What's this lens really worth?

[ChristopherCoy]

eBay says anywhere from $300-$700. How realistic is that?

 

[ChristopherCoy]

I've been offered two of them for $25...

 

[Ian Grant]

I've been offered two of them for $25...

You have one then and I'll send you $25 for the other . . . . . .

Ian

 

[Whiteymorange]

We've got one coming up at the PHSNE auction in October- fitted to a Canon A1, no less! I'll tell you then what it is worth to somebody– around Boston anyway.
As has been said, it's worth what somebody actually pays you, and not a cent more.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

I know that there are some that are commonly attached to Speed Graphics. I'm hoping that since this says 5x5 this is the one?!? (Which if it does, means that I'm going to kick myself in the ass for selling mine in January!!)

 

[xya]

obviously it's ~400$ on ebay. there are quite some which have been sold during the last 2 weeks. do a search on ebay and tick the "completed" box in advanced search.

 

[outwest]

I paid $40 for one and gave it away after I tested it.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

It's a fad, cash in now. I wouldn't buy one for any other reason than to sell at a profit.

 

[semi-ambivalent]

Amateur astronomers used to use these (and esp. the 12") f/2.5 Aero-Ektars for wide-field star photography. Talkin' '60s here.

s-a

 

[eclarke]

obviously it's ~400$ on ebay. there are quite some which have been sold during the last 2 weeks. do a search on ebay and tick the "completed" box in advanced search.

Actually, click "sold" only using "completed" will include stuff that didn't sell.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

The lens is a hot item. I think David Burnett is shooting with an Aero Ektar. I've head they're radioactive so you should give it to me instead

 

[TheToadMen]

Asking prices on Ebay vary from $25 to $1000 for the same item sometimes. Especially "BUY IT NOW" offers: these are almost always unrealistic prices.
However, there is one auction for this lens (with issues) with no price limit, worth following to get a more realistic estimation. See:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Kod...720?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257dcaec50
You can also check the SOLD items, see:
http://www.ebay.com/csc/i.html?_fro...odak+aero+ektar&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc
At quick glance $300 seems a nice price for a seller, but with patience a lot cheaper is possible?

 

[ChristopherCoy]

The lens is a hot item. I think David Burnett is shooting with an Aero Ektar. I've head they're radioactive so you should give it to me instead

I recently learned of this as well. I had no idea until someone mentioned it in conversation.

Some of the info I've read said that they can be up to 3mR/hr, which as I understand it means that the lens would have to be in your pocket, 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week, for 6 months straight before you'd have the recommended annual "dose".

In any event, if there is in fact two of them, I'm hoping to trade/sell one for a Pacemaker SG body - since I sold my SG back in January.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I recently learned of this as well. I had no idea until someone mentioned it in conversation.

Some of the info I've read said that they can be up to 3mR/hr, which as I understand it means that the lens would have to be in your pocket, 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week, for 6 months straight before you'd have the recommended annual "dose".

Don't hold that lens close to your jewels if you want kids

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Well, it's not as good as I thought... There is in fact only one lens, not two as I originally thought. But it was still $25...

So I guess it'll sit in the display cabinet until I can purchase another SG body to mount it to.

 

[k_jupiter]

Actually, click "sold" only using "completed" will include stuff that didn't sell.

As long as you are not red green colorblind, what"s the issue with that?

 

[mhcfires]

I recently learned of this as well. I had no idea until someone mentioned it in conversation.

Some of the info I've read said that they can be up to 3mR/hr, which as I understand it means that the lens would have to be in your pocket, 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week, for 6 months straight before you'd have the recommended annual "dose".

In any event, if there is in fact two of them, I'm hoping to trade/sell one for a Pacemaker SG body - since I sold my SG back in January.

I want to see you get one of these monsters into your pocket. Those guys are large in size and heavy! I have one on my Pacemaker SG, I'm not able to hand hold it anymore, I HAVE to use a monopod or tripod.

 

[EdSawyer]

$25 is a steal, regardless of condition.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

$25 is a steal, regardless of condition.

It's been wrapped and stored for who knows how long. I'm expecting it to be in immaculate condition. She's shipping it today.

Her father in law passed about 18 months ago and they are just now cleaning out his estate. He had an Alpa lens that I know of, but in total he had about $8k worth of lenses and gear. She took them to a dealer and they gave her half of the value. They offered her $3k and she talked them up to $4k.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

So it just arrived. WOW! It's HUGE!

The glass doesn't seem to be brownish as I have read some are. There are some internal specks of dust, but doesn't appear to have any fungus or haze. The blades move smoothly, and the lens shade is in tact, as well as the lens cap.
Each part of the lens is engraved with the serial number.

She also threw in a 4x5 Polaroid back in its original box, which is pretty much useless unless Fuji starts making 4x5 miraculously again... And she also threw in a really nice cable release.

I can't wait to get this thing on a SG!

 

[TheToadMen]

Polaroid film? The Impossible Project!

... a 4x5 Polaroid back in its original box, which is pretty much useless unless Fuji starts making 4x5 miraculously again ...

Well, don't throw it away yet for we have the Dead Link Removed now! The people behind this project bought and reopened the old Polaroid factory in Enschede, The Netherlands.
They already remake all different kinds of Polaroid film and recently even introduced 8x10" film!!


See: Dead Link Removed
So I'm hoping 5x4" will come out again also.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

I've shot the integral film, and I've heard the buzz about the 8x10 film.... Never thought about them reproducing 4x5!

 

[Shootar401]

Mine was free.

 

[PtJudeRI]

You can unscrew the elements of the lens pretty easily to get at any dust. My lens is in excellent shape, and I have to say, I love shooting with it. I bought a whole K camera that someone had listed in war memorabilia for about $75. To attach it to the Speed, I made a lensboard that fit just over the brass threads, and I secured the lens to the board using two 3" rubber gaskets from Home Depot (Toilet bowl parts). Works like a charm for $15. Focus is, of course, GG only.

The combo, with SG and a polaroid back is really fun. Here are a few shots.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

What kind of Polaroid back are you using?