Used 35MM Gear Prices Going Up?

[Shawn Rahman]

Although I've noticed prices for manual Nikon 35mm gear in good condition going up recently (including KEH & Adorama), this is really unbelievable:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...x7L1gpk%3D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Or is it that this particular lens is in such high demand?

 

[Markster]

I don't know about that particular one, but it seems to me that online browsing prices have gone up, definitely.

Tons of places are selling them to collectors, or antiquers, or people that are still using them (and in this case these parts are out of production and -- you guessed it -- that means the prices can go up more!).


Part of me wants to chalk it up to greed. The other doesn't fully understand all the socioeconomic factors at play.

 

[hpulley]

I say prices are definitely going up. I'm very glad I didn't sell my stuff at all because I still use it but I'm especially glad I didn't sell it for paperweight prices a few years ago.

Only problem is I want a Canon Pellix QL with 38mm f/2.8 pancake lens and they go for $400 now! Not a buyer's market... crazy but I can buy a bunch of stuff for my Mamiya for that much.

 

[foc]

This Christmas in our photoshop/minilab I had five requests for film SLR cameras which unfortunitly I was unable to supply. ( We are based in the northwest of Ireland a rural area). Before digital took over I would have been lucky to sell five film SLR at Christmas.
So it shows that there is an upturn in demand for film and film cameras.

I also stocked this year, the Lomo Smena 8m film camera and I sold ten of them. Each customer that bought them knew about the camera and said they were delighted to get the camera and a Fuji 24 exp film for €35. Eight out of the ten also bought a Foma black and white film. The age group of all these customers was 20s and all expressed a desire for film because of its look and how it was so different to digital.

I know there have been many threads about the rise of film but I was surprised by the demand for film and film cameras that people wanted to buy from a high street shop and not on the net.

My new years resolution is to try and stock more film cameras and put out a bigger display of colour and black and white films.

The only problem I have is trying to sourse good quality used film SLRs.

 

[domaz]

Remember your competing with digital users for manual focus lens too. They can be adapted to DSLRs like crazy- I think that is also part of the craze.

 

[photoncatcher]

Well, there is a silver lining to all this. If people are willing to pay that kind of price, then there will be more reason for the film manufacturing companiies to keep producing.

 

[23mjm]

I think most all film gear is going up--I have seen the prices of Mamiya medium format gear going up too. Supply and demand I guess, but is the supply falling or is demand going up.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

I agree. I have been looking at, not shopping for, Minolta sr and X gear on that auction site. People want mad money for an XG-M and a Minolta 50mm f/2. I remember one trying to get $75 USD. And not getting it. That's just an example but a popular one. People are nuts. Ever heard of DEPRECIATION!?

 

[CGW]

Although I've noticed prices for manual Nikon 35mm gear in good condition going up recently (including KEH & Adorama), but his is really unbelievable:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...x7L1gpk%3D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Or is it that this particular lens is in such high demand?

Not really. Just scope the recent completed auctions for a reality check. In this particular case, a pissing contest among 4-5 bidders kicked in and kited the price. I just delete these or save 'em for amusement. Agree, though, about the trampoline effect 4/3 cameras and their multi-mount adapters on MF lenses--trick is, they're not all wonderful when re-purposed.

 

[CD55]

I think definitely one of the reasons is the micro 4/3 cameras by Panasonic and Olympus. There are plenty of adapters for manual lenses going for $16-29 and to be able to use so many different lenses is a draw for the still photographers. However this is especially true for the cameras that can record HD video and to have the shallow DOF when doing video for something under $1,500 is virtually unheard of even just a couple of years ago. Many videographers and students are using lenses like the Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 to do video using the Panasonic GH-1/GH-2 and are just amazed at the quality they can get for what they pay for. Just look at DVXuser.com to see what I mean. There is a 6 page thread/poll there comparing which 50mm f/1.4 from Nikon, Canon and Minolta as to which is the best. Prices for lenses will continue to go up so it might be good to get some of the better lenses out there while you still can at a reasonable price.

 

[Moopheus]

Remember your competing with digital users for manual focus lens too. They can be adapted to DSLRs like crazy- I think that is also part of the craze.

This has a lot to do with it. Older manual Nikon bodies aren't going for a whole lot, and the older pre-AI lenses that don't play well with digital metering are still relatively cheap.

 

[drkhalsa]

A couple of examples of adapting Nikon manual focus lenses to other uses that I have recently heard of that go along with the above comments:

The camera store I frequent has been selling a lot of used MF Nikon lenses and new adapters to Canon digital users.

My neighbor has recently purchased a Canon digital camera with video function and went to great lengths to retrieve his old Nikon manual focus lenses. He said the camera bodies were trashed.

I think this kind of demand puts an upward price pressure on the used Nikon glass.

 

[blockend]

Remember your competing with digital users for manual focus lens too. They can be adapted to DSLRs like crazy- I think that is also part of the craze.

The latest generation of digital movie cameras (Sony NEX-VG10, etc) also take interchangable SLR lenses, and their users are generally less price sensitive than stills photographers. A clean F1.2/1.4 Nikon or Canon still looks dirt cheap compared to a specialist movie lens.

Various contraptions are available to pull focus with them. There's only one way wide aperture prime lenses are going IMHO - through the roof.

 

[ann]

my dealer recently started selling used film cameras (again) . For several years they stopped as there wasn't a market for them, at least for them. Now, they have a front case with at least 10. Also, they told me wide angle lenses are very popluar with the video people, as i was thinking of sellling my 20mm and asked if it was worth anything. I was told that it might bring 500 dollars.

 

[one90guy]

I have noticed F4 and N80's the prices are down from about 3 years ago. About 6 months ago I got a N90s for 34.00 with free shipping. Good deals can still be found, just have to be in the right place and time and have the money. I have the time, just no money.

 

[darinwc]

The lens linked to by the original poster was a Nikkor 28mm f2.8 AIS. This particular lens has quite a bit of good reviews. People on-line tend to pay premiums for that extra 1% in performance.

Sure makes me not feel so bad considering all the GAS ive had over the years that spurned me to buy up stuff just cause it was cheap at the time.