I Learned Something New About Adorama
- 18-150mm focal length (28.8-240mm equivalent)
- Maximum aperture of f/3.5-6.3
- Image stabilization
- 0.31x maximum magnification
- 55mm filter size
- 17 elements in 13 groups
- 7 diaphragm blades
- 2.4 x 3.4 inches in size
- 10.6 ounces
Photo by filadendron via iStock
If you follow our articles here on PhotographyTalk, you might know that I recently picked up a Canon EOS M6 Mark II.
I use it as my primary B-roll camera for the videos I create for our YouTube channel.
When I bought it, I outfitted it with a Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens (the same model I had for my old Sony a6400), but I wanted to add a zoom lens to the mix too.
That's where the Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens comes in...
This is not a particularly expensive lens brand-new, but in this time of economic uncertainty, I decided to buy a used one.
So that got me thinking...
I've been buying new gear from Adorama for well over a decade, but I had never purchased any used gear from them. To be honest, I had no idea that Adorama had such a robust used department.
So, I did a blind purchase of this lens. I've outlined my experience with this purchase below.
Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM Specs
First, I want to quickly review the specs on this lens:
The reason I wanted this lens is twofold: first, I wanted something with great versatility (and the huge focal range of this lens fits the bill), and second, I wanted something compact and lightweight, which, again, this lens ticks the boxes.
I can use this lens for video work, but when I want to run and gun with a smaller kit for landscape photography, I'll use the M6 Mark II and this lens.
Now let's review my experience buying this lens.
Buying a Used Lens From Adorama
Shown above is the listing of the actual lens I purchased. I got it for $419, which is $80 off the price of a brand-new one.
Buying this used lens was a simple and easy task, just like when you purchase new gear from Adorama.
When the box arrived in the mail, I was astonished to find that the lens came in the original box (shown below).
Having the original box isn't a huge deal, but it's certainly a nice touch.
I've bought 15-20 used lenses from various used retailers over the years, and I never got the original box until now.
On top of that, Adorama's description of the lens was spot-on.
As you can see from the images above and below, the lens is in virtually flawless condition.
The body of the lens shows no signs of wear. The lens glass is perfect with no scratches.
The terminals on the back are all intact and clean, too. It's just an all-around excellent lens!
I have to say that I am more than pleasantly surprised with this purchase. It's not that I thought Adorama would send me a junk used lens, but I wasn't expecting such a high-quality lens, even though it was described as such. To say that buying used from Adorama exceeded my expectations is an understatement!
So, You Want to Buy Used Gear Too?
When buying used gear, it's imperative that you do so through a reputable retailer.
I hear horror stories all the time from people that buy cameras or lenses on eBay or Craigslist and end up paying huge fees or getting something in the mail that doesn't jive with the product description.
I've personally had these same issues in years past when I tried the eBay and Craigslist routes. Needless to say, I won't make those mistakes again.
These days, there are numerous options you can turn to for buying used gear. For me, the benefits of doing so from Adorama include excellent customer service, fast shipping, extremely accurate descriptions, and the Adorama reputation of being fair and honest.
Now that I've entered the realm of buying used from Adorama, there's no going back...I'll make my next used gear purchase from Adorama, you can bet on it!