fair value for a FD 85/1.8 ?

[Laurent]

Hi all,

it seems I'm kind of rebuilding a Canon FD system (I may have to unload some Leica stuff, the Visoflex is a nice thing but wll not be used a lot if I have a reflex system)

I put a bet on a 85/1.8lens on *bay and am wondering what would be a fair value for it? the current ante is 151€, which I feel ok, but I'd be happy to get some context as I see prices wll north of that

 

[Tony-S]

There's one on KEH listed for US$178 that is rated as UGLY. I'm really shocked at how much FD lenses are going for now. I suspect if I summed the value of the 8 or 9 that I have it would be well over $3,000!

 

[gone]

These are getting near Leica prices due to all the Japanese collectors dumping them onto ebay. The average seems to be $300, w/ tax and shipping around $350. You can look at the completed and sold listings on ebay and get a feel for the prices. They're one of Canon's best lenses, and in a comparison I saw very little difference between the FD 85 1.8 and the Leica R 90 Elmarits and Summicrons, although the Leicas probably focus closer, and there's nothing else w/ the build quality of the Leicas. My favorites are the early models, but they're heavy. The new FDn glass is exactly the same but in much smaller and lighter bodies.

 

[benjiboy]

These are getting near Leica prices due to all the Japanese collectors dumping them onto ebay. The average seems to be $300, w/ tax and shipping around $350. You can look at the completed and sold listings on ebay and get a feel for the prices. They're one of Canon's best lenses, and in a comparison I saw very little difference between the FD 85 1.8 and the Leica R 90 Elmarits and Summicrons, although the Leicas probably focus closer, and there's nothing else w/ the build quality of the Leicas. My favorites are the early models, but they're heavy. The new FDn glass is exactly the same but in much smaller and lighter bodies.

I've been using the new type polymer barrel FD lenses all of which I bought second hand ( I have fourteen of them) I have had most of them for thirty years or more, and I have never found them inferior to the previous ones in any way, on the contrary when carrying a bag full of them they are considerably lighter.

P.S. In answer to the original question:- 151€ is a reasonable price I.M.O if the lens is in good or better than good condition.
85mm f1.8 lenses have always been expensive because manufacturers don't make or sell as many as the more popular less specialized focal lengths, and its "economy of scale".