Tips to buy cheap DSLR lenses

Often new Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) users are not bothering applying other lenses than the standard included in the starter kit. Only a few are just cannot afford the prices for any better lenses, and others are simply have no ideas for any others benefits. Learn how and where to buy an affordable and cheapest price for DSLR lenses.

Forum

The best sources to ask for latest and the best info for lenses are from the experience photographer where they are usually at forum sites. Do Google for DSLR photographer forum and will find hundreds of forum listed. Join their group and you will found new and useful tips and techniques which will help you much in mastering your DSLR cameras. Add new post asking for your wanted lens. Do states your camera model and you will surprise for the reply from the professional photographers with their helpful advice.

Go manual

Older lenses for film SLR cameras often have optical quality compatible to the latest digital counterparts especially to the same model as well as the autofocus. To find the best deals, however, you have to make a survey around for older manual lenses before bought any particular lens. These lenses are often made of sturdy black metal which is most of it with no autofocus. The image quality plus the extremely cheap prices makes the trade worth for your money. The latest autofocus 50mm lens from a major brand will cost you about $200-$400 each. But for an older manual versions of the same quality lens can be easily found for $15-$50 each. Look for it on eBay at the first place. I would suggest also for others auction sites or DSLR forum sites where there is always a unique or to be lucky to meet with desperate seller which is allowed for bargaining.

Lenses model

Do some research and study for which lenses are acceptable for your camera model. For example a lot of new canon and Nikon cameras are only accept lenses specifically made for the newer models of digital bodies. However Pentax and Samsung digital bodies are compatible with Pentax k-mount lenses which spanning back decades. Make sure you'll be purchasing a lens that is compatible to your camera model.

Adapter

Many lenses are compatible to about anybody with the right adapter. The old decades Pentax screw-mount lenses are mostly can be used on most new digital bodies (of any brand) with the right adapter. The first and best place to search for these adapters is on eBay. But make sure you buy the adapter from a reputable source. The risks of buying a cheap adapter is you may face problems on focusing issues later on, and a lack of being able to focus at infinity. But it is not to all cases. So you have to double check on it before bought it.

eBay

Make sure the lens is 100% working to it functions. Secondly be very sure the lens you are buying is free of any fungus. The third priority is the percentage of scratches to the lens body. You can often get amazing deals on lenses through eBay with enough patients. At last you have to make sure it stated the warranty for the purchase. Consider to look for an auction sites for film SLRs that include the lens you wish to purchase. You are always have an option to sell back what you had purchase from eBay or those auction sites. You can sell it for the same, less or more than the price you paid initially. Using this method, you be able to purchase a used 70-300mm Pentax lens for just over $5.

Local pawn shop, junk store and garage sales

Write on paper you’re the various lenses model that you wanted. There are numerous types of camera lenses available for different shooting styles and angles. Determine which lenses will be perfectly matching for DSLR camera before start your hunt.

Call as much as possible to those shops in your local area and ask about your wanted lenses. You are easily can get their telephone number from local yellow pages and local news paper advertisement or from the search engine. Be shadowy about the exact model number of the lens that you are looking for. If you were looking for a 200mm canon SLR lens, you would ask from those shops if they have any canon lenses with 200mm capability in store. Ask for the condition, fungus, scratches, any warranty and the price. Be creative to bargain for the price. It is always not a fix price at those shops but not to be surprised if they are not giving you the exact price over the phone.

Write down all the information and compare the various camera lenses that each of those shops provided. Bring along your DSLR camera the top three shops on your list. Review to all of their lenses in store that are compatible with your camera. Try to mount those lenses to your DSLR camera. Make sure it tight fitted to your DSLR camera. Take a look to all SLR cameras in their shop if those lenses still do not fit to your camera. Usually those lenses come together with the cameras. Take out those compatible lenses and mount it to your DSLR camera. If it fitted tight to your camera, ask them if possible to sell just the lens and not the camera. In most cases you are allowed to do so. It is not wrong to beg to them if they are not willing to sell it to you. It is back to your own desire and creativity. 

If refuse to sell it to you, get to others store in your list. If you are patient to look for it, you will fully satisfy for what you are doing after all.

Tips & warnings 

Practising for manual lenses will much improve your photography skills and experiences. It drives you to think before snapping any shots. Make sure that the lens you going buy is compatible with your digital camera body. Never ever buy a lens with fungus. The fungus are easily spread to your others lenses via your DSLR. Only purchase used lenses from reputable sellers. Make sure the lens is tight when it mount to DSLR body and if it not, ask for refund from the seller. This is one of the reasons why warranty is important in purchasing used lenses.