How to sell camera and lens gear online: what actually holds value
A camera body loses value the moment a new model ships; a good lens doesn’t. Here’s where collectors and working photographers actually shop, what holds its price and what doesn’t, and how to price, disclose, and ship gear so it arrives the way you sold it.
Last updated October 2026
Where should you actually sell camera gear — eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or a specialty buyer like KEH?
It depends on how much effort you want to put in versus how fast you want paid. eBay reaches the biggest pool of buyers who already search by exact model and mount, and its “Sold items” filter lets you check what a body or lens actually sold for before you price it. KEH Camera, a used-gear retailer, buys equipment directly: you submit the exact model, condition, and included accessories through its online Quote Wizard for a cash offer — no listing, no shipping risk on your end, but a lower payout than selling it yourself. Facebook Marketplace’s local-pickup model is the better move for anything bulky or awkward to ship safely — tripods, lighting kits, long telephoto lenses — where a cracked filter thread from rough handling in transit isn’t worth the risk. Our eBay vs. Facebook Marketplace guide covers the general shipped-vs-local tradeoff in more detail.
Do camera bodies or lenses hold their value better?
Lenses generally hold value longer than bodies. A camera body is tied to a generational upgrade cycle — a new sensor and processor every two or three years makes the previous model feel dated fast, and buyers won’t pay close to what it cost even a year or two ago. A lens is tied to a lens mount, not a product generation, so a well-regarded lens can stay in production and in demand for a decade or more; sharp prime lenses with wide apertures tend to hold value especially well because there’s rarely a cheaper replacement that does the same thing. It’s also why a specialty buyer like KEH prices each body and lens individually by exact model and condition rather than a flat percentage of what it originally cost.
How should you price it?
Off of what the same model actually sold for, not what other sellers are asking for theirs — the same rule that applies to pricing any used item. eBay’s own “Sold items” filter shows recent completed sales for that exact body or lens, and running the same model through KEH’s Quote Wizard gives you a second real data point — even if you don’t sell to them, their cash offer tells you the conservative floor. Specific accessories move the number: original box, lens caps, hood, and a working battery and charger can meaningfully change what a buyer is willing to pay versus the bare item alone, so list what’s actually included rather than assuming buyers will ask.
What should you photograph and disclose before listing?
The three things that kill buyer confidence — or cause a return — if they surface after the sale: sensor dust or scratches on a body, haze or fungus inside a lens, and missing accessories you didn’t mention. Check a body’s sensor by shooting a blank wall or clear sky at a small aperture and looking for dark spots; check a lens for haze or fungus by holding it up to a light at an angle and looking through it end to end. If you can pull the body’s shutter count from its menu or a free utility, include it — buyers shopping anything above entry-level gear expect it. eBay’s own Item Description Policy requires the condition you list to match the item and stay consistent across the title, description, and photos — the same standard that applies to any used item.
How do you ship it without it breaking?
Camera gear is one of the easier categories to get wrong in shipping, because the expensive part is glass, not plastic. Use the original box and foam insert if you still have it; if you don’t, double-box the item with at least two inches of padding between it and the outer box so nothing touches the shipping carton directly, and remove batteries before you pack it — several carriers restrict how lithium batteries can ship loose. eBay’s own seller guidance recommends photographing an item’s condition immediately before you package it, so you have dated proof if a dispute comes up after delivery. Insure the package for the item’s resale value, not what you originally paid — the two numbers are usually very different. Our shipping guide covers carrier and box-size specifics that apply to any used item.
The short version
List lenses and in-demand bodies on eBay where buyers already search by exact model and can check sold prices; sell to a specialty buyer like KEH when you want a fast cash offer instead of listing it yourself; keep bulky accessories local on Facebook Marketplace. Price from sold comps, disclose sensor and glass condition honestly, and pack it like the glass inside is the expensive part — because it is. For anything else you’re selling alongside it, Reclaim turns one photo into a priced, published listing on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. See our full library of selling guides for the rest.
Selling something else too? Snap a photo and let Reclaim do the rest.
Free to download. Highly rated on the App Store.
Check your item’s value