A camera lens is a very fragile and sensitive (not to mention expensive) piece of equipment. Thus, utmost care in packaging must be observed before shipping to ensure that it can endure the rough shipping environment without any damage. Here are some useful tips on how to pack and ship a camera lens safely.
Place the lens in a clean plastic Ziploc bag. The bag will protect the lens from dust and bits of packaging materials.
Generously pack the lens in several layers of bubble wrap. Make sure that all parts are well-padded. Secure the wrap with packaging tape.
Get a sturdy cardboard shipping box slightly larger than the wrapped lens. Fill half of the box with packing peanuts, lay the lens in the center and fill the remaining spaces with more packaging peanuts. The box must be filled with enough packing materials that the contents would not shift or move when the box is shaken.
Instead of packing peanuts, shredded paper or the wadded newspaper can also do the trick.
Address and label the box and take to your nearest shipping company or post office.