Lens wisdom of the day (the century)

Right now a lot of mediocre lenses are overhyped, I've been happy to rid myself of them for pretty extraordinary prices considering they were basically worthless five or six years ago.
 
I agree with the OP. But I have never sold a lens. My 50 Summilux was stolen, which might have been a very lucky break. For years after that I used the much more versatile Summicron, and had a reason to get the C Sonnar. I then even thought of selling the Summicron, but have been enjoying that immensely again. The other three Zeiss lenses have made me reconsider the need of my version 4 35 Summicron, but it is small and a stop faster than the C Biogon I have.

With two 25s surely one could go, but the little Color Skopar is so tiny, and the big Zeiss is so straight and sharp and flare-free. I don't use the Zeiss much, but in intense bursts and I got it relatively cheap. I can't sell that one surely. And finally the 135 Tele Elmar, hardly used for decades, then brought back into service with the SHOOC finder, and proving a marvellous lens to try different things with on the M9. I just know I would have regretted selling any of these.
 
IMHO hoarding is a vitue.

I ordered a Monochrome and was going to sell some glass to pay for it, but now I have second thoughts.

Anyways most of my getting rid of gear was actually trading, but I miss the M3 that was recently overhauled by Leica and had a fresh L-seal, my clean 50 Rigid V.1 that I bought for only $500.00, and the brassed out black paint Leica III (model F).

Anyways remember Gordon Gecko's famous words: Greed is good.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
IMHO hoarding is a vitue.
Anyways remember Gordon Gecko's famous words: Greed is good.
Cal
Click to expand...

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I regret selling most of the lenses I've sold. Worst was letting the mint Summicron 35 ASPH go for around $1300 after using it for a year (paid $1300 so thought that was a good deal)

Tried to buy it back for that price recently. No such luck.
 
Never sold a lens. I've traded away a few, given away more - the only one I regretted disposing of was a 40mm f/1.4 Nokton SC, and that I replaced not long after.

Personally I'd say: do not hoard your lenses - pass on the ones that fill the back of your cupboard and let someone else put 'em to good use.
 
The only time I've regreted selling a lens was when I had to do it because I needed the money to live. Selling to create funds for another lens or camera has never bothered me.

I do regret not buying a truckload of Noctiluxes (Noctili) when they were a couple of thousand dollars! :p
 
I wish I hadn't sold my 90 Summicron, but I'm sure Brian is looking after it well.

I wish I hadn't sold my 90/2.8 thin TE.

I wish I hadn't sold my 50 Summicron version 3.

I don't mind parting with the three collapsible lenses I've tried, as they are really not to my taste (but the first 50/2.8, the older version, was pretty good).

Short version - never sell Leica lenses.
 
I've regretted some sales, and bought them back, with the bitter pain of paying more.

Others, no regret.

So, in a nutshell, "it depends".
 
my regrets have centred round focal lengths more than anything else.
the 75 has a strong pull but i must have bought and sold about 3 or 4 of them.
no pull from the 90.
i love the 40 but sometimes think i 'should' have a true 35.
i always think i should like a 28 more but a 25 seems to 'make more sense' to me.
 
Oh the pain to have my 55mm/58mm (?) Canon FL f/1.2, I paid $65.00 for it less than 5 years ago. Much better the 50mm f/1.4 FL I have now.
And a German Made 35mm Cron Pre-ASPH I think, with a big finger tab for focusing, from the 80's I bought used for $350.00
 
Out of all the camera/lenses I have ever traded, sold or given away.. The baby linhof kit w/ 3 lenses, 2 backs and grip I sold to finance another equipment purchase is the only one I regret to this day..

Gary
 
If I didn't sell my lenses, I wouldn't be able to enjoy the late-night scouring of RFF, KEH, EBay.... ads! I'd probably turn to drugs without the endless search for the perfect lens to keep me busy. :)
 
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