Olympus OM Zuiko lenses and ridiculous prices?

[blockend]

all prices in sterling...obviously, this neglects condition, so its only a guide to the fair price, and INCLUDE POSTAGE, as there are always people who try to bamboozle buyers with ridiculous postage costs

As you say, that list includes the full range of lens sales, including complete dogs with scratched elements and ptetzeled filter rings, etc. Most people on this forum will tend to look higher up the price scale. My perception is lenses are cheap compared to original prices, and in comparison to DSLR lenses, but prices are climbing for good examples, and most are more expensive than five or six years ago.

 

[whojammyflip]

Just to clarify, its the median price, and of stuff I am watching, certainly not dogs. But I did not differentiate for instance between the different eras of 50/1.4. Seriously, if you want to invest in something, buy something other than camera kit, which pays financial dividends. I just keep a list like this so that I know what a fair price is. Make of it what you will.

 

[blockend]

Just to clarify, its the median price, and of stuff I am watching, certainly not dogs. But I did not differentiate for instance between the different eras of 50/1.4. Seriously, if you want to invest in something, buy something other than camera kit, which pays financial dividends. I just keep a list like this so that I know what a fair price is. Make of it what you will.

Sure, I agree. What I was trying to say is people buy a lot of rough lenses in my experience, and if you want a good example you may not get one for the median price. I'm also with you on camera values. As manufacturers become fewer and film types are cut (and digital becomes more sophisticated in its signature look) who knows where film camera and lens prices will go long term?

 

[whojammyflip]

By looking at the median value and not the mean, you remove the impact of extreme values, for example where someone from the middle east decides they want a mint 50/1.4 lens and pays double the normal price.

One thing of note is that you tend to get clustering of prices. If someone overpays on an auction, the subsequent auctions are affected for a while. And vice versa. I was looking at buying a V500 scanner, and a chap was selling a load of them. As a result, the price dropped about 6 months ago to less than 100 including postage...its now back up again.

I must say, though, that for value for money, I think all this old kit is cheap. My brother bought a 15-85mm zoom lens from Canon...terrible distortion at the short end, which you could see through the viewfinder. It was more expensive than my entire 35mm set up. When you consider what people pay for drinks and drugs nowadays, getting out of their minds, photography is both cheaper and better for you!

I also have a Bronica ETRSi with 50/75/150 lens kit...incredible value for what it can do. However, I don't buy this stuff pretending I can make a living by selling it on! Its just valuable to me as I can take pictures with it.

One setup I'd be particularly interested in would be a Contax G1 with 28/45/90 lens kit. I think it sounds awesome. But then I'd also like a Spotmatic with 28/50/105 etc etc....

 

[Roundabout]

That auction site is odd in general though. People seem to be bidding more for second hand kit than they could get the items for new sometimes.

And, as for 2nd hand gear, I was looking at Topcon lenses earlier – hardly as popular as OM Zuikos surely? $400+ for some 50mm lenses. I mean, they have a decent enough reputation, but c'mon who is buying this stuff?

 

[wblynch]

The modern dslr lenses might be $725 for a similar lens, brand new. So to them, $400 is low.

It's definitely a confused market.

 

[jjphoto]

...And, as for 2nd hand gear, I was looking at Topcon lenses earlier – hardly as popular as OM Zuikos surely? $400+ for some 50mm lenses. I mean, they have a decent enough reputation, but c'mon who is buying this stuff?

Which $400 Topcon/Topcor lenses are you referring to? Maybe the range finder lenses are collectible, not sure. But nothing came up over $400 on Evilbay completed listings (aside from one of the M39 lenses).

In general terms, don't confuse 50/1.8 and 50/1.4 lenses with F1.2 lenses such as the 50/1.2 or 55/1.2 Zuikos as they are clearly different and attract completely different prices.

Enough people are buying Zuiko 55/1.2 (in the $4-500 range) and Zuiko 50/1.2 (in the $5-600+ range) to maintain those prices, just look at completed listings on Evilbay for these items.

Zuiko 55/1.2:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Olympus-...=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item338568707c
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Olympus-...817?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd53e7861

Zuiko 50/1.2:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Olympus-..._Foto_Camcorder_Objektive&hash=item35cb9257d0
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Olympus-...78457797?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3385394fc5

Virtually any other reputable brand of 50mm lens with an F1.2 aperture will attract reasonably high prices, although maybe not quite that of the fast Zuikos. Look at these recent completed listings on Evilbay for some examples of fast lenses in the 50mm focal length:

Canon FL 55/1.2 ($200+), the FL 58/1.2 sells for less but noth much less:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CANON-FL...42305431?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item4859af4a97
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CANON-Le...=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item33853ca4b0
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Rare-Can...37365029?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3a84dfd625


Konica Hexanon 57/1.2 (by the way, the F1.4 version sells for about $50):
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Konica-H...72138285?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3384d8e22d
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Konica-A...o_Camcorder_Analogkameras&hash=item4d1204a7fd
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Konica-A...o_Camcorder_Analogkameras&hash=item35cb8677d9

Minolta 58/1.2:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Minolta-...05061813?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item4ac95048b5
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BEAUTIFU...24379269?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item27d7cece85
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Minolta-...62761275?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item41769b443b
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Minolta-..._Foto_Camcorder_Objektive&hash=item1c365de339
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Minolta-...-SN-2743011-/120841592534?hash=item1c22b85ed6

The above are some examples. Sure there will be very cheap fast 50/1.2's around due to faults, haze, fungus etc, or maybe with a poor reputation for performance and therefore low demand, but over all the demand is there and people will generally pay a premium for a fast lens with a good reputation.

 

[Roundabout]

Which $400 Topcon/Topcor lenses are you referring to? Maybe the range finder lenses are collectible, not sure. But nothing came up over $400 on Evilbay completed listings (aside from one of the M39 lenses).

In general terms, don't confuse 50/1.8 and 50/1.4 lenses with F1.2 lenses such as the 50/1.2 or 55/1.2 Zuikos as they are clearly different and attract completely different prices...

I don't want to link to specific adverts, but I've recently seen a few f1.4 50mm and 58mm for close to $400 and up to around $650. Sure, there were some cheaper ones also, particularly 1.8 models or bundled with cameras. But there was even a lens hood for the 1.8 model for around $130. I might pay that for the lens - but for the hood?

 

[jjphoto]

I don't want to link to specific adverts, but I've recently seen a few f1.4 50mm and 58mm for close to $400 and up to around $650. Sure, there were some cheaper ones also, particularly 1.8 models or bundled with cameras. But there was even a lens hood for the 1.8 model for around $130. I might pay that for the lens - but for the hood?

There are lots of outrageous BIN prices on Evilbay for all kinds of lenses and many of them have been there for years. I think some sellers are happy to leave items listed indefinitely on the off chance that some one wants one enough to pay 'whatever it costs' rather than the going rate. Some items are so rare it's hard to judge their value, but otherwise the going rate is easy to determine from completed listings on Evilbay.

 

[whojammyflip]

Here is an amusing one, I was watching a Bronica macro lens, serial # 10200612
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRONICA-ETRS-MACRO-ZENZANON-PE-100MM-F4-LENS-/151110440429

And its been bought and immediately relisted at over double the price!
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRONICA-ETRS-i-PE-100mm-F4-Macro-Mint-/310751865942

Buyer beware, often the BIN's are complete nonsense. I've been keeping a list of Bronica lenses too, and this BIN is wildly over-optimistic, relative to the normal price.