Bargain hunt

The second-hand lens market provides a great way to upgrade and expand your lens collection without having to pay top dollar. The savings on offer can be pretty considerable too. For example, buying a brand-new Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR telephoto zoom in its box won't give you much change from £2,500. A second-hand example of exactly the same lens in near-mint condition, however, can be yours for as little as £1,300, saving you over £1,000 – enough for another lens perhaps.

Of course buying second-hand isn't entirely risk-free, so it pays to know what to look out for before handing over any cash. Buying from a specialist second-hand camera shop significantly decreases the risk of being ripped off, but comes at a higher cost than buying privately. Buying privately, on the other hand, is usually the cheapest way to obtain a pre-owned lens, albeit with a degree of added risk.

If you decide to buy via a camera specialist, then our advice is to stick with a reputable firm. This includes companies such as Wex Photo Video, Camera World, Park Cameras, Grays of Westminster, Camera Jungle, MPB and the London Camera Exchange. Specialists like these will generally offer a guarantee on all their second-hand lens stock – usually for a period of three to six months, although some offer up to 12 months. You can often choose to extend your warranty, but it will obviously cost you extra. Be sure to check your chosen retailer's warranty and returns policy in advance of your purchase, and clarify anything you are unsure of before committing to buy.

If you decide to buy privately, you would want to check over the lens in person before handing over any cash. While minor cosmetic scratches to the outer body shouldn't put you off, look for more serious signs of misuse, poor storage and drops. This might include things