Canon 500mm F4

Oddie

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Hi

I have been looking at buying a Canon 500mm f4 lens and I have been offered one today in a shop local to me.

The lens is 10 years old and comes with the usual case and hood. Optically the lens is perfect and the focus and IS seems to be working fine.

Cosmetically there are signs of wear especially around the tripod mount and some of the paint has come away where whoever had it before, has wrapped tape around it and it has come away when the tape has been removed?? (this is quite bad around the focus ring) The hood is in perfect condition.

I have been told that you can buy touch up paint, does anybody know whether it is any good? The lens is currently for sale for £3200 with 12 months warranty. Is this a fair price considering the cosmetic wear? Is there anything that I should be looking out for?

Any advice would be most appreciated.
 
I would say that's a very good price even in the condition. I paid £4200 a few months ago in what I'd describe as very good condition.
I suggest you take your body along with a tripod, set it up focusing on something with good detail and try it out. Zoom in on the image to see how it performs. Try all the various focus settings too. Also make sure it focuses nice and fast and there's no play in the focus rings.
 
I wouldn't take to much notice of any cosmetic wear i had an Nikon 70-200 F2.8 VR-1 never had a problem Cosmetically not so good,if everything else work find and you want it go ahead :)
 
That's a fair price and there is touch-up paint available.
 
its a very good price, £4000 plus is the going rate .

Rob.
 
That sounds a very fair price. But as suggested by Gareth I'd give it a test first. Check that it doesn't front or back focus. If you've got MA on your body not such a big issue though.
 
I might be giving Canon UK a ring to see what the service situation is on these if you intended keeping it long term, especially if the IS is important to you.

David
 
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