Should I get rid of M mount lenses and move on?

[isoterica]

It sounds as though you have moved on and have the last vestiges of your past still in possession. I am in agreement with those who say you should sell the lenses. The very fact that you still have them indicates you have had this silent conversation with yourself before and held on to what you valued most, just in case. IF you feel a smaller digital is in the future and you can make use of these lenses then wait until your purchase. If what you purchase can't use them, again you have silently made a choice and it is definitely time to sell. And then, if you are still uncertain, at the very least sell the ones that can easily be replaced.

 

[tbarker13]

Went through the same thing - only with digital Leicas. I ended up selling everything except for a wonderful J3 that's simply worth more (performance wise) than I can sell it for. Eventually I'll get around to trying it on the XP1.

If I haven't used something for 6 months, it gets sold. But then, I have a couple hobbies with pretty intense cash demands. So I really don't like to leave large chunks of money tied up in expensive paper weights. The fact that you don't even have a camera for those lenses says a lot.

 

[Richard G]

Sell all. You'll even feel better. Congratulations on the 2009 prize. By the time you're so demented you can't remember that, you won't know what that lens was about either.

 

[traveler_101]

This. And don't forget you can use your M-mount lenses on that Olympus OMD body. Keep the lenses you would regret selling, get the OMD and use the lenses on that. That's my advice.

I agree with this advice--assuming that keeping one or two of your M lenses doesn't cause a psychological hang-up. I mean sometimes people get rid of things to be rid of them emotionally: a lot of us are emotionally invested in our gear and this thread may just be a way for you to give yourself permission to get rid of gear. Only you can answer whether this applies in your case.

From the point of view of utilizing what you have, having one or two 50mm lenses to shoot on your new Olympus E-M5 would be a lot of fun and well worthwhile! I would sell the Zeiss 21 regardless; it will never compete with the Panasonic 20mm and shorter focal length lenses do not do that well on m43 sensors generally anyway. I shoot an E-P1.

 

[johannielscom]

This. And don't forget you can use your M-mount lenses on that Olympus OMD body. Keep the lenses you would regret selling, get the OMD and use the lenses on that. That's my advice.

Wait. M-mount lenses go on the OMD body? I did not know that... Interesting!

 

[dave lackey]

Sell. You will tire of the Panasonic soon enough and move on to something else. Maybe even another M-mount.

Or,

Don't sell. If you don't need the money, consider the lenses as money in the bank.

If you need the cash, sell.

How's that for straddling the fence? Good luck in your decision.

 

[mfunnell]

I used my Bessa R2A for a while but in the end I could not shoot film anymore as the decent processing of color films in China all but disappeared. So I sold the Bessa too.

... is to die for when used with TRI-X.

Me, I'd buy an M-mount film camera (maybe an R4A), a scanner, shoot B&W and develop myself. But if you don't want to do that (which seems like the only way you'll get value from the lenses, given your other comments) then selling seems your only other sensible option.

...Mike

 

[Roger Hicks]

Sell the lot. The decision is based on faith, not works.

Cheers,

R.

 

[dseelig]

keep

keep

I would keep them and find a cheap user m8 or m9 in the future . Buy user I mean find an ugly one that you get cheap and try using that and see how you feel after a few months.

 

[peter_n]

Sell. Move on.

This.


___________

 

[dave lackey]

Sell the lot. The decision is based on faith, not works.

Cheers,

R.

+1...great answer!😀

 

[Keith]

You never really know what life may hand you next or what may be a round the next corner Colin ... I'd be keeping the lenses!

I thought about selling my M mount lenses a while ago because I wasn't using my only M mount body .... my M2. Lack of time for dealing with film had a lot to do with it and I do really prefer a metered body. I came very close to buying an M9 and spending a boatload of money just so I could use these lenses and have a digital alternative to my D700.

Wouldn't you know it ... an RD-1 appeared in the classifieds for $850 and the rest is history. I have a body to use the lenses on (crop factor allowing) and I didn't blow five grand on something I didn't really need. That 21mm Zeiss would be a great lens on an RD-1 for general shooting and your 50mm would be excellent for portraits as a short tele.

 

[collum]

i'd suggest selling. It sounds like you have the lenses as investment rather than for use. I'd recommend a system where you don't consider the selling price of the tool as a barrier to using it.

 

[Shade]

I dont see any reason why not. All you got from whats left and the leica system is worry and more worry. You are even worried enough to ask other people about it here. So yes, sell them away and be done with it and be happy.

 

[Avotius]

....I always feel a tinge of seller's remorse when I sell any of my RF gear....

Dont we all. I still feel the remorse of selling my M6, I loved that thing, but film just was not working out for me here. Sigh...

...I am surprised that you sold your M's for fear of scratching them. I always thought there was a vast divide between collectors and users. Collectors have things like display cases for the their cameras (like my father), and users have things like lots of rolls of film... You sound like a user to me who as aspirations of a collector. I love the aesthetic of my M, and of older cameras in general, but I would have never bought anything that I was afraid of using.

While I have no real aspirations to collect cameras, I do have a small collection of old cheapies that I found here and there, normally found for under 50 bucks that I can play with for a while. As for using, I do shoot a lot of photos, for both commercial and personal use, but it was very strange for me to use the M Leica's and be so freaked out about using them. When we got our 5D it cost more new than my used M8, and I dont have any qualms about using it. Something psycological saw the camera as more than a tool. There is a lot of second hand value in Leica M's where our old 5D was a straight forward tool that paid the bills.

Hi Colin,

Were I in the position you describe, I would sell the lenses and move on to a new photographic relationship. As a musician I've seen gear that I was once deeply attached to be relegated to the corner where the "bad guitars" go. Over time I've discovered that they were key ingredients for a specific period of my creative life. Once the period passed, they were never as inspiring, nor as useful as before...

Sound advice. I think this hits the nail on the head.

You never really know what life may hand you next or what may be a round the next corner Colin ... I'd be keeping the lenses!

I thought about selling my M mount lenses a while ago because I wasn't using my only M mount body .... my M2. Lack of time for dealing with film had a lot to do with it and I do really prefer a metered body. I came very close to buying an M9 and spending a boatload of money just so I could use these lenses and have a digital alternative to my D700.

Wouldn't you know it ... an RD-1 appeared in the classifieds for $850 and the rest is history. I have a body to use the lenses on (crop factor allowing) and I didn't blow five grand on something I didn't really need. That 21mm Zeiss would be a great lens on an RD-1 for general shooting and your 50mm would be excellent for portraits as a short tele.

I have played with a few RD1's and they are great to use cameras. Unfortunately when I have too many toys I have too much indecision about what to take with me. I am sticking to m4/3 for now, I am pleased with the performance and the lenses plus the size so I need to limit myself now to grow. You will be happy to know your old M8 is in good hands with someone who is using it though.

i'd suggest selling. It sounds like you have the lenses as investment rather than for use. I'd recommend a system where you don't consider the selling price of the tool as a barrier to using it.

I agree. That is what I like about my m4/3 system. Its plentiful and I dont care about putting dings in it. I have had the Panasonic 20 for about 8 months and have put many a mark on its barrel so its nice to use rather than coddle like my M mount stuff where every mark seems like another 50 bucks I have lost. My EP1 will be ran nearly into the ground then given away, and that seems to be the right way to go.

 

[tuanvinh2000]

just want to jump in and say what a pity that you sold the M8. i got the inspiration from your Yashica GSN pictures and the M8 with the Zeiss 21mm so much that I started out with the Yashica and continue with an Rd1s. It's true that if you dont care about the rangefinder experience, i dont see why sell them all and get a new m4/3 since their outputs are amazing now with the omd. In the end, your pictures reflect your style, not what camera do you use.

 

[Avotius]

just want to jump in and say what a pity that you sold the M8. i got the inspiration from your Yashica GSN pictures and the M8 with the Zeiss 21mm so much that I started out with the Yashica and continue with an Rd1s. It's true that if you dont care about the rangefinder experience, i dont see why sell them all and get a new m4/3 since their outputs are amazing now with the omd. In the end, your pictures reflect your style, not what camera do you use.

I still have that GSN for when the itch to try film again comes! But it just didnt make sense to have so many digital cameras around when the EP1 was fulfilling my needs. Now I do enjoy the RF experience and wish I could stick with it but I have not been too impressed with Fuji's efforts. As much as the X100 is a great camera, it misses a few points for me, namely the 35mm focal length which I dont care for. The other Fuji alternative is too expensive. No I think the OMD is the way forwards.

 

[jsrockit]

If you are the seller's remorse type, don't sell. If you are sensible, sell. 😉

 

[RObert Budding]

Perhaps the OP should buy an M-body that's a total beater. No reason to worry about scratching a body that's heavily brassed and worn.

 

[helen.HH]

Sounds like Your Ready Colin
Though I would keep the 21 as a Good Luck / High Merit Charm

Really no matter what You do
You are Blessed with a Gifted Eye
so maybe its Time to Experiment and be Care Free...😉