RFluhver
Well-known
Hello guys! I have a bit of a dilemma.
So far I have been only using CV lenses for my M bodies. But now I am curious about Leica lenses so I would like to buy my first. I suppose like most other people, I'm not exactly blessed with an unlimited supply of funds, so to finance the Leica lens I could easily sell at least 1 or two of my CV lenses. I could offload the 28/1.9 and one of my two 50/2.5s, for example, and get a few hundred $$$ for them.
But I just find it so hard to let go of anything I own! Does anyone else feel like this?
So far I have been only using CV lenses for my M bodies. But now I am curious about Leica lenses so I would like to buy my first. I suppose like most other people, I'm not exactly blessed with an unlimited supply of funds, so to finance the Leica lens I could easily sell at least 1 or two of my CV lenses. I could offload the 28/1.9 and one of my two 50/2.5s, for example, and get a few hundred $$$ for them.
But I just find it so hard to let go of anything I own! Does anyone else feel like this?
isoterica
Established
Oh yes! My recommendation is that if you use these lenses and like these lenses then do not sell these lenses or you will regret it. The only instance in which you should sell is if you get the Leica lens and decide it is your new favorite and you won't be using the others, then offload them. It might not be the most economical thing to keep it all however until you are certain you shouldn't discard even for money. The other option is perhaps renting the Leica lens you are interested in. If you find that it's all you hoped and dreamed for and makes the other lenses seem obsolete, then go ahead and sell them to get the preferred lens. That way you won't feel bad about it all.
umcelinho
Marcelo
I'd suggest keeping what you like or is discontinued. This way you won't have a hard time finding the lens you liked in case you regret the sale.
Renting or getting to try a fellow rffer's lens might be a good option also, as you might get a good idea of what the lens delivers and how different from the CV lens you have it is.
What Leica lens are you considering?
Renting or getting to try a fellow rffer's lens might be a good option also, as you might get a good idea of what the lens delivers and how different from the CV lens you have it is.
What Leica lens are you considering?
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I started to write a big response to your question but deleted it...
To answer your question...Yes...it's hard to get rid of gear, even gear I haven't used in years...
To answer your question...Yes...it's hard to get rid of gear, even gear I haven't used in years...
fixbones
.......sometimes i thinks
I agree, it is hard to let go of things.
Sold my CV 28/3.5 which I rarely use but I still think about it every now and then.
Having said that...... having lenses and stuff that you don't use lying around is not the best solution either... for me anyways.
Which Leica lens are you looking at in particular?
Sold my CV 28/3.5 which I rarely use but I still think about it every now and then.
Having said that...... having lenses and stuff that you don't use lying around is not the best solution either... for me anyways.
Which Leica lens are you looking at in particular?
RFluhver
Well-known
@umcelinho
I have been considering the Elmarit 28/2.8 in either v4 or v3. Sometimes here in Tokyo the Asph version pops up for not much more than a v4, so I'm considering that, too.
I am not really one of these people who look at photos and start examining for all kinds of aberrations with a fine tooth loupe at 100% crops. I just at look at the overall look. My particular desire for a Leica lens is mainly out of curiosity and, to be quite frank, for Leica's superior build quality.
I have been considering the Elmarit 28/2.8 in either v4 or v3. Sometimes here in Tokyo the Asph version pops up for not much more than a v4, so I'm considering that, too.
I am not really one of these people who look at photos and start examining for all kinds of aberrations with a fine tooth loupe at 100% crops. I just at look at the overall look. My particular desire for a Leica lens is mainly out of curiosity and, to be quite frank, for Leica's superior build quality.
kermaier
Well-known
I have the 28/2.8 Elmarit-M Aspherical. It's a great lens, but I don't know if either the build quality or the image quality is sufficiently better than the CV 28/3.5 (which I also have) to justify the 5x price difference. I also have a Canon 28/2.8, so it's obviously hard for me to part with good gear. 
Vickko
Veteran
My rule:
"If it is labeled Leica, keep it. Anything else is available to sell to fund Leica purchases"
"If it is labeled Leica, keep it. Anything else is available to sell to fund Leica purchases"
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
I'd agree with Vick. With a few exceptions though. But for a later pre-asph 28 elmarit, I'd sell the CV lenses and wouldn't look back.
I had the 28/1.9 CV lens for a while and while it was pretty good it just wasn't my cup of tea. It's a great image maker but it wasn't the best built lens. Mine was a tiny bit "rattly" and I think there's a good amount of sample variation with CV lenses of any focal length. Leica lenses are just built so much better. These days the pre-asph 28 Elmarits are available for not much in the grand scheme of the high cost of Leica lenses right now.
Phil Forrest
I had the 28/1.9 CV lens for a while and while it was pretty good it just wasn't my cup of tea. It's a great image maker but it wasn't the best built lens. Mine was a tiny bit "rattly" and I think there's a good amount of sample variation with CV lenses of any focal length. Leica lenses are just built so much better. These days the pre-asph 28 Elmarits are available for not much in the grand scheme of the high cost of Leica lenses right now.
Phil Forrest
SciAggie
Well-known
My personality is to keep things like camera gear. I don't buy it in the first place if I can't afford it - so by the same reasoning I don't need to sell it either. I just save up for new things. All that being said, I'm usually happy to "make do". I don't get many GAS attacks.
magicianhisoka
Well-known
i personally transition between lenses a lot but it doesn't bother me. as long as i make the images i want
back alley
IMAGES
sell sell sell...
lenses are things and things can be sold and bought again if needed.
i do it all the time.
lenses are things and things can be sold and bought again if needed.
i do it all the time.
presspass
filmshooter
Did that twice - once with a set that included a IIIf and an M3, the second time with an M4-2 and a CL. Both times to buy equipment I needed for work; both times, I was sorry. I haven't done it in years, although I've been tempted.
ChrisN
Striving
All Leica lenses are very expensive at the moment. While I regret selling a few of my Leica lenses in the past, I've replaced them with others (CV and Hex-M) for a lot less money. The images are fine for my purposes.
There's plenty of image samples available to study, so you should be able to satisfy your curiosity without necessarily investing a large amount of money unnecessarily. If money is not a problem, just do and have fun.
There's plenty of image samples available to study, so you should be able to satisfy your curiosity without necessarily investing a large amount of money unnecessarily. If money is not a problem, just do and have fun.
Robert Lai
Well-known
I sold my CV 35 2.5 LTM in silver chrome, as well as the 50 3.5 Heliar earlier this year. I also sold my tiny silver CV 15 4.5 in LTM. I picked up a Summicron 35 ASPH in LTM and Summicron 50 (latest version) in LTM in the process. The Leicas are built more solidly than the CV lenses, but image wise, the CV gear was extremely good. In LTM, you can't get any better than these Leica lenses. They are the cat's meow for my IIIG. I also use them with adapters on my M7.
I regretted selling the CV 35 C - now discontinued. It took me a tortuous route through the Leica Summaron 35 3.5 LTM, Summaron 35 2.8 LTM, and Summicron 35 ASPH LTM to equal or better it. I've learned my lesson, and I'm not selling any of these lenses (yet), though they are redundant in the 35mm focal length. The Summaron 2.8 and Summicron ASPH are rare in LTM, so that explains my reluctance to ever let these go.
I regret the loss of the 50 3.5 Heliar LTM too, especially as you tend to lose money on these lens sales. It is an outstanding lens, and can compare with the latest version Summicron or the Elmar 2.8 M any day.
I regretted the loss of the CV 15 also, so I bought it back in M mount form. I also picked up a Zeiss 15mm finder in the deal. I'm not letting this one go away again.
After making these expensive sacrifices, the plus is that the Leica lenses hold up their value a lot better than most other lenses, and may even gain value with time. This is brought home to me when I look at ebay values of my manual focus Nikon AI, AIS lenses. The really good Nikon glass holds its value too, but not by as large a margin as Leica. Exceptions are the low production lenses, such as my 70-180 f/4.5 - 5.6 Micro Nikkor zoom, which have gained value tremendously. I bought mine new in 1996, not realizing that it was destined to become a limited production cult lens. I have no intention to sell it, as it is a great lens, and unbeatable in its convenience when taking macro images. It requires the Nikon doublet close-up lens 6T to achieve 1:1 magnification. So, I have the 5T and 6T lenses too. Now, Nikon has discontinued these lenses and they are stratospheric in price on the used market.
In your situation, I'd sell the CV 28 1.9 and one of the 50s, and swallow the bitter pill of financial loss on selling your CV glass. Then, purchase the Leica 28 ASPH M, and pay even more. But, in the end you'll be happy knowing that you have bought the finest that has ever been made. Until you do this, the question will keep nagging at you endlessly. I've been there, and gone through it, so I know. Suffer your pain now, and you'll be happier in the long run.
I regretted selling the CV 35 C - now discontinued. It took me a tortuous route through the Leica Summaron 35 3.5 LTM, Summaron 35 2.8 LTM, and Summicron 35 ASPH LTM to equal or better it. I've learned my lesson, and I'm not selling any of these lenses (yet), though they are redundant in the 35mm focal length. The Summaron 2.8 and Summicron ASPH are rare in LTM, so that explains my reluctance to ever let these go.
I regret the loss of the 50 3.5 Heliar LTM too, especially as you tend to lose money on these lens sales. It is an outstanding lens, and can compare with the latest version Summicron or the Elmar 2.8 M any day.
I regretted the loss of the CV 15 also, so I bought it back in M mount form. I also picked up a Zeiss 15mm finder in the deal. I'm not letting this one go away again.
After making these expensive sacrifices, the plus is that the Leica lenses hold up their value a lot better than most other lenses, and may even gain value with time. This is brought home to me when I look at ebay values of my manual focus Nikon AI, AIS lenses. The really good Nikon glass holds its value too, but not by as large a margin as Leica. Exceptions are the low production lenses, such as my 70-180 f/4.5 - 5.6 Micro Nikkor zoom, which have gained value tremendously. I bought mine new in 1996, not realizing that it was destined to become a limited production cult lens. I have no intention to sell it, as it is a great lens, and unbeatable in its convenience when taking macro images. It requires the Nikon doublet close-up lens 6T to achieve 1:1 magnification. So, I have the 5T and 6T lenses too. Now, Nikon has discontinued these lenses and they are stratospheric in price on the used market.
In your situation, I'd sell the CV 28 1.9 and one of the 50s, and swallow the bitter pill of financial loss on selling your CV glass. Then, purchase the Leica 28 ASPH M, and pay even more. But, in the end you'll be happy knowing that you have bought the finest that has ever been made. Until you do this, the question will keep nagging at you endlessly. I've been there, and gone through it, so I know. Suffer your pain now, and you'll be happier in the long run.
ruby.monkey
Veteran
I've never sold anything. I've traded some gear; most unloved stuff sits gathering dust until I get round to giving it away.
ricnak
Well-known
I am with you ruby.monkey.
The last time I tried to sell some stuff locally on consignment I regretted it. I came home to see the RFF Xmas Giveaway thread. I would rather give stuff away to the people I know who appreciate it.
I would not sell anything that I know, for something that I think I might like. Try before you buy.
h.
The last time I tried to sell some stuff locally on consignment I regretted it. I came home to see the RFF Xmas Giveaway thread. I would rather give stuff away to the people I know who appreciate it.
I would not sell anything that I know, for something that I think I might like. Try before you buy.
h.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
A lot depends on where you are in your life.
As a young man, and indeed well into my 30s, I bought and sold and traded, and I really have very few regrets about anything I sold. Now, with less need to sell A in order to buy B, I will normally only sell A if someone really wants it and I'm comfortable with the deal. If it's under $100 or so, I generally prefer to give it away instead, with the condition that the recipient makes a contribution to a cancer charity. Also, I've moved house less often as I've got older, and I've had less and less need to get rid of stuff when I've moved.
I completely disagree with 'you can always replace it', especially with old, rare gear. First, it may be hard to find. Second, it is very likely to have gone up dramatically in price. Third, sample variation often increases dramatically with old, rare gear that may have been more or less competently 'repaired'. Thus, my second 100/2.8 Linhof-selected Planar was such a disappointment compared with my first that I sold it.
So, as usual, the answer is a resounding, unequivocal "It depends."
Cheers,
R.
As a young man, and indeed well into my 30s, I bought and sold and traded, and I really have very few regrets about anything I sold. Now, with less need to sell A in order to buy B, I will normally only sell A if someone really wants it and I'm comfortable with the deal. If it's under $100 or so, I generally prefer to give it away instead, with the condition that the recipient makes a contribution to a cancer charity. Also, I've moved house less often as I've got older, and I've had less and less need to get rid of stuff when I've moved.
I completely disagree with 'you can always replace it', especially with old, rare gear. First, it may be hard to find. Second, it is very likely to have gone up dramatically in price. Third, sample variation often increases dramatically with old, rare gear that may have been more or less competently 'repaired'. Thus, my second 100/2.8 Linhof-selected Planar was such a disappointment compared with my first that I sold it.
So, as usual, the answer is a resounding, unequivocal "It depends."
Cheers,
R.
fireblade
Vincenzo.
sell nothing
save for what you want.
save for what you want.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Nah.... If you REALLY don't use it, and see no likelihood of using it again, and there's no sentimental value, then sell it, especially if someone else REALLY wants it.
Cheers,
R.