Nikkor 50mm 1:1.2 in Hanoi

[Erik Petersson]

Walking down the street in Hanoi, I found a beautiful used Nikkor 50mm 1:1.2 in a small shop with a difficult shop owner. The man almost did not let me touch his cameras or lenses. He said he wanted 250 dollars (approximately) for the 50mm 1:1.2. By principle, I tried to get the price down a little, but the owner just got angrier and quickly put it away. (His collegue, however, was all smiles, and had the most beuatiful long white beard.)

Now I am inclined to go back and buy the lens for the offered price. It is a good price, is it not?

 

[ooze]

Aaah Hanoi. I loved that place. Rather difficult for foreigners; I can so well imagine that shop owner's reaction.
If you get a chance try to visit Hanoi Gallery at 86 Tran Vu. The owners name is Ngoc Thai...extremely nice man, great photography. I bought a couple of prints from him last year and also sent him one from Istanbul.

The price of the lens doesn't sound too bad. Here http://www.apertureuk.com/used-NMF-L.htma mint- one is sold for 290 pounds.

Cheers, omar

 

[keithwms]

I have one of these and the price is good if it is in good condition. I think I paid ~$400 for it, new, in the US.

Not a great lens in terms of sharpness and bokeh, but nevertheless quite nice for the brightness in the VF. It is way brighter than the other 50s, of course.

 

[john taylor]

Get a friend to buy it for you

Hi,

I would second the recommendation about Mr. Ngoc Thai on Tran Vu. Prizes from all over the world, gracious and pretty good English. It's a little bit east of Fivi Market behind Quan Thanh Temple at Truc Bac Lake. Perhaps he could advise you on the best strategy for a purchase. Also, consider asking a Vietnamese friend to make the purchase for you, after you've decided on the absolute highest price you are willing to pay.

John

 

[Eric Rose]

Please consider the fact if may be stolen merchandise. Once you try and insure it back home you might get a surprise.

 

[Erik Petersson]

Thanks for your advice. I think I will pick up the lens on Monday, if it is still there.

Looking forward to the gallery, which I certainly will try to visit. However, I am returning to Sweden already on Thursday. Much too short a visit for Vietnam.

 

[skahde]

I had friends buy used lenses in small shops in that region with no trouble. I bought a boxed Ex+ 50mm 1.2 three yeras ago for 150 Euro from a dealer in Italy but haven't seen it that low again. To me 250 $ sounds reasonable. I've used it a lot for environmental portraits indoors where it really shines and leaves nothing to be desired. If this is what you have in mind, there is hardly a better lens in Nikon's lineup. Look here, "lens performance" second paragraph: http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/portfolio/about/history/nikkor/n16_e.htm

 

[Erik Petersson]

Thanks for the tip.

I will just love the speed and I do shoot faces more than anything else, so I think it will be suitable.

Did not find time to pick it up yet, but hope to buy it soon.

 

[Erik Petersson]

About the lens. I went by the shop today, ready to buy it for the price that was offered me. But the owner claims not to have the lens. I think I broke against some courtesy rule - he obviously does not like me. Please tell me, why is it harder for foreigners, do we brake against courtesy rules or similar?

The gallery will be my first stop tomorrow morning.

Aaah Hanoi. I loved that place. Rather difficult for foreigners; I can so well imagine that shop owner's reaction.
If you get a chance try to visit Hanoi Gallery at 86 Tran Vu. The owners name is Ngoc Thai...extremely nice man, great photography. I bought a couple of prints from him last year and also sent him one from Istanbul.

The price of the lens doesn't sound too bad. Here http://www.apertureuk.com/used-NMF-L.htma mint- one is sold for 290 pounds.

Cheers, omar

 

[ooze]

That's quite bizarre Erik. Can't really say what went wrong there. Maybe he was tired of all the foreigners pushing for a bargain?

 

[Erik Petersson]

Well, maybe he really sold it already.
Some shops here have the most beautiful Nikon-collections I have ever seen. Almost clean F:s and F2:s with unused pre-Ais optics.

 

[Chan Tran]

I am Vietnamese, although I have lived in the US for over 30 years, and I know the Vietnamese thinking. I don't think he sold the lens, as I also know that Vietnamese don't want a manual focus lens and very unlikely willing to pay that much. The way he treat you because he thinks you are stupid and generally would pay more just because you're a foreinger (Sure he is wrong) but that's the way many Vietnamese merchants think. You should have asked a Vietnamese friend to go with you on the first time. Or you should have asked a Vietnamese friend to come back and buy it without your present. I must add that you didn't break any courtesy rule and he just pretend not to like you (as you can see his friend smiling all the time). And no they're not tired of foreinger pushing for bargain because bargaining in Vietnam is the rule, no one pays the asking price at least without trying to bargain somewhat. About the only courtesy rule you could break is that you're his first customer of the day and trying to drive a hard bargain (it means bad luck to him). Soft bargain is definitely OK.