Have I been Hexanon ripped-off???

[peepete77]

I have just purchased a Konica M Hexanon 50mm /2, looking perfect and working supersmooth. However, I paid US $ 550! I now see the same lenses coming here in the ad's for cirka 350+ USD--- Have I thrown 200 USD out of the window?
Does anyone know listprice for these babies, when looking as "like new"?
I have paid already, and lens seems wonderful, but I have the feeling I really paid over the top for this lens....
What do you think???

 

[peepete77]

some more

some more

some more pictures of lens

 

[Roger Hicks]

Well, if you were willing to pay it, and it is indeed in excellent condition, how much does it matter? We've all bought things that turned up cheaper, later, and we've all had bargains. Personally, I wouldn't give you $300 for the lens, but that's because I don't want one. Concentrate on using it, and taking great pics, and even if you did pay $200 over the odds (which personally I doubt), if it gives you great pics, isn't that worth it?

I recently bought a Thambar from a friend for $3000. Shortly afterwards -- indeed, before I'd sent the second cheque for the other half of the money -- I was offered another for a bit over $2000. So? The one I have, I'm happy with. Would I be as happy with the $2200 one? Dunno. I regard it as $800 worth of peace of mind.

Cheers,

R.

 

[funkaoshi]

You can check what they've been selling for recently on ebay. That's another way to gauge how much used gear goes for. I suspect the one being offered for $350 is a real bargain. I'm surprised it hasn't been sold yet. There were a few up here a month or two ago that were listing closer to $450~500.

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

I think they've been pretty steady in the $400-500 range for the past couple of years. $550 a bit high, but hardly a rip off, especially considering the condition of the lens you bought.

BTW, I don't consider RFF classifieds prices to be an accurate representation of market value. Stuff is often listed for less than you'll find it on Ebay and the like. The classifieds are definitely a buyers' market, especially lately.

 

[xayraa33]

I paid 110 dollars for an LTM 5cm f1.4 Nikkor lens in the late 1980s.
did I pay too much?
did I pay too little?
It did not matter , it was a nice lens to use and I enjoyed using it.

 

[ferider]

Don't worry if it works and you like it.

Think about it that way: how much time would it take you in your day job to make the money you might have saved by buying a cheaper lens ? How much time will you waste if the lens has an issue ?

That's my occasional reality check. We worry way too much about the occasional few percent that we could save with a bargain, given the time we spend with our cameras/lenses.

Also at US 550 the Hex 50/2 is one of the best bargains out there.

Roland.

 

[sniki]

I've just come back from Japan; even there, prices of Hexanon M glass are going up.

sniki

 

[Al Kaplan]

You used to be able to buy a brand new M2 body for $200 list without the self timer, $250 with one. An M3 listed for $288, as did the M4 when it first came out. Ten years down the road the extra you'd spent will be meaningless. If you use the lens for ten years that $200 amounts to about 5 cents a day.

 

[George S.]

You can't be ripped off if you willingly paid for a lens that's "looking perfect and working super smooth". If you paid $550 for it and you received a piece of junk, then you would have been ripped off. You may be feeling a bit of buyer's remorse. Yes, they probably go for more in the $450 to $500 range, but if yours is perfect, just be happy and use it.

Mine, and others' opinion here is that it'll just eventually go up in value, but even if it doesn't, ask yourself if you purchased it to use and enjoy and make wonderful pictures, or did you purchase it looking for a place to put investment money?

 

[leica M2 fan]

I recently purchased a Canon 50/1.5 and paid too much like you but I'm thrilled with it and I don't give it a second thought. It gives me great results and that is my reward. From the looks of yours you got a real bargain! I would gladly pay $550 for it.

 

[M. Valdemar]

I think you had your pants taken off and the seller is doing a little jig, and laughing when he tells how much he got from you to his beer buddies.

 

[peepete77]

Thanks for all replies and inputs. The opinions are divided, I do admit that it seems a bit too pricey, however, condition seems exceptional, so that is the main comfort.

Cirque, NO VAT, thankfully.

Thanks ferider, Roger Hicks, Al Kaplan and Leica M2 fan, for some really good points and thoughtful answers. It's true, that in the long run, one can certainly live with the "5 cents a day". Anyways, one cannot cry over spilt milk, and I will just have to concentrate on that "love is priceless" mantra....hehe.

 

[M. Valdemar]

$550???!!!!

For a 50mm Hexanon??!!

They saw you coming!!!

 

[peepete77]

Yes yes, just rub it in, mr Provocative. hehe.
Are you one of those getting off on others misery???

 

[M. Valdemar]

I love the smell of schadenfreude in the morning....

 

[nobbylon]

i'll sell mine here now for 550 only because I dont use it that much! seriously though as has been said before, if it's what you wanted and you enjoy it, then it was worth every penny. A vastly under rated lens that was sharper than my summilux and had equal qualitiy of all the summicrons without the flare. Ok before anyone starts! type 2,3 and 4 as they're the ones i've used. Build quality way ahead of planar and imho better than leica

 

[peepete77]

Thanks nobbylon, sounds very promising 🙂
Nice pictures on your flickr space!!!

 

[Photog9001]

quality wise, it's well worth $550. easily.

market wise you probably could have saved some money.


i'd be surprised if you don't grow to love it, in spite of the price you paid

 

[sircarl]

I bought an almost mint 50/2 Hex six months ago here on RFF Classified, for £200, which was at the time equivalent to about $400. So I'd agree with other posters that $550 is fairly high. Having said that, I've found it's a super lens, and I would gladly pay $550 now if I didn't already own one.