Used 8.5 or 10x42 EL Field Pros must be the best value used alphas on the market (1 Viewer)

[mpeace]

It's an exciting time for those waiting for the NL Pure to become available, but it's also a great time for those without that sort of money to pick up the highest quality alpha bins at crazy low prices.

I really feel the stars have aligned for those wanting a true alpha but don't want to pay alpha money - and from reputable shops. Shops selling new ELs at the new prices of around £1,520 are selling immaculate used Field Pro units for around £1,300. These would have certainly been around £1600 only six months ago.

Used Zeiss SF and Leica NVs are still fairly pricey, so I reckon ELs are the clear winner for value for money at the moment.

I might be a bit over enthusiastic about this, but it's not just the price it's the condition of some of these being like new. No doubt there's cheaper used quality bins like earlier SV and non-SV models as well as FLs etc. but they're unlikely to be in such good condition.

 

[SeldomPerched]

... No doubt there's cheaper used quality bins like earlier SV and non-SV models as well as FLs etc. but they're unlikely to be in such good condition ...

Regarding this point, with a bit of luck and being part of Birdforum and with maybe a keen eye now and then on eBay, I'm not sure the odds against good FLs etc are that bad.

As an example my handful of Zeiss items were all bought second-hand over the last 26 months, some unseen over the internet, and were all in excellent optical and cosmetic condition, in some instances having been adjusted/collimated before sale and in the others qualifying for service FOC by Zeiss in Britain or Germany... the free service extending right back to a 7x42 Dialyt BG/A from the late 1990s.

 

[Xlr8n]

Some pretty good deals to be had on used late model SLC's as well. Many hunters are selling off extras to fund new NL glass.

 

[Ries]

Some pretty good deals to be had on used late model SLC's as well. Many hunters are selling off extras to fund new NL glass.

and expect more to come, and prices to drop, after NL's are in user's hands and fulfilling the high expectations...and what if in a year time (or something) a 32x is produced... Swaro might have the best used market value, they might pull down used prices of other brands with them as well (why buy that L/Z used one if a S is just a few hundreds more?)...

 

[NDhunter]

Any used Swarovision is a good choice. The Fieldpro is not a positive for many users, just a gimmick strap method.

Jerry