Would you sell a “cult” lens just because you think it is overvalued?

[valdas]

I have a nice 35mm Cron in chrome, made in Germany, v4. It is quite rare now and that’s probably why prices (whenever you see them sold on ebay) are crazy. Much more than I think it is worth purely due to objective qualities. I like the lens, but if I sell for what market is offering I can buy asph cron and there will be quite a lot € left to buy film or travel. But it’s not that I am in need of money right now. On the other hand, If I don’t see this lens is worth that much, why not sell and use money for something else? What would you do? Is this a kind of reverse GAS and I should keep the lens?

 

[Contarama]

Ive sold 'cultish' items before while they were high and then turned around and bought them back a few years later when they were low. I wouldnt try to make money doing this. If it is not getting used let it go to someone who will use it.

 

[bluesun267]

I am in a slightly different situation, in that I've sold some great (expensive, but not rare) lenses because I was really in dire straights money wise. If I was not hurting for rent money I would have kept every one, so yes, I do regret not having them anymore. Is that your situation, or is this more a 'mad money' thing?

My big regret, selling a Vers 4 35mm chron for $600, back in 2001. Had I known what they would sell for 10-15 yrs later, I would've sat on it!

That being said, selling my good Leica stuff forced me to try different cameras/lenses and I do not regret that. Probably never would have discovered the Nikkor LTM lenses if not for that. And made me realize the photographer makes the photo. Of course that's presuming your tool fits your personal ergonomic needs, so I don't mean to say 'gear is unimportant' by any means.

This probably isn't much help with your decision...

 

[aizan]

it's a good time to sell, so i'd do it to get the asph's smoother bokeh WOCU (or get the 35/1.4 zeiss zm distagon, which is even better).

 

[Phil_F_NM]

If you need the money, then sell it, cult or not. They are just physical objects, in the end.

Phil Forrest

 

[valdas]

Well, like I said - I am not in need of money, so it’s more “why not sell because it is overpriced”. Asph is much cheaper now... I could buy asph withouy selling v4, but I already have too many lenses and cameras...

 

[Axel]

When you think about selling - sell it.
I´ve done similar a few years ago and I don´t regret it.
Things that are valueable or useful for you stay with you on their own 😉

 

[narsuitus]

I have never owned an overvalued "cult" lens. However, I have owned an overvalued "cult" body, a Nikon F2 Titanium. In fact, I owned two of them. When the price on these bodies got so high that I was afraid to use them for fear of damaging and devaluing them, I sold them for a nice profit and purchased two used Nikon F4 bodies that I was not afraid to use.

 

[benlees]

I would sell it, but I'm not a collector of things. If you can get a lens that is identical in form and function for much less, then it makes a lot of sense. Pun intended.

 

[bluesun267]

Yes, I agree, selling is best when you don't need the money. The bad taste left in my mouth from selling is from HAVING to do it to make rent. You're in a good position, so as someone already said, it's just an object. Time to try something different.

 

[ruby.monkey]

I wouldn't need to. I have three children and Apple still needs iPhones.

 

[shimokita]

I have the Nikkor-H 2.8cm f/3.5

While maybe not a true cult lens, it does have a history and is a period lens that was put on the market in March 1960... Zenji Wakimoto was in charge of development.

The lens configuration was a new type of reversed telephoto configuration (now called "retrofocus type") and turned out to be popular with correspondents of that period who were increasingly using the Nikon F.

Most likely the lens will not reach cult prices, and even if it did I would not sell this lens because of its place in history... sometimes it's not about the money nor being the best.

 

[BlackXList]

Not lenses, but I've absolutely sold overvalued cult cameras and entirely funded other equipment through those sales.

 

[David Hughes]

Well, like I said - I am not in need of money, so it’s more “why not sell because it is overpriced”. Asph is much cheaper now... I could buy asph withouy selling v4, but I already have too many lenses and cameras...

Hi,

It looks to me as if you've answered your question...

Regards, David

 

[Richard G]

Ocassionally I am very pleased with my v4 Summicron’s output but mostly it’s just a 35mm lens so far as the images are concerned. I like better the C Biogon. But the chief value of the Summicron to me has been f2 and its extraordinarily compact size. I’ve only ever removed one thing from my inventory, trading in an M4-2 for an M6.

I agree with the philosophy of doing something, like selling photographic equipment, because you don’t have to. The corollary of that is buying something when you can’t afford it, like most of the paintings on the wall here when we were first married.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

I don't think there would be anything wrong with selling the lens, "taking profits" so to speak, and buying another lens. I've done similar things before when prices were high.

Some years back, when the Rolling Stones did a tour of the US, I sensed interest in Stones memorabilia would be high, I decided to sell on Ebay a used ticket stub from a Stones concert I'd attended New York City in 1965. I'd paid about $4.00 for the ticket in 1965. Incredibly, the bidding drove up the ticket stub to about $70.
I used the proceeds to buy a new stereo system with a functioning turntable. My old record player did not work anymore, and I couldn't play any of my old records! So, could say I took profits by selling it at that time and helped myself out by buying something I'd wanted.

Sell the lens if you want and don't give it a second thought!

 

[Huss]

I have never sold a cult lens. I have sold lenses that a year later became cult lenses.
:bang:

 

[Rayt]

I sold a Thambar years ago and made money on it. I had bills not covered by insurance so it was the responsible thing to do but otherwise I am not in the business of buying and selling.

 

[splitimageview]

Sell it, just don't regret it in the future when it may be worth even more than it is today. 😉

 

[icebear]

Valdas,
how many of your personal top 10 images have you taken with the "cult lens"?
This a much more interesting question than what the lens is currently priced at on ebay🙄.

Just my $0.02.