What is the going rate for a used Canon 500 f4 II these days

I have a Canon 500 f4 II lens bought new going back 8 years.  I just don't use it anymore or at least very rarely.  I'm into going light these days and that involves not having to drag a big heavy lens around with a tripod (or monopod) if I can help it.  Also, my photography interests have shifted over the years where I mostly concentrate on mammals, raptors and owls which I can get close to.

I'm just wondering what a lens like the 500 f4 II is going for on the used market?  Especially with a new RF 200-500 f4 coming out next year which I assume will decrease the value of the 500 f4 II further?  

A quick search indicates about $4K to $6k depending on age and condition in a private sale. Much less for sale to a reseller that needs to sell it for $4K to $6K

E.J. Peiker wrote: A quick search indicates about $4K to $6k depending on age and condition in a private sale.  Much less for sale to a reseller that needs to sell it for $4K to $6K

Thanks E.J.  So, that is around $5,200 to $7,800 Canadian.  Not too bad.  The lens still sells new for close to $12,000 CAD before taxes. 

Not a Canon, but a Nikon 500 f/4E, FL, which is the newest version, I could not sell privately, no takers. There is a big dump of DSLR equipment, plus people are going lighter. Finally, had to go through Adorama, they gave me $3000. Probably not more that $4000 privately realistically.

I just sold the exact lens a few weeks ago. It was in excellent condition with blemish-free glass. I sold it privately to a friend for $4,500. I think it is possible to get $5-$6K for one, but that would mean dealing with eBay and classifieds and shipping. I am not well enough experienced to protect myself in those circumstances, so I decided against going that route.

Best of luck to you.

Good old times. When a lens or camera was posted on this site for sale, then you had to act in a couple of hours or it was gone.
I bought my Canon 500 f 4.0 Mark II for $8500 (special price for CPS members) and sold it for $7800 six years later. It happened at least six or seven years ago. Today I cannot sell a high quality lens for $400 which has a price in the stores as $1499. The only way is IMO to trade it in and put up with the losses. It is almost impossible to sell anything privately.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.  I'm having second thoughts because for the last week or two, I have been using the 500 f4 II.  It had been sitting at home unused for most of this year and the year before.  However, I needed both the reach and the f4 on the R6 MK2. That aperture came in handy because a pair of eastern screech owls were only active once it got dark, like 25 minutes after the sun had set.  

The RF 100-500 would not cut it for this shooting situation.  I still plan to get it for everyday use because it is much lighter and more portable for everyday use in the field.  I really hate dragging the 500 f4 around with a tripod except in this particular situation, shooting the owls at night.

Canon R6 MK2, 500 f4 II, Gitzo tripod (talk about a good investment).  ISO 25,600, 1/10s, f/4, remote release.  ETTR and then post-process with very little noise in this particular image.

Just saw a Canon 500 F4 version 1 for sale on Art Morris's newsletter for $1,700 USD. Decades ago I bought a new Canon 500 F4 from BH for $5000. Used it for close to a decade and sold it for $5,000 here when the classifieds here were still popular. The new price had doubled. Sweet!

Got the Canon 800mm F 5.6 for about $11,000 to replace the 500. Was recently offered $3,500 from MPB. Not so sweet.

Ozark Bill wrote: I just sold the exact lens a few weeks ago. It was in excellent condition with blemish-free glass. I sold it privately to a friend for $4,500. I think it is possible to get $5-$6K for one, but that would mean dealing with eBay and classifieds and shipping. I am not well enough experienced to protect myself in those circumstances, so I decided against going that route.

Best of luck to you.

My 500 f4 II is still in excelent condition, maybe becausr I seldom use it.  $6,000 CAD is a bit low for me as I'm looking at $7,000 to 8,000 CAD.  I'm having a sort of change of mind because I see its value again in some situations.  

Initially I wanted to sell it because it seldomly used and it is heavy.  So, it will remain a specaily lens for special situations only.  If weight is a concern, I don't expect the RF 200-500 f4 to be any lighter.  The  RF100-300 doesn't weight much less than the 300 2.8L II.  I won't save any weight with the RF version.

PS.  Years ago I was about to sell my Canon 100-400L IS (v.1) and had an offer.  I didn't act on the offer and glad I kept the lens because the R6 MK2 has made that lens really good again.  I'm sure the RF 100-400 is much better but I paid $1,400 CAD only for the EF 100-400L IS (v.1), 20 years ago.  That's a good investment in my opinion. 

Karl Egressy wrote: Good old times. When a lens or camera was posted on this site for sale, then you had to act in a couple of hours or it was gone.
I bought my Canon 500 f 4.0 Mark II for $8500 (special price for CPS members) and sold it for $7800 six years later. It happened at least six or seven years ago. Today I cannot sell a high quality lens for $400 which has a price in the stores as $1499. The only way is IMO to trade it in and put up with the losses. It is almost impossible to sell anything privately.

That is a good price for the 500 F4 II.  I paid roughly the same in 2014, ten years ago.  It sells for close to $12,000 CAD now before taxes.  Not sure of the reason for why some lenses are going for so much lower but maybe it has to do with more players in the game now, so more choice and the Canon RF cameras where someone may choose to go with the RF variety over an EF?  Not sure. 

Steve Cirone wrote: Just saw a Canon 500 F4 version 1 for sale on Art Morris's newsletter for $1,700 USD.  Decades ago I bought a new Canon 500 F4 from BH for $5000.  Used it for close to a decade and sold it for $5,000 here when the classifieds here were still popular.  The new price had doubled.  Sweet!

Got the Canon 800mm F 5.6 for about $11,000 to replace the 500.  Was recently offered $3,500 from MPB.  Not so sweet.

Looks like you did good on the 500 f4 v.1.  Canon is no longer repairing the v.1 and haven't for a number of years now, may affect the resale value.  I know someone who still has the 500 v.1 (he bought it used for about $5,000 CAD maybe 7+ years ago when the 500 f4 II was $9,000+ CAD), something happened to the lens and he contacted Sun Camera.  They were able to find a replacement part.  Maybe it's more risky to own the lens so the big drop on the used market.  I am surprised to see a second-hand 800 f/5.6 going for so low.  It's a big drop in price.  Not so sweet is right.