Used DSLR lenses: other & specials

This category is all about character and purpose. These are often manual primes, macro lenses or ultra-wide-angle specials — not everyday kit lenses, but glass you choose deliberately for a particular purpose. Because the range here varies greatly by brand and mount, it pays to check carefully whether a lens fits your camera (mount and any adapter) before you choose.

What should you look out for when buying used?

With manual and older lenses it mainly comes down to the optics and the mechanics: look for scratches, fungus and dust in the glass, and check that the focus and aperture rings run smoothly and without play. With macro and specialist lenses, a smooth focus action is all the more important. Every lens we resell is professionally inspected and comes with at least 12 months' warranty, and you have a 14-day right of return — so you can take your time testing whether the look suits you.

Who is this for?

For photographers who deliberately go for a particular rendering or application: portrait lovers looking for the soft Zeiss look, macro photographers, or owners of an older system who want to expand their set with affordable specialist glass.