More lens for your money
I'm sure we all know the feeling – a highly desirable new lens is announced that would, surely, give an extra creative impetus to your photography. The only problem is the sky-high price. I've lost count of the number of times I've got to the end of a manufacturer's press release enthusing about its latest optic, only to exclaim ‘How much?' when the RRP is finally revealed.
Of course, it's not realistic to expect brand-new designs to cost the same as 5-or 10-year-old lenses, even when the base specifications are essentially the same. The latest lenses are sharper and can focus faster and more accurately, while featuring video-friendly features such as stepless apertures and completely silent operation. But this in turn means that bargains are to be had secondhand, as early adopters pick up the latest and greatest kit and sell their existing lenses.
In this article, I've trawled though the used market to pick out some of the best bargains currently available for under £200. You'll notice that I've steered clear of some of the most obvious recommendations, for instance cheap full-frame 50mm f/1.8s. Let's just take it as read that these generally represent the best-value lenses you can buy. Likewise, you can't really go wrong with 85mm f/1.8s or macro lenses in the 90-105mm range.
I've included plenty of lenses for APS-C DSLRs, as this still represents the largest group of cameras in regular use by enthusiast photographers. But I've also picked out some favourites for the longer-established mirrorless systems. It's true that there aren't many genuinely cheap lenses for the likes of Sony and Fujifilm, even second-hand, but some bargains can be found if you look hard enough.
How much should you pay?
Prices on the used market vary widely for any given lens; obviously you'll pay a premium for one in ‘as new' condition. Equally, you should pay less when buying privately through an online marketplace such as eBay, but this means giving up the reassurance you'd get from a specialist retailer that the covering ‘good' to ‘as new' condition.
