scratches. Also look for lines across the images caused by cement deterioration (known as balsam separation).
Examine all the switches, buttons and rubber pieces on the lens to ensure they work properly. A cracked rubber piece could indicate rough usage and impact resale value. Also look for marks on the screws and bolts that hold the lens together – any signs of disassembly or repairs could be a sign of a defect that may require professional repair.
Finally, turn the lens to check that all the internal mechanisms are working properly. This includes the focusing and aperture rings that should rotate smoothly and easily. It’s also a good idea to test the lens in different apertures to make sure it works correctly.