Sell prized RF lenses to move into new format?

[tbarker13]

Funny to see one of my posts being used to start a new thread.
For me, this has been a very easy thing to do. It's not like I've left RFs. I have the M8.2 and a handful of lenses. They just aren't the "best" lenses Leica makes.
But for what I am doing right now, I think the 50 zeiss planar performs as well as anything Leica makes.
And thankfully, I love the rendering of lenses like the 35 pre-asph lux and 40 cron.

In exchange for a couple of those premium Leica lenses, I've greatly expanded my photographic tool box (better low-light and better telephoto performance) and given myself a second camera.

Fortunately, I form no sentimental attachment (or any other kind of attachment) to my equipment. There is nothing I have I wouldn't sell.

 

[noimmunity]

The D700 is an amazing camera, Jon. With a few good fast primes, you're set to conquer the night! My favourites among the current Nikkors are the new AF-S 24mm f1.4 (one of the best lenses I've used in any format) and the AF-S 50mm f1.4. I shoot with the D700 (or F6) and these lenses far more often than I shoot my RF cameras these days. So much so that I'm thinking of selling off my 2 x Zeiss Ikon bodies and M-mount lenses.

You might want to wait a bit with the purchase though, as rumours abound that Nikon is readying to release a successor to the D700. And that will bring prices on used D700s down for sure.

The 50 and the 24 would make a dream pair, on paper at least.
Thanks for the tip about waiting. It makes sense, tho obviously the newer offering will be better :angel:

My main obstacle is that for various reasons or just luck the lenses I put up for sale never fetch the price I expected and see others selling at. 🙁

 

[BillBingham2]

Jon,

I can send you an old 24/2.8 and 50/1.4 as a loan as long as you send them back. They are sitting doing nothing and while not of the same caliber as the new Nikkors might give you something to kick the tires with. They are both manual focus but still working fine.

B2 (;->

 

[jonmanjiro]

The 50 and the 24 would make a dream pair, on paper at least.
Thanks for the tip about waiting. It makes sense, tho obviously the newer offering will be better :angel:

My main obstacle is that for various reasons or just luck the lenses I put up for sale never fetch the price I expected and see others selling at. 🙁

I think the main "improvement" we'll see with the upgrade to the D700 is the ability to shoot video. Seems to be the fad at the moment, but not something that interests me that much. That, and maybe an extra stop or two of high ISO performance - which would be nice, but not necessary at all, on the D700.

As for lenses not selling at the expected price, I hear you! Considering the rarety of your black Nikkor 85/2, it should have sold long ago!

 

[splitimageview]

An extra stop or two, Jon? How dark is it in Japan? 😉

The D700 is fantastic. I'd really love to try the new 24/1.4 with it.

As for me, I'm enjoying medium format for the first time, and wondering why I never did before...

 

[noimmunity]

As for lenses not selling at the expected price, I hear you! Considering the rarety of your black Nikkor 85/2, it should have sold long ago!

:bang:

（and you can video, that, sir D750)

 

[noimmunity]

An extra stop or two, Jon? How dark is it in Japan? 😉

These are dark times, Robert. 😀

 

[noimmunity]

Jon,

I can send you an old 24/2.8 and 50/1.4 as a loan as long as you send them back. They are sitting doing nothing and while not of the same caliber as the new Nikkors might give you something to kick the tires with. They are both manual focus but still working fine.

B2 (;->

Trying to push me over the edge, eh?

I'll get back to you once my heart rate has returned to normal...

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I wouldn't sell my Leica gear to get into a D700 kit. That's why I moved to the M8. I'm always keeping my M4, DR Summicron, 105 Nikkor and a 35 Summaron. The others can go, sure, but not for anything short of a 6x6. I'd do it for Hasselblad or Mamiya, or a few lenses for my 4x5, but then I'd need a darkroom, film processing for E-6...
So I stick with Leica.

Phil Forrest

 

[jonmanjiro]

An extra stop or two, Jon? How dark is it in Japan? 😉

The D700 has more than enough high ISO performance for my style of shootin Robert 🙂 But there's always someone pushing the envelope ... like the guy featured in Asahi Camera magazine a few months back who shoots planes taking off and landing at Haneda Airport at dusk handheld with his 80-400mm f3.5-5.6 zoom cranked out to 400mm 😱

 

[Keith]

Joe, if you wanna trade for a C Biogon, I'm game. Did you already sell yours?

I've found a place that will rent D700s. I guess the glass issue is a whole 'nother question. Maybe I should be asking the question "which is the best 35mm format digital body for low light shooting around US$2000?" I had assumed it was the D700...

Hey Keith, what glass are you pairing it with?

So far a 50mm f1.4 ZF Planar and the cheap and cheerfull 35mm f2 AFD Nikkor which is actually an excellent lens if a bit plasticy!

The D700 IMO will hang around for as long as the 6 megapixel D70 did and still does in fact. At 12 megapixel it's not really in the megapixel race but with the sort of IQ it's got it doesn't need to be.

The ergonomics are brilliant!