A fair offer to LF members (75mm/5.6 SA)

As some of you probably noticed by my recent thread, I was offered a Super Angulon 75mm/5.6 lens few days ago. This is local offer, i.e. can be picked locally and checked personally (just dry-check, I doubt my Shen-Hao will "swallow" it without either bag bellows or recessed board). According to the seller, the lens is in really Mint condition or even better, however apparently (not sure yet, have to check that) this is single coated version (the seller isn't sure about that - I guess I can figure that according len's SN).
Asking price by the seller is 750 US$. There are chances I'll be able to knock down slightly (just for a better feeling ), not much though.

I thought to jump at that opportunity, however just realized that first: will unlikely be able to stretch my current budget that far, second, I suspect 75mm lens will not be usable on my Shen-Hao 4x5 without bag bellows and/or recessed board (adds up further to the total 75mm lens expenses).
However, as I figure, this price is considered as a good one for this lens given its condition as described by the seller, so I would hate to let the deal go away.
So this is what I'm going to offer here to our LF APUG fellows:
If there will be people hunting for this lens and think 750$ (or probably slightly less) is a worthy price for them and will be willing to purchase it - let me know. In such case, I'll start negotiating with the seller trying to knock down a bit the price and will get the lens (after confirming its condition by observation). Then I'll forward it to the buyer for the same price it was bought (750$ or less). Please note I'm not in US, so insured shipping is buyer's burden, going to be about 30-35$ by EMS insured to the full amount (from Israel to US, to Europe can be a bit less).

Of course, I will not be able to purchase without prior buyer's commitment to buy it given lens condition to match seller's description.

Let me know what you think or PM/email me.

Regards, Alex

I don't have the money to buy this 75mm from Alex, but he is a stand-up guy whom I have dealt with many a time in the past. Just thought I would throw out a referral.

Thank you Jeremy for your support.
I just thought I would be abel to help the fellows out there who was dreaming (or hunting) for this lens and so far couldn't snag it for 750$ or less on Ebay or others places. Certainly, no intention to gamble on this, just a honest desire to let APUGers to enjoy from a good deal.

Thanks for offering it. It is this kind of thing that I really like about APUG. I am far from ready to invest $750 in a lens, so I will also pass at this time, but I wanted to thank you for offering it.

Thank you Paul for your kind words.
I'll be happy to help our fellow members here just like being myself supported by them.

Hope someone hunting for such lens will jump on this opportunity.

Alex,

While I have no doubt your intentions are honorable, and I don't wish to take anything away from the generosity of your offer, $750 sounds awfully high for a single coated 75mm f5.6 Super Angulon. As you mentioned in your other thread, newer multicoated 75mm f4.5 lenses from Rodenstock and Nikon are readily available in the same price range from reputable dealers with reasonable return policies.

A quick check of completed auctions on eBay shows a couple multicoated 75mm f5.6 Super Angulons (with lensboards) selling for about $750. All of the older single coated 75mm f5.6 Super Angulons were sold by European sellers with selling prices in the $200 (for one in a Sinar DB mount) to less than $400 (including a Linhof select sample in a Linhof recessed lens board for $358). So, $750 for a single coated 75mm f5.6 Super Angulon, even one in mint condition, seems way high to me. Even if it is a later multicoated sample, $750 seems to be at best about average for a used modern multicoated 75mm lens. Buying anything on eBay is a risk (which is why I think a 75mm f4.5 Grandagon-N from KEH for $751 is a better deal), but given the recent selling prices on single coated 75mm f5.6 Super Angulons you could potentially buy two for less than $750.

Also, keep in mind any single coated Super Angulon is going to be 30 - 40 years old. Even if it has been well cared for, it will never be worth as much as a newer multicoated lens in comparable (or even lesser) condition.

Again, I am not posting this to detract from the generous spirit of your offer, just trying to point out that, in the current market, $750 is not a great price for the lens if it is indeed correctly described by the seller as a single coated 75mm f5.6 Super Angulon.

Kerry

Thank you Kerry for your info.
In fact, your information here is invaluable woudl it be posted a bit earlier in my previous recent thread where I was inquiring people here what would be the right price for this lens and according to the responses, I've got the feeling that 750$ is considered a good deal (the question wasn't clear though for multicoated or single as well).
Now, I'll have to inquire the seller whether this is indeed single-coated, and if it is, just forget about the thing (and close this thread). Otherwise, if this will turn to be multi-coated, don't you think for 750$ (OK chances I'll be able to knock down to, say about 700$ more or less) it wouldn't be a worthy deal ? (taking into account its Mint condition and the oppotrunity of personal checkup and pick up)

Alexz said:

Otherwise, if this will turn to be multi-coated, don't you think for 750$ (OK chances I'll be able to knock down to, say about 700$ more or less) it wouldn't be a worthy deal ? (taking into account its Mint condition and the oppotrunity of personal checkup and pick up)

Click to expand...

Alex,

If indeed it is multicoated and in mint condition (no signs of use, both original caps and the original box), $750 would be a fair price, but not a huge bargain.

Just keep in mind one man's "mint" may be another's "excellent+". Condition grading is highly subjective. I almost never use the term mint when selling a used lens and most used lenses I see for sale, especially on eBay, that are advertised as "mint" aren't even close to really being in mint condition. To me, mint means identical to the condition it was in when it left the factory. A lens can be very clean and a good deal without being truly mint. However, inflated ratings tend to also mean inflated prices. KEH is usually very conservative in their grading. What they call "excellent plus" most eBay sellers would not hesitate to call "mint" (or even the non-existant "mint+"). KEH also has a "14 day no-hassle return policy and 60 day warranty on all used equipment". Does your private seller offer a similar return policy and warranty?

Again, I applaud your offer to pass this lens along to a fellow APUGer. I'm just trying to point out any potential pitfalls. I'd hate to see you (or anyone) get stuck with an overpriced lens and no way to return it.

Kerry

Thanks Kerry.
I just called the seller - he confirms it si single coated and he wasn't aware those 75mm/5.6 SA were ever produced multi-coated. However, I passed him the average online prices for single-coated versions according to your information above - he agreed to talk around 500$ straight on (and he insist this lens is in really Mint condition - virtually hardly if ever be distinguished from new (aside of missing box and original packaging). In any case, personal checkup solves the possible doubts about tis condition)
Once again, this still sounds high, so I guess I'll pass on it.

P.S. Kerry, I often visit you site regarding the lenses, one of teh most valuable resources on LF lenses I've seen. I was delighted to find that hard-to-find info on Fujinon lenses, and your stuff is the one that opened my eye to a lense that isn't necessary German-made in LF area. Fujinon 150mm/5.6 W (or is it NWS or something ?) is my first lens I purchased beign convinced by your info.