Being a Frugal Photographer
Posted by jeff in Camera Gear, tags: Camera, Canon, equipment, Gear, lens, NikonYesterday’s list of lenses was enough to make even the strongest bank account cry. Quality lenses, new out of the box, can set you back more than you just paid for your camera. So here are a couple of things to consider.
When buying a lens, think of it as a long term investment. I have been shooting Nikon for the better part of two decades and the lenses I used 20 years ago still work on the newest of Nikon bodies. That’s actually true of Nikon lenses that are 30 and 40 years old (there is some loss of functionality but they will still work). Even Canon has stayed with their lens mount ever since they made the jump to the EOS system back in 1989, almost twenty years ago. So you can see that when you buy a lens, it will probably outlast your camera body by many years, especially since new camera bodies come out almost every 18 months. The one thing to consider along with the mount is the commitment you will make to the brand of camera you buy. If you have invested in 4 or 5 lenses, you probably aren’t going to make the jump from, say, Canon to Pentax because you would have to start buying lenses all over again.
But here is something else to consider, nothing says that you have to buy a new lens. There are those out there that do want to jump ship or move up to a new lens and the easiest way to do that is to sell their old gear. When Nikon came out with the D3, there were quite a few heavy Canon shooters that actually dumped their gear so they could make the move to the high ISO benefits of the D3. They didn’t just stick that old gear in the closet, they sold it. So why not take advantage of their change of heart by adding to your lens collection. Here is an example of a good bargain I found on eBay as compared to the brand new counterpart.
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR New – $1789, Used on eBay – $1395
If you can live without the VR, you can pick up the slightly older 80-200mm f/2.8 for around $500 on eBay. Not a bad way to go, especially if you plan on shooting with a tripod where the VR wouldn’t even come into play.
If buying items on eBay makes you a little nervous, you might consider going the consignment route. Wildlife photographer, Laurie Excell, runs a consignment business called EquipmentLady.com. Laurie helps photographers sell their gear through her site and is a much safer bet than an unknown entity on eBay (she does sell through an eBay store but you know who you are dealing with up front). Check this out, right now on her site, she is listing a Canon 5D that is currently going for $1600 and if you are a Nikon shooter that has always dreamed of owning that really long 600mm lens, then today is your lucky day. Right now there is a 600mm f/5.6 lens for sale in her store for the incredibly low price of $811. Ok, these are auctions but considering you can’t even buy this lens new anymore so you would have to settle for the $9000 600mm f/4, anything under $4000 is a real bargain. There are also local camera stores that sell equipment on consignment so make sure you check around for a local option.
Finally, if you really have your heart set on peeling away the plastic on a brand new lens, consider going with one of the third-part lens manufacturers. Companies like Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina have been making some quality lenses for years and have dedicated legions of fans using their stuff. To use my previous comparison of the new Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 at $1789, a comparable lens from Sigma, the 70-200mm f/2.8, sells for $750 (this lens is discontinued but there are still new ones to be had). Not a bad deal for a really nice lens.
So the bottom line is this, photography is expensive, but it doesn’t have to break your bank. Do some research and shop the alternatives and chances are that you will find there are bargains to be had without compromising quality. Do your research before you buy and remember that you’ll probably own your lenses longer than your next car.
* Finally, a few words to the wise -
When shopping on eBay, always opt for paying with your credit card so that you are covered by their built-in protections against fraud. Also, buying “used” generally means that you don’t get a warranty. It’s the price you pay for paying half the price. Also, if you buy a “new” lens from an eBay retailer, ensure that you are getting a new lens covered by a warranty that is applicable for where you live. eBay can be a dumping ground for Grey Market so email the seller, get their confirmation that it has the proper warranty, and then pay with your credit card so you can dispute the purchase if necessary. Caveat Emptor!
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Darrin 
). Some of them are legendary – like Tamron’s 90mm macro. But the QC problems you read about on the web and the back/front focus issues with some of these lenses are worrisome…
). Manual focus Nikkors will not meter on the D40… I recently lost hope on Nikon (I would have bought a 28 1.8 or 35 2.0 AFS) and I finally pushed the button on a Voigtlander 40mm 2.0 II. Should work very nice on my D40 and the manual focus seems doable – I put a DK-21M on it last year…
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Well Jeff, that answers my question from the previous post. Thanks for the tips.
The one thing I’m sure of is that I don’t plan on just sticking with the kit lens. Variety is the spice of life, and hopefully the ingredient for some good photos.