Best used lenses for digital cameras in 2024

Man with camera on a mountain in a yellow raincoat and backpack with camping gear
(Image credit: Getty)

Looking for the best second-hand lenses to expand your camera collection? The second-hand market is particularly buoyant with price and supply issues affecting the camera and technology sectors. Purchasing a top-quality lens is perhaps one of the best ways to improve your setup, and there are significant savings to be found if you opt for a second-hand option on the used market.

Adding variety to your photography is one of the key features new lenses can provide. Whether you're a landscape photographer, astrophotography enthusiast, or a portrait person, different lenses can alter your perception, image taking, and most importantly, challenge you to find new perspectives, angles and framings. Although these lenses are at the higher end of the market, it's one of the reasons buying used can be an intelligent choice.

As ever, when buying anything second-hand, do your research first. If buying from a trusted used seller such as Adorama, B&H Photo, MPB and Wex (other stores are available) you can be sure that each lens will be checked, inspected, and cleaned. If buying privately, do a simple test before you commit. Look for abrasions or marks on the glass, check the focal rings and zoom functionality and look for any resistance when moving between focal lengths. If you can, take some images with the lens before you buy, but if purchasing online, try to shop from sellers who use only photos of the actual product you're purchasing rather than staged generic publicity shots of new items.

Best all rounder used lens

Product photo of the Canon 50mm 1.4USM

(Image credit: Amazon)

Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM

One of the biggest improvements over a standard kit lens

Specifications

Mount: EF mount
Autofocus: USM
Max aperture range: f/1.4
Weight: 0.6lbs
Filter Size: 58mm
Image Stabilization: No

Reasons to buy

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Very affordable
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A big leap in image quality
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Challenges your photography

Reasons to avoid

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Not much versatility
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Some used items have seen better days

If there's one piece of advice most photographers would give a newcomer, it's that the best bet, if you want to improve, is to ditch the kit lens and purchase the next level up. This is where the 50mm 1.4 USM lens for Canon cameras comes in. It works with both full-frame and APS-C DSLR cameras and provides sharp images with excellent low-light performance. This lens is a great recommendation for a good all-rounder lens that will suit a range of different circumstances and put up with years of use. There are some excellent and affordable used examples out there. 

Best used lens for night time photography

Product photo of the Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4 DC C Macro OS HSM Lens

(Image credit: Amazon)

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC C Macro OS HSM Lens

Another good, affordable replacement for the standard kit zoom lenses

Specifications

Mount: Nikon
Autofocus: HSM
Aperture range: f/2.8
Weight: 1lb
Filter Size: 72mm
Image Stabilization: Yes

Reasons to buy

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Canon and Nikon mounts are available
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Well-rounded, every-day lens
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Fast aperture for the size

Reasons to avoid

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A bit 'boring'
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Advanced users may look for more professional kit

In addition to purchasing a good prime lens, we'd also recommend looking at a replacement for the kit lenses that come with most DSLRs. With a nice range of 17-70mm, this is also a fast lens, with a maximum aperture of f/2.8-4 at either end of the focal range allowing for some nifty nighttime and astrophotography captures. 

It's versatile, too, available in all mounts options. 'HSM' stands for Hyper Sonic Motor, ensuring quiet, smooth and reliable autofocusing while the in-built stabilization minimizes shake if you're shooting handheld. We've found in our experience the lens offers excellent sharpness and color rendition, too.

Best used lens for wildlife photography

Product photo of the Nikon 80-400mm AF-S Nikkor f4.5-5.6G ED VR Lens

(Image credit: Amazon)

Nikon 80-400mm AF-S Nikkor f4.5-5.6G ED VR Lens

A high-performance Nikon lens with some great savings available

Specifications

Mount: Nikon F (FX)
Autofocus: SWM
Aperture range: f/4.5
Weight: 1lb
Filter Size: 72mm
Image Stabilization: Yes

Reasons to buy

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High quality
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Great option for wildlife shooting

Reasons to avoid

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Heavy
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Lots of moving parts, potential for more wear and tear
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On the expensive end of the used market

If you've got a good camera body and you're serious about wildlife or sports photography, this versatile option from Nikon is a great option if your budget is higher. It produces excellent results on full-frame systems, with the 'Silent Wave Motor' offering exemplary autofocus speed and accuracy and an incredibly quiet operation. 

In the lens, there are four extra-low dispersion glass elements and a super ED dispersion element, helping to correct chromatic aberration, sharpness and color defects. This is important in a lens that offers long focal lengths and helps ensure the results are accurate, pin sharp, and impressive when capturing various wildlife's intricate features. 

Best used lens for wedding photography

Product photo of the lens Sigma 35mm 1.4

(Image credit: Amazon)

Sigma 35mm f/1.4

A super-fast lens at a lovely focal length for intimate spaces

Specifications

Mount: Canon EF (others available)
Autofocus: HSM
Max aperture: f/1.4
Weight: 1.4lbs
Filter Size: 67mm
Image Stabilization: No

Reasons to buy

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Sharp images
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Lovely depth of field
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Good for music or wedding photographers

Reasons to avoid

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Versatility can be limited
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Check hypersonic motor technology before you buy used

The 35mm focal length on this Sigma prime is pleasing to use on many camera setups, providing a slightly wider aspect than a 50mm lens but still offering the same portraiture opportunities due to the warm image delivery and impressive detail. 

This is one of our favorite used lenses available at the moment, and you can find some significant savings on the used market. It's a fast lens that's fantastic in low-light conditions, but we'd recommend trying out the autofocus and the lens's hypersonic motor to ensure it's in good working order before you buy. If you're looking for an addition to your arsenal and you're shooting in spaces you need flexibility, like weddings, we'd recommend this fast prime. 

Best used lens for versatility

Product photo of the Canon EF 24-105 f/4 L IS USM

(Image credit: Amazon)

Canon EF 24-105 f/4 L IS USM

A handy, flexible lens that packs a punch and delivers professional quality

Specifications

Mount: Canon EF
Autofocus: USM
Max aperture: f/4
Weight: 1.4lbs
Filter Size: 77mm
Image Stabilization: Yes

Reasons to buy

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Versatile
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Easy to use
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Well built

Reasons to avoid

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Still a little expensive for a used lens
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The 24-105mm focal length could be seen as one of the most versatile zoom lenses on the market and the Canon EF 24-105 f/4 L IS USM is one of the best. Delivering outstanding quality and excellent, sharp image results across various disciplines, from wide-angle landscapes to close-up portraits or product shots. 

For some photographers, it's the 'go-to' lens, and if you only have money for one lens and demand variety from your picture taking, this is worth a look. The focal range has a few downsides, there is a slight softness at the edges on full frame camera setups, but this improves as it's stopped down, and there is also some distortion and barrelling at wide angles. That being said, it still offers excellent quality, and we like that it also feels well-built and sturdy — a worthwhile addition to any photographer's camera bag. 

Best used lens for sport photography

Product photo of the Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO EX HSM

(Image credit: Amazon)

Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO EX HSM

A famous lens amongst outdoor and wildlife photographers with some great deals to be had

Specifications

Mount: Nikon (Canon available)
Autofocus: HSM
Max aperture: f/4 / f/6.3 zoom
Weight: 4lbs
Filter Size: 86mm
Image Stabilization: No

Reasons to buy

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Perfect for wildlife and sport photography
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Big focal range

Reasons to avoid

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Heavy
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Many lenses have been well used

It has an almost unparalleled focal range which is perfect for big picture and detail-oriented photographers alike and well suited to the needs of outdoor, wildlife and bird image-makers and sports photographers. There are, however, a couple of words of warning as with many lenses of this size. Firstly, it's big and heavy, earning the nickname 'Bigma' over the years. Secondly, there's no inbuilt stabilization, and because there's so much glass, it's already quite a slow lens. If you're stopping down with this lens, your subject needs to be very well lit, and you need to have steely calm hands to ensure everything remains in focus! 

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Jacob Little

Jacob Little is a photographer, writer and communications professional based in Bristol and Cornwall. His main inspirations come from outdoor adventure, travel, rural living and wild ways and crafts. Passionate about weaving the core principles of storytelling into his images, he approaches brand and copywriting work in much the same way. Conveying a compelling narrative is one of the main drivers behind much of his work.