Do Canon L-series lenses follow a typical depreciation pattern when bought used?
Asked 6/20/2011
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I'm shopping for used Canon L-series lenses for a Canon 60D and I'm noticing that many used prices are very close to new prices. Is there any typical depreciation schedule for Canon lenses, or a rule of thumb for when buying used makes sense instead of buying new? I'm mainly trying to understand how lens values change over time so I can judge whether a seller's price is reasonable.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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No, there is no such thing for any brand.
Lenses are one of the few things that generally increase in value over time. This is more true of high-end lenses. The cheapest lenses such as kit-lenses tend to remain cheap.
Major companies have been known to increase the price of lenses almost across the board. They tend to do it in small increments though but some jumps have been substantials.
Where I would expect a sharp decrease is when a replacement lens comes out (Version 2 or 3 with a new stabilizer or lens-coating for example) or significant change in technology (new mount, added stabilization, new type focus motor, etc).
Based on the last 30 or so lenses I purchased NEW, I can tell you that almost all of them now cost most then when I bought them. The ones I sold USED were ALL sold for more than I paid for, sometimes by only $50 but up to 3X the price too. I'm also keeping some worth about 6X their price now :)
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
There isn’t a standard depreciation schedule for Canon lenses, or really for lenses in general. High-end lenses—especially pro-grade models like Canon L glass—often hold their value very well, and in some cases used prices can even rise if new prices have gone up.
That’s different from camera bodies, which tend to lose value faster as newer digital models improve. Lenses age more slowly because their core performance comes from the optical design and glass, and a good lens can remain desirable for many years.
Used prices are most likely to drop when:
- a newer version of the lens is released
- there’s a major technology change
- the lens is a lower-end kit model rather than a premium lens
So rather than using a depreciation table, compare the used price against the current new price, the lens’s condition, and whether a replacement version exists. If a used L lens is priced very close to new, that may simply reflect strong resale value rather than unrealistic pricing.
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