Why are Nikon rangefinders so expensive?

NIKON KIU said:
The lenses are as Vince said, very reasonable unless you have to have the 2.1cm F4(only 200 produced),2.5cm F4, the 5cm F1.1 or the 8cm f1.5...the rest are all under $300
Kiu[/COLOR]

You are optimistic. The 1.8/35 costs more; the 2.5/35 probably too. And even more in LTM; the 1.8/35 usually 600-800, a black 2/85 LTM last week for 600 GBP buy it now. Damn, I like these black beauties as well ... ;-)

cheers Frank
 
I agree that some typically lenses sell for more than $300 on eBay, such as the 35/1.8 mentioned earlier, and nice clean examples of the 105mm.
 
dexdog said:
I agree that some typically lenses sell for more than $300 on eBay, such as the 35/1.8 mentioned earlier, and nice clean examples of the 105mm.
You people are right...the 35mm 1.8 does more like $600 to $700 althoigh I found a user example for $400
the 3.5cm 2.5 and the 10.5cm 2.5 could be had for under $300 though, and like I said these prices are for user(EXC+) examples. Mint is a different story.
Kiu
 
I yield to Nikon Kui on the price of a 105/2.5.

I got very lucky recently buying a really beautiful 35/1.8 nikkor on eBay, a BIN with original front cap and original lens hood for 175 USD. Couldn't resist- I snapped it up after it had been advertised for about 12 minutes. Looks great on my classic Contax, but even better on a Bessa R2C. Great performer too, as good as my 35 biogon.
 
dexdog said:
I yield to Nikon Kui on the price of a 105/2.5.

I got very lucky recently buying a really beautiful 35/1.8 nikkor on eBay, a BIN with original front cap and original lens hood for 175 USD. Couldn't resist- I snapped it up after it had been advertised for about 12 minutes. Looks great on my classic Contax, but even better on a Bessa R2C. Great performer too, as good as my 35 biogon.
You Lucky dog, oooops I meant Dexdog
Here is the 105 I promised:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300037248717&ssPageName=STRK:MEBI:IT&ih=020
I have no relations to the seller.
Kiu
 
Kiu is the MAN, I have learned patients as a sniper. I have learned that the deal will be there, I need to be. Watch and wait, you can win. B2 (;->
 
>>You are optimistic. The 1.8/35 costs more; the 2.5/35 probably too. And even more in LTM; the 1.8/35 usually 600-800, a black 2/85 LTM last week for 600 GBP buy it now. Damn, I like these black beauties as well ... ;-)<<

Frank,
The Nikkor lenses nearly always cost more in LTM mount. Sometimes A LOT more. Thus, someone who actually wants to shoot photographs will discover that the Nikon RF system remains affordable. The bodies cost a little more than Leica, the Nikkkors -- in Nikon S mount -- cost a little less than Leitz. If you shoot with a lot of different lenses, like I do, the Nikon RF kit ends up being very cost effective. (And, of course, some of us think the Nikon RF cameras handle better than Leicas as tools for photojournalism-style photography).
 
>>some typically lenses sell for more than $300 on eBay, such as the 35/1.8 mentioned earlier, and nice clean examples of the 105mm.<<

I've seen plenty of usable 35/2.5s for under $200 and sold one myself for less than that earlier this year. The 35/1.8 is a special case -- a premium lens that sells in the $400 to $600 range ... which, I think, compares favorably to the Leitz 35/2 ... and is a third of a stop faster. Lots of people are okay with 35/2.5. People who want or think they need a stop faster lens will usually be willing to pay the difference.

Interestingly, in all cases, Nikkor originals sell for less than their new Cosina Voigtlaender equivalents, with the exception of the 25/4 and 21/4.

Remember, too, that the coatings of old Nikkor lenses were outstanding. So these lenses don't need CLAs and continue to perform as well today as they did half a century ago.
 
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