From January 2020 to January 2022, the money supply increased from $15.4 trillion to $21.6 trillion. That’s a 40% increase in the money supply—unprecedented in recent US history.
The best duck I ever tasted was the pan-roasted magret (breast) with prunes and Armagnac, prepared by legendary chef André Daguin at the Hôtel de France in Auch in the southwest of France.
If the chef’s name sounds familiar, you may be thinking of his daughter, Ariane Daguin, founder of the premium American meat purveyor D’Artagnan.
And if that name sounds familiar, you’re probably a fan of the swashbuckling novel by Alexander Dumas, The Three Musketeers. (D’Artagnan was actually the fourth musketeer—read the book to find out why.)
All of which is a lengthy prologue to a dish I grilled recently using Rohan duck legs from D’Artagnan (the meat company, not the musketeer).
Chef Daguin paired his duck with prunes. I opted for black and green olives—another classic French combination that counterpoints the briny tang of olives with the rich gamy flavor of duck.
The duck in question is Rohan—a variety with dark meat and a richer flavor than the commonplace American Pekin duck. If steers had wings and webbed feet, their meat would taste like Rohan duck.
I started with duck legs—more economical than breasts—using a technique I developed in my book Project Smoke called smoke-braising.
Braising is a wet cooking method wherein you roast meat with a liquid such as stock in a sealed container, like a Dutch oven. (The term comes from braises, the French word for embers, which, traditionally, were placed under and over the pot. Braising is particularly well suited to tougher cuts of meat: the moist heat helps break down and tenderize the meat fibers.)
The twist here is to braise in an open pot on the grill so you can flavor the meat with—you guessed it: wood smoke.
Smoking Duck Legs
Think of smoke-braising as the best of indoor cooking and barbecue. As with the former, you produce exceptionally moist, tender meat. As with the latter, you get the soulful barbecue flavor of wood smoke. If cooking were mathematics, tenderness plus moistness plus wood smoke would make the perfect equation.
I’d like to call your attention to a couple of special techniques in the following recipe.
The first is scoring the duck skin to help release the considerable fat. (This fat helps keep the ducks insulated and warm during their lifetime.) It also looks cool, and you should never under-estimate the importance of looking cool when grilling.
The second is searing the duck. This crisps the skin and helps render the fat. Remember to collect the excess fat. It’s great for cooking potatoes or spreading on grilled bread. (It can be frozen for use at a later date.)
The third is maintaining the proper liquid level of liquid. It should come halfway up the duck legs. Add stock as necessary. But not too much: the top of the meat should be exposed to the smoke.
Finally, add the vegetables in the order of their cooking time. The carrots and potatoes take longer to cook than the tomatoes and olives. Ideally, all will be cooked perfectly when you serve the duck.
Thanksgiving is coming fast, and this year turkey prices are skyrocketing. That is when you can even find turkey—the news is full of reports of turkey shortages. Duck legs make a great, rich-tasting alternative. I’m sure D’Artagnan (the musketeer) would agree!
November is the biggest food month of the year, anchored by Thanksgiving on November 24, not to mention National Pork Belly Day on November 10. Is it our imagination, or does wood smoke smell (and taste) better in the crisp autumnal air? It sure does. Here are some amazing recipes for November.
Here’s a cocktail that smokes—literally—thanks to an inverted brandy snifter filled with mesquite smoke. It comes from a Moldovan bartender named Aleks Karavay who Steven met in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Cointreau and St-Germain provide sweet-sour notes of fruitiness. “Slay your inner beast,” Karavay says. Amen.
This simple sweet-salty appetizer features pecans smoked with cumin, cinnamon, and paprika. Smoked nuts are an easy appetizer or snack you can make with a stovetop smoker or outdoor smoker. Great for holiday entertaining or gifting a host or hostess.
This Dutch baby pancake is a great way to incorporate grilling into breakfast. This cousin of the popover and Yorkshire pudding puffs dramatically on a hot grill. Plus, it will wow your guests.
Maple candied bacon is a wickedly addictive side dish, perfect served with an egg dish or the above pancake for breakfast or brunch. We’ve even served it as an appetizer before Thanksgiving dinner.
Seasonal citrus fruit comes together in this bright-flavored marinade that works beautifully with turkey. Marinate for 24 hours for the best results. If desired, roast a conventional bird in the oven and use your outdoor cooker to smoke this easy-to-slice breast to make sure you have plenty of leftovers.
November can’t always be about turkey. For a change of pace, treat yourself and your family or guests to thick porterhouse steaks using a technique—reverse-searing—nearly unheard of 10 years ago, but perfect for thicker cuts of beef.
Bacon is about smoke and salt. Barbecue is about smoke and spice. They join forces in this barbecued pork belly—inspired by a new-school barbecue restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri, called Q39, run by an old-school chef and pit master named Rob Magee. What is most remarkable about this sizzling, spice-crusted barbecued belly is how it retains the sweet, meaty taste of fresh pork. You’d never mistake it for bacon.
The contrast of flavors and textures – sweet and smoky, creamy and crunchy – will come as a revelation. Smoked corn kernels are one of Steven’s secret ingredients. He adds them to sauces, salads, and soups. They really add a great sweet smoke flavor. Smoking the corn adds a sweet, caramel-like flavor to this side dish, a dish you can make even if you don’t have an outdoor smoker. Use a stovetop smoker with maple sawdust.
Here’s a Raichlen version of Thanksgiving stuffing; it meets all the holiday requirements while adding a flavor distinctly its own. You guessed it: the taste of wood smoke. Brioche and cream make it unabashedly rich, while pan-fried exotic mushrooms and sage add earthy autumnal flavors. (For even more seasonal flavor, add roasted chestnuts.)
This is another that you usually bake in a pan of simmering water, which cooks the filling while preventing it from cracking or curdling. In other words, low, slow, and moist. Sounds like a session in a water smoker to us. The smoke gives the cheesecake a haunting flavor—familiar yet exotic. This may just be the most interesting cheesecake you’ll ever set fork to.
Nearly everyone remembers the first Thanksgiving they were responsible for. My first was an epic failure. Being young and dumb, I thought lobster might be a good choice for the most important meal of the year as it was just my new husband and me at the table; our respective families lived far away. In hindsight, SMH. Inexcusable, as I brought hoarder-worthy piles of Gourmet magazine to the marriage.
The second time, I cooked a traditional meal, but didn’t realize that the producers of my supermarket turkey had secreted a plastic pouch of faux gravy in the neck cavity. But that was (so far) my last epic T-Day mistake.
What follows are hard-won but useful tips for hosting an amazing Thanksgiving.
(Keep checking this website as we’ll be sharing more Thanksgiving recipes and tips leading up to the big day.)
Thanksgiving Turkey Tips
Unless you have one in your freezer, buy your turkey early. Turkey shortages and higher prices are forecast for some areas of the country.
Allow several days (approximately 1 day for every 4 pounds) to defrost a frozen bird. Place the turkey in its original wrapper on a rimmed baking sheet in the refrigerator. (For safety purposes, never thaw poultry on the countertop at room temperature.) Alternatively, submerge the bird in its original wrapper in a sink filled with cold water. Replace the water every 30 minutes. Allow 30 minutes per pound.
For the juiciest meat, brine the turkey (fresh or defrosted) in a deep food-safe container such as a reusable 5-gallon bucket. I use a bucket given to me by a local restaurant; it formerly held dill pickles—or a heavy-duty brining bag. Be sure to place the bird and brine on the lowest, most stable shelf of the refrigerator. Short on refrigerator space? Submerge the bird in brine in a cooler and top with large resealable bags of ice. Replenish the ice as needed. Our basic wet brine recipe calls for 1 cup of Morton’s brand kosher salt and 1/4 cup of brown sugar per gallon of cold water. Optional ingredients include citrus, apple cider, brandy or bourbon, whole peppercorns, and fresh or dried spices. Brine your turkey for 12 to 24 hours (no longer).
For the crispiest skin, drain the brine, knock any whole herbs or spices off the bird, and air-dry in the refrigerator until the skin is relatively dry. Smoke-roast as usual. (We’ll cover dry-brining in a future blog. Stay tuned!)
Expecting a crowd for T-Day? Instead of buying one toddler-size turkey, buy two 12- to 13-pounders. You’ll double the number of legs, wings, thighs, and breasts, hopefully pleasing everyone. The meat will cook better, too. Alternatively, cook one whole turkey and an easy-to-slice chicken breast.
If smoke-roasting a turkey at lower temperatures (250 to 275 degrees), increase the heat to 325 to 350 degrees the last 1 to 1 1/2 hours to ensure the skin render its fat and gets beautifully browned and crispy. Turkey cooked at smoking temperatures from start to finish will have rubbery, unpalatable skin.
Purchase extra fuel before the big day, whether charcoal, smoking woods, smoking pellets or chips, or gas.
Place an aluminum foil drip pan under the turkey to catch drippings for homemade gravy. (Note: If cooking over wood or charcoal, protect the drippings from flying ash by vertically inserting a rimless sheet pan between the rungs of the grill grate before adding fresh fuel.)
Slip fresh herbs, such as sage leaves or parsley, between the skin and the breast meat for more flavor and an attractive presentation.
Baste the bird during cooking with a compound butter made from softened butter (preferably unsalted), 2 to 3 tablespoons of chopped fresh herbs, and minced garlic. The butter will help the skin crisp.
Instead of slicing the breast meat parallel to the bone, remove each breast half in one piece. Then slice vertically with a sharp knife to ensure each dine has some of the succulent breast meat rimmed with crisp skin.
We know “spatchcocking” a turkey is popular now. Don’t do it. Norman Rockwell wouldn’t approve.
Leftovers? Make the obligatory turkey sandwich (don’t skip this part), then make Steven’s fabulous smoked turkey hash.
Bobber fans should take note of the 2023 Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber Special Edition. For the new model year, Moto Guzzi has decided to dress the popular bike up with some special finishing touches. The most obvious addition is the blacked out look of all of the rolling gear. To that is added a two-tone black/grey paint scheme. The bar-end mirrors add a custom look comes straight from the factory, as do the factory slip-ons.
Read the full release:
MOTO GUZZI V9 BOBBER SPECIAL EDITION
THE NEW SPECIAL SERIES OF THE SPORTY CUSTOM FROM THE EAGLE BRAND FLAUNTS ITS DUAL BOLD AND ELEGANT SOUL WITH TRULY UNIQUE DETAILS
ALUMINIUM COMPONENTS, SLIP-ON EXHAUST AND A BRAND-NEW DARK LOOK ENHANCE THE CHARACTER OF A UNIQUE MOTORCYCLE
V9 Bobber is the sporty custom from Moto Guzzi that introduced the medium engine size bobber category. It’s a bike with a huge and authentic personality and a minimalistic style, characterized by the almost entirely total black look of every component and by large, oversize tires that ensure abundant contact on the ground, just like the ones mounted on the motorcycles in the second post-war American era that raced on fast dirt tracks, leading to the bobber phenomenon.
And it is precisely this authentic sporty heritage that characterizes the V9 Bobber Special Edition, the new special series from Moto Guzzi with a nocturnal look that stands out with its truly unique equipment package.
First and foremost, the new Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber Special Edition boasts a special Workshop twin-tone black and grey color scheme that enhances the metal teardrop fuel tank (which has a billet aluminum cap) and it also extends to the aluminum side panels. The bar-end mirrors mounted at the ends of the handlebar, along with the fork seals and the short front mudguard complete the equipment.
These elements amplify the sensation of perceived quality which is already high on the V9 models. The welds of the new frame and the quality of its paintwork are immaculately finished, as are the meticulous details of the 90° transverse V-twin engine, not only in terms of the casting but also the matt black that brings out the Moto Guzzi branding milled on the aluminum cylinder head covers.
It pays to look at the intimate details of this motorcycle, its touch conveying the construction tradition and culture so typical of the best Moto Guzzi models.
The unmistakable sound of the Moto Guzzi 850 twin cylinder is highlighted by the street-legal slip-on exhaust painted matte black, with the bottom in aluminum and characterized in the terminal part by a sleek, oblique shape.
Elegance and sportiness blend together in this special V9 Bobber version, characterized, as always, by a sporty, active, and extended riding position that is never sacrificed thanks to the on-board space, ideal even for the tallest riders. These qualities, along with the overall curb weight limited to just 210 kg and its seat height of just 785 mm, brilliantly emphasize the high level of comfort, control, and riding pleasure of a truly unique and unmistakable bike.
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Honda is adding a new model to its 500 platform, introducing a retro-inspired CL500 street scrambler.
The new CL brings back a nameplate Honda used in the ’60s and ’70s for lightweight off-road capable motorcycles. The modern interpretation draws on that heritage with the upswept muffler with stainless steel heat shield, round tank with tank pads, and gaitered forks.
“We developed the CL500 as a machine that truly allow its owners to stand out from the crowd, and as a form of self-expression. It can be used and enjoyed casually – without hesitation – by the young generation in their daily lives and is designed to become a joyful and integral part of a lifestyle,” says Hiroshi Furuse, Large Project Leader for the CL500. “In standard form, the off-road street style has a visual charm unlike any other model in the Honda range, and can really inspire owners to take it further in any direction they wish.”
While the 500 series began with the CB and CBR models, it’s the Rebel 500 that shares most in common with the CL500, both in its aesthetics and the chassis. The tubular diamond steel frame is similar to the Rebel’s, with a loop-shaped subframe.
Of course, for the CL500’s light off-road aspirations, you need some alterations from the Rebel’s cruiser model. The CL500 is equipped with 41mm telescopic forks with 5.9 inches of travel and preload-adjustable twin rear shocks with 5.7 inches of travel, compared to the Rebel’s 4.8 inches front and 3.8 inches of rear travel. The CL’s top and bottom yokes are unique to the scrambler, with Honda claiming enhanced steering accuracy and feel.
The CL500 also runs on larger wheels than the Rebel, with a 19-inch front and a 17-inch cast wheels. Dunlop supplies the deep-groove Mixtours tires with a 110/80 R19 up front and a 150/70 R17 at the rear. The longer travel suspension and larger wheels contribute to 6.1-inches of ground clearance, and a 31.1-inch seat height.
The front wheel is equipped with a single two-piston caliper with sintered pads and a 310 mm floating disc. A single-piston caliper and 240 mm rotor are fitted to the rear wheel. Honda says the hydraulic pressure between the front and rear brakes are balanced for controlled braking on a wide range of surfaces. ABS comes standard, with settings optimized for both paved roads and dirt tracks.
The CL500 uses the same 471 cc Parallel-Twin engine as the CB500 family and the Rebel 500, but with revised mapping, and a new intake and exhaust. Honda claims a peak output of 46.0 hp at 8,500 rpm and 32.0 lb-ft. at 6,250 rpm. The upswept exhaust uses a two-pipe muffler fed by 2-into-1 downpipes.
From one of Honda’s many booths at EICMA 2022. Photo by Ryan Adams
The CL also uses a 41-tooth rear sprocket – one more than the Rebel – with Honda claiming crisper acceleration through each of the six gears. An assist/slipper clutch helps to reduce lever load and rear wheel hop.
Honda offers a range of accessories for the CL500, for sale on their own or combined in Adventure, Travel or Style packages.
Only three motorcycle manufacturers in the world can claim to have been in continuous production for more than 100 years, and Moto Guzzi is one of them. When it comes time to make a historic transformation to the brand, that change carries a lot of weight on its shoulders. With the Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello, the manufacturer alludes – twice – to that long history in the name alone. First, the V100 honors the century of production and maintains form with past naming conventions, while the last part of the name refers to Mandello del Lario, where all Moto Guzzi motorcycles have been made since 1921. When looking at the V100 for the first time, the Moto Guzzi lineage is unmistakable. So, where’s the risk?
Established in 1994, Motorcycle.com is the premier online resource for motorcycle and scooter enthusiasts. With hundreds of high quality, detailed video reviews on bikes from Harley-Davidson, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and just about everybody else, it's the best place to go to learn about the latest and greatest two-wheeled creations. There's simply no better resource if you're planning on buying or if you just want to check out some awesome machines.
Gold not so glittering? Diamonds looking dim? Lotions, household cleaners, improper storage, and everyday wear and tear can take a toll on your jewelry, leaving metals tarnished and gemstones dull. Luckily, armed with a little know-how, you can keep your baubles looking their best pretty easily. We tested a slew of expert-endorsed jewelry care techniques—along with a few popular DIYs—to discover what really works. Whether you’re looking to preserve a family heirloom or just polish up your everyday favorites, we have tips on how to clean, store, and maintain your jewelry so that it shines for years to come.
Jessica Samson, cleaning expert and director of national branding with a 40-year-old national cleaning company called The Maids, knows of at least six ways to clean a microwave using only steam and common pantry items. We spoke to her to nail down the ultimate (and easiest) method.
Each year in a small town in southern England, villagers celebrate Guy Fawkes Night by hauling flaming barrels of tar on their backs and running through a crowd of people.
For 90 years, New Orleans residents got used to a familiar sight next to the cash register at grocery and drug stores: Hubig’s Pies. These little individually wrapped pastries might not look like much, but they have a rich history—and this week, they’re all anyone in the city can talk about.
Two weeks ago, BMW announced updates to its R 1250 R roadster. It’s not a big surprise, then, that many of those same updates are coming to the R 1250 RS. And just like the roadster, the updated 2023 R 1250 RS remains at the same MSRP as 2022: $15,695.
Visually, the 2023 BMW R 1250 RS doesn’t look much different from last year’s model. Apart from the new color options, the most discernible difference is the 2023 model’s new LED turn indicators. The bodywork and the chassis are otherwise exactly the same.
The engine is also the same air and liquid-cooled 1,254 cc Boxer with ShiftCam variable intake timing and valve lift. BMW claims peak outputs of 136 hp at 7,750 rpm and 105 lb-ft. at 6,250 rpm for both the R and RS.
Just like the roadster, the faired RS will receive Dynamic Traction Control, BMW Motorrad ABS Pro, and Dynamic Brake Control as standard equipment instead of being optional add-ons.
The RS likewise gains a new ECO mode, joining the returning Ride and Rain modes. In ECO mode, the ShiftCam system optimizes fuel economy and range by adopting a soft throttle curve with moderate engine torque limitation.
The TFT display offers a “Sport” mode that provides real-time data about the R 1250 RS’ electronic interventions and lean angles.
BMW offers a number of accessories for the R 1250 RS. The optional heated seats and grips feature a new operating system that offers five levels of heating compared to the previous two. A heated passenger seat also offers two levels of heating, operated by a switch at the bottom right of the seat.
Also new is the optional tubular handlebar. Compared to the standard bars, the accessory positions the grips higher and wider, and with less of a sweeping angle, resulting in a more relaxed and upright riding posture. Other new accessories include a solo seat with color matched pillion seat cover and Option 719 spoke wheels.
The 2023 BMW R 1250 RS gains a new Light White non-metallic paint option with a black frame that replaces the previous Black Storm Metallic color. The 2023 range also sees the Style Sport Light White non-metallic with Racing Blue Metallic and Racing Red details, a Light White non-metallic frame shown in the pictures above, as well as a Triple Black option of Black Storm metallic paint and Agate Grey frame. It also conveniently says “Triple Black” across the bodywork so you can correct people who say it’s just “black”.
The 2023 BMW R 1250 RS arrives in U.S. showrooms in Spring 2023.
2023 BMW R 1250 RS Specifications
Engine Type
Liquid-cooled 2-cylinder, 4-stroke boxer engine with two overhead, spur-gear driven camshafts, counterbalance shaft
Capacity
1,254 cc
Bore x Stroke
102.5 x 76.0 mm
Power
136 hp at 7,750 rpm (claimed)
Torque
105 lb-ft. at 6,250 rpm (claimed)
Max. Engine Speed
8,750 rpm
Compression Ratio
12.5:1
Fuel Type
Premium
Valvetrain
BMW ShiftCam variable intake camshaft control system, four valves per cylinder
Intake / Exhaust Valve Diameter
40 / 34 mm
Throttle Body Diameter
52 mm
Engine Control
BMS-O, electronic fuel injection with ride-by-wire throttle
Emission Control
Closed-loop 3-way catalytic converter, EU-5
Alternator
Three-phase 508 watts
Battery
12 volts / 12 Amp-hours
Headlamp
Full LED with daytime running light
Starter
900 watts
Clutch
Hydraulically operated, anti-hopping wet clutch
Gearbox
Constant-mesh, 6-speed with helical-cut gears
Primary Ratio
1.65:1
Gear Ratios
I – 2.438:1
II – 1.714:1
III – 1.296:1
IV – 1.059:1
V – 0.943:1
VI – 0.848:1
Secondary Ratio
2.818:1
Final Drive
Shaft-drive
Frame Construction Type
Two-section frame, main frame with bolt-on rear section and load-bearing engine
Front Suspension
45 mm upside-down telescopic fork
Rear Suspension
Cast aluminum swingarm with BMW Paralever, WAD travel-dependent spring/shock, continuously adjustable spring preload by means of hand knob, adjustable rebound stages by hand knob, optional Dynamic ESA Next Generation; 5.5 inches of travel.
Rake / Trail
27.7° / 4.4 Inches
Front Brake
Twin 320 mm floating disks, 4-piston radial calipers
Rear Brake
Single 276 mm disk, 2-piston floating caliper
ABS
BMW Motorrad Integral ABS Pro
Traction Control
BMW Motorrad DTC
Front Wheel
3.5 x 17″ cast aluminum
Rear Wheel
5.5 x 17″ cast aluminum
Front Tire
120/70 ZR17
Rear Tire
180/55 ZR17
Length
86.7 inches
Width
36.4 inches (with mirrors)
Wheelbase
59.6 inches
Seat Height
32.3 standard, 29.9 – 33.1 possible inches
Curb Weight
536 pounds (claimed)
Fuel Tank Capacity
4.8 gallons
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Buying a used camera lens is a prospect that causes tons of anxiety for some people…
Yet, other photographers actually prefer this method for procuring “new” camera gear. So, what gives?
While the anxieties of buying used gear are well-founded, some photographers have found a tried-and-true way to get the best used camera lenses while minimizing risk. For me, that means shopping from a trusted online platform like MPB.
I’ll let you in on my MPB secret momentarily, but first, let’s explore why used gear is such a great option!
Buying used camera lenses is a great idea for many photographers for several reasons. The primary reason concerns the price of a used camera lens versus a brand-new retail version. Most of the time, you can save a considerable amount of money buying used.
An often hidden benefit of buying a used camera lens, especially from a seller you can trust, is that there is a good chance that if a lens is a dud, it’s been weeded out of the market or fixed already.
One other reason for buying a used camera lens is to get that lens you really wanted when it first came out, but never had the chance get. The only way to find some versions of lenses is on the used market.
A great example of this is the compact, relatively fast, alternative normal focal length Nikon AF Nikkor 35mm f/2.0 D lens, which has been long discontinued. It’s still a fantastic lens, and if you search the used market, you can find excellent pre-owned examples of it for your kit.
The first step in how to buy a used camera lens is to find a way around the anxiety of possibly wasting money by buying a bad lens. I like to have some way to make sure I won’t get taken.
So, I do my research. I think about the used camera lenses I want and what they tend to fetch on the open market. MPB is a great source for learning more about used camera lenses and other gear.
Look for any user reviews of the lens or lenses you’re hoping to find, especially reviews from sources frequented by professional and other advanced users. A timely article from when the lens was introduced or some online sellers with review sections can provide a lot of useful information.
To be honest, I much prefer purchasing anything with a large-ish price tag from an online platform than from any private seller. I also prefer an online platform over a local camera store.
I don’t want to disparage either of those groups of sellers, but a private party may not even be aware of any problems with their gear and a local camera store simply doesn’t have the volume of turn over that an online platform for selling used camera lenses and bodies typically has.
Not that these reasons have stopped me from ever buying something from a local brick-and-mortar store or private person…It’s just that I prefer an online platform such as MPB. You’ll understand why by the time you finish reading!
4 Things About Shopping for a Used Camera Lens
The 4 top things I consider when buying a used camera lens are:
Camera mount compatibility
Condition ratings
Buyer protection
Dust and wear
Camera Mount Compatibility
When I’m out traveling on a photo trek or on a job, I sometimes run across garage sales, yard sales, and estate sales. You would be surprised how many people sell older camera gear this way.
Many times, I kid you not, I will open a bag or look in a box labeled as for sale and see a Minolta SRT or X-series camera body paired with a Pentax K-mount lens. Or a Konica TC with an Olympus OM-mount lens (or some other permutation of non-compatible cameras and lenses).
If I’m shopping for a lens to mount on a Canon EOS digital camera, I don’t want to end up with an FD-mount Canon lens. Even within the same mount, there may be significant differences affecting how that used camera lens fits or works on my camera body. Just look at all of the Nikon F-mount versions through the years!
If a lens (like the Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux-TL) is being sold as fitting a Leica L-series camera, I want it to fit on my current digital Leica, Sigma, or Panasonic L-series mirrorless Full Frame format camera, and not end up being a lens for a 60s to 80s vintage Leica film SLR. You should be wary of the same.
Since I’m leaning towards online platforms such as MPB for my new-to-me used cameras and lenses, that means I’m not holding the gear in my hands before I click on the purchase button. Therefore, I rely on an accurate condition rating from sellers who know what they're talking about.
MPB is owned, operated, and manned by serious photographers, many of them top-level pros in their fields. They know what to look for when examining a lens and how to describe that condition accurately.
Every single camera and lens on MPB has been inspected in excruciating detail. If the lens condition says “Like New”, it’s indistinguishable from a brand-new lens. If it isn’t, for any small reason, it will be labeled “Excellent”. Specific details on “Good” or “Well Used” are highlighted in the listing as well.
For my money, this is actually better at times than my own physical inspection. I can easily miss something, but the crew at MPB has checks and balances, so few things are ever missed. And if they do miss something, well, see the next point below…
Used Camera Lens Buyer Protection
Buyer protection for an expensive item, used or new, is a big thing for me. The last thing you want from a major used camera lens purchase is to find out something is wrong with it and the seller is long gone. This can happen when buying from private sellers either in person or online.
An online platform specializing in used photo gear usually has a blanket policy of return or exchange periods, and some, like MPB, actually have store warranties. Imagine buying a relatively expensive lens such as the Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR lens and it comes to you not working properly. At MPB, if an item doesn’t qualify for either an exchange or warranty service, it will be clearly stated in the product description.
Some people take a small flashlight and shine it into the lens from the front and the back as a thorough inspection. What you can find out this way is if the lens has fungus, any mechanical issues such as an element out of alignment or faulty aperture blades, and how much dust is in the lens.
If a lens has fungus or mechanical issues, I put it back and won’t even consider buying it. In my experience it simply isn’t worth the trouble. Dust, on the other hand, isn’t a deal breaker. Here’s why - dust in a lens is as common as dust in the wind.
Most lenses have a certain amount of dust in them. This is true for a like-new condition lens like the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II or a 40 year old lens.
The catch is, if it’s a little bit of “normal” dust, it won’t affect your images. A large amount of dust affects contrast first and maybe overall sharpness if it’s a lot. Excessive dust may also be an indicator of a non obvious mechanical disorder.
For all four of these tips about how to buy a used camera lens, the online platform MPB satisfies in a big way. This is why I tend to look at their website first when thinking about cameras, lenses, and photo accessories.
Any major item they have for sale has been inspected by camera and lens experts and the results are clearly described in each listing. So the camera mount issues, lots of dust in the lens, fungus, mechanical issues, and other things are already seen and taken care of. They even take care to note the cosmetics of the used camera lenses.
Beyond that, virtually every major photo item sold by MPB has a 7-day return/exchange window and a 6-month warranty. Warranty service is provided by the expert repair techs from MPB. They know more about cameras and lenses than I can even list in an article.
If an item is so well used that it doesn’t qualify for these buyer protections, they tell you that right up front in the listing. The condition ratings are easy to understand and they list anything that might be a concern for some.
I use MPB a lot, not just for buying a used camera lens or camera body, but also for trading in or selling outright some of the gear I no longer need. MPB is completely fair and upfront about this process as well, and they make it an easy process from beginning to end.
Try out the online platform MPB for your next purchase. I’m sure you’ll be as pleased as I have been!
This Wiha tool set has high-quality tools in a rolling case that's as useful as what's in it.
Brough Superior and Aston Martin have sold 88 units of the track only version of the AMB 001 Pro bike.
With an all black build, this special edition Z fc looks even more like the FM2 that inspired it.
The engine is also the same air and liquid-cooled 1,254 cc Boxer with ShiftCam variable intake timing and valve lift. BMW claims peak outputs of 136 hp at 7,750 rpm and 105 lb-ft. at 6,250 rpm for both the R and RS.
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