Advice regarding a second hand lens

[Derek Smith]

I've just bought a second hand lens from MPB.

It's described as being in 'excellent condition', which means, according to MBP: 'Item looks close to new i.e., only the lightest signs of cosmetic wear, buttons are in excellent condition. Any scuffs, marks or scratches are minor.' (Slightly edited.)

When I receive it, how do I examine it to make sure it is as described? I know MPB has a very good reputation, but I've just spent £hundreds on my first second hand lens that I haven't been able to check at the time of buying.

[StevieBee]

Have purchased quite a few lenses from them and all have been exactly as described.

Think about the condition of a lens that you've been using for a year or so and think about what evidence of use there may be. Then consider the same for the lens you've purchased when it arrives - does it look like it's been looked after as you would look after the lens.

Also, take a photo through it of a plain bit of paper or neutral background to check for any fungus.

And does it feel right?

And then just try it. Take photos. Do they look ok?

[Derek Smith]

Thanks.

[Tony1963]

To add to the advice above, check that the autofocus is spot on at a few distances.

[TTwiggy]

MPB are a very good company and items are always as described

[ALPandy90]

Just to add, I've bought and sold a few items via MPB and always found them fair. I have had a lens turn up and not match the description (i.e. it should have been 100% working, but it wasn't). They gave me two options; 1) keep the lens and they'd refund me some money to account for the difference in condition. or 2) they'd ship a new lens of the same model and condition of my choosing straight away and I could return the faulty one at my leisure.

I chose Option 2. They even followed up to check the replacement was to my satisfaction, and confirmed they'd re-tested the one I sent back and said it was faulty so I needn't worry about there being any issues with my camera.

[Derek Smith]

I've got the lens. It's in excellent condition and functions perfectly. I'll post an image, taken by it rather than of it.

I'm quite pleased. First time I've bought something expensive (for me) s/h sight unseen.

I was especially pleased with the packaging. It was secure, almost to a fault. Would use them again.

[bstb3]

Yeah I have to say MPB have never let me down. The pictures on their website are the lens you buy, so I guess there shouldn't be surprises but it's always reassuring with the warranty and returnability.

There are cheaper routes, of course, but peace of mind counts for a lot & you do get that (as well as the convenience of home delivery).

Hope the new lens does well by you Derek.

[Derek Smith]

bstb3 said:

Yeah I have to say MPB have never let me down. The pictures on their website are the lens you buy, so I guess there shouldn't be surprises but it's always reassuring with the warranty and returnability.

There are cheaper routes, of course, but peace of mind counts for a lot & you do get that (as well as the convenience of home delivery).

Hope the new lens does well by you Derek.

Thanks for the good wishes. The lens was described as excellent, but if I was selling it on eBay, I'd say as new, and expect the purchaser not to pull me up on it.

[BrokenSkunk]

Am I the only one intrigued as to what Derek has bought?
And if so, is that a symptom of knowing we have the same micro 4/3 camera?

I've used MPB too. I sold a lens to them and bought one at the same time. They gave me a fair price for my old lens, I checked to see how much they advertised it for and their markup wasn't huge. The purchased lens was exactly as described (mint condition), worked perfectly and was significantly cheaper than new.

[Derek Smith]

The lens I bought from MPB has developed a fault. Only happened over the last two days but it's a nasty one.

The stabiliser, OIS in Panasonic cameras, started jarring to the extent that the sensor moved. That's jarring! Switch off the OIS and everything is fine. It's a great lens, especially for the price, apart from it trying to jump out of my hand when moving the camera. (Bit of an exaggeration.) It's an expected complication with s/h gear. It's not clear whether, with a faulty item outside the 14 days, I am liable for postage as they demand that it is insured. Not cheap.

I'll let you how things develop.

[toohuge]

Whenever I’ve had warranty claims via MPB - they’ve organised dpd as usual to send it back to them

[paul.deitch]

I too have bought many lenses and cameras from them. They've always been reliable. I did have one lens that went faulty after three/four months and they replaced it straight away, no quibble.

[Derek Smith]

I messaged them over the weekend. Yesterday I had a reply, asking me whether I wanted a replacement or repair. There was only one identical item on their list, but the price had risen by £40. I pointed this out and was told it was as a result of 'normal price fluctuation' and I would not be asked to pay any more for an identical item. They will come and collect it on a day of my choosing.

All very slick, polite and helpful.

I'll update as and when.

I'm not sure what 'normal price fluctuation' amounts to. When I bought mine, some six weeks ago, there was a selection of 6 or so such lenses, I wondered if the fact that there's only one was a factor the fluctuating value.

[Simpo Two]

Derek Smith said:

I'm not sure what 'normal price fluctuation' amounts to. When I bought mine, some six weeks ago, there was a selection of 6 or so such lenses, I wondered if the fact that there's only one was a factor the fluctuating value.

The law of supply and demand no doubt.

Hence the story about the stamp collector who had the only two examples in the world of a particular stamp. He burned one.

[BrokenSkunk]

I'm still wonder what you've bought Derek.

[Derek Smith]

BrokenSkunk said:

I'm still wonder what you've bought Derek.

To put you out of your misery, it's a Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 ASPH. Mega O.I.S.

I like the lens, but not when it shakes the sensor.

[BrokenSkunk]

Thanks!
Now I'm wondering if there's a compatibility problem. Mega OIS isn't compatible with dual OIS.
I'd expect the G9 to just disable the camera body OIS when it sees a Mega OIS lens, but you're describing the sensor moving around, which means both lens and body OIS are enabled.

Have you tried disabling dual OIS in the menus? I'm sure I've seen it in there somewhere. I'd expect not to need to, but I don't know for sure as I swapped my Mega OIS 14-140mm for the Power OIS version when I bought the G9 body.

[geeks]

Bit late and maybe not as helpful but I have some used gear from WEX and always found they very good as well

[Derek Smith]

BrokenSkunk said:

Thanks!
Now I'm wondering if there's a compatibility problem. Mega OIS isn't compatible with dual OIS.
I'd expect the G9 to just disable the camera body OIS when it sees a Mega OIS lens, but you're describing the sensor moving around, which means both lens and body OIS are enabled.

Have you tried disabling dual OIS in the menus? I'm sure I've seen it in there somewhere. I'd expect not to need to, but I don't know for sure as I swapped my Mega OIS 14-140mm for the Power OIS version when I bought the G9 body.

Thanks for the reply. I have another lens with Mega OIS and do not have a similar problem, nor any other come to that. I have tried the lenses on my other two Pan MFTs and they too have no symptoms with either the Power or the Mega OIS. Also, the 45mm developed a problem with focusing a day before the clicking started. It also refused to go into manual focus mode. I've made the unevidenced assumption that these faults are connected.

When using either of my G9s, I normally switch off the OIS in my lenses unless I feel I need every ounce of stabiliser I can get. I was told it could malfunction when using video. I've tried it with both the Power and Mega on my other two lenses and have noticed no change, but have followed the suggestion. If the sole fault was with the OIS in the 45mm I probably would not have bothered with returning it. I have another prime lens without any form of OIS, and I don't notice its absence. But with the autofocus and manual focus messing around, I had no option.