The astronomy classifieds and online forums will often have cameras listed for sale. In this case, you may even have to get on a waiting list to purchase the item. For certain items (such as my Canon EOS Ra bought new from B&H), this aspect is more important than others.īe strategic about the items you purchase, as there is an element of risk and the unknown when purchasing used gear.įor popular products, you may never find a used model available online. If a warranty is important to you, you’ll need to confirm the timeline of the product warranty from the dealer or manufacturer. Premium telescopes will usually include a test report documenting the quality of the optics. This includes the convenience of shipping to your door, product warranties, and knowing that your item has not been misused in any way.įor big-ticket items including large apochromatic refractor telescopes, you may appreciate the idea of having a factory-tuned instrument. There are advantages to buying new, of course. The cost is gas is less than shipping, and I can inspect the item before paying for it. I have driven up to 4 hours to buy used astronomy equipment. You also run the risk of damaging the gear in transit. Shipping heavy items such as telescopes or mounts is expensive. This allows you to talk directly with the previous owner and get additional information about the item.Ĭloudy Nights Community – Classifieds Section. I recommend picking up the equipment in-person whenever possible. The websites listed above specialize in used astronomy equipment, and the sellers take pride in the quality of used gear.
You can also browse your local classifieds ( Craigslist, Kijiji, etc.) and eBay, but be warned that there is a lot of “junk” listed here. B&H Used Digital Photography (USA, Canada).Henrys Used Photo and Video Gear (Canada).Used Telescope Collection | High Point Scientific (USA).
Canada-Wide Astronomy Buy and Sell (Canada).I paid the 1-year membership fee for AstroMart so I could buy an 80mm triplet APO many years ago, and it was well worth it. Unless you are willing to pay for costly shipping charges, it makes sense to browse items located as close to you as possible (pick-up is best). The classified site you’ll find most useful will have a lot to do with your current location. Some users are not happy about the membership cost to use AstroMart (Subscription fee), but I think it could be worth it for the right piece of astronomy equipment. Nearly everyone that commented on this topic had a positive experience. The top three choices were Cloudy Nights Classifieds, AstroMart, and Astro Buy Sell. I asked the members of the AstroBackyard Facebook page what they thought were the best astronomy classifieds, based on first-hand experiences. In my experience, the used astronomy community is honest, fair, and happy to answer questions.įor every website, you will need to create a profile with your personal information including location and phone number.Ĭanada-Wide Astronomy Buy & Sell (Astro Buy Sell). If you are looking to trade-up to some new astrophotography equipment, selling your current gear can be a great way to fund your next build. My Sky-Watcher HEQ5 GoTo equatorial mount was purchased second-hand for $700 in 2014, and I still use it today. My first astro-modified camera was purchased from Canada-Wide Astronomy Buy and Sell (Astro Buy-Sell) in 2016. I purchased my first astrophotography telescope (a used Explore Scientific ED80) from AstroMart back in 2011. I have personally had great experiences purchasing used telescopes and cameras from many of the websites listed below. With patience, you may be able to find a great deal on a telescope, eyepiece, or even a computerized tracking mount.Īll of the astrophotography equipment shown above was purchased second-hand. I have purchased many items from the amateur astronomy community, including most of my first complete deep-sky astrophotography rig.īelow, you’ll find a list of quality astronomy classified sites to buy and sell telescopes, cameras, and accessories for visual observing and astrophotography.īuying used astronomy equipment from a classified site is a great way to save some money, and browse a wide range of great equipment.
The astronomy classifieds are a great place to find used telescopes and other astronomy and photography equipment.
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