Why is an old lens still worth so much?

[tinman0]

As above, looking at old Praktina lenses on eBay, and they still fetch good money (by the looks of it).

But why? I mean, it's a lens for a 50 year old camera, that probably isn't being used. Although I might put a film through mine in the summer.

(Praktina as opposed for Praktica (M42/PB))

[Elderly]

I've NO idea! I sold about ten 30ish year old, extremely well used (professionally abused ), worn, dented, scratched, mouldy Nikkors on eBay, all accurately described as such and informatively photographed; they all sold VERY well, one or two even made more money than the amount I paid new for them in the late 70's/ early eighties.

[DIW35]

I guess a good lens will always be a good lens, whereas bodies become out of date, especially in the rapidly moving digital market.

[theboyfold]

A good lens will always be a good lens. Tech doesn't move that fast with the glass and certain lenses will always give a certain look that newer ones don't quite capture.

[Simpo Two]

I bet it took you more than three minutes to type that

[bashful]

It's been suggested that there are certain types of glass you're not allowed to use any more; they stopped making the Canon 200mm 1.8 because of the lead glass, so it's possible for older exotic lenses to be different to their modern equivalents.

[tinman0]

But why, on what can only be described as a dead mount, eg Praktina?

I can understand Nikkor lenses still having a value because they work on the latest Nikon bodies (so I'm led to believe), and I can just about understand old M42 lenses getting picked up by the modern body owners who can sling an adapter ring on, M42 to EF being a big seller apparently.

[theboyfold]

I'm quite a fan of the M42 mount stuff on my 5D See here: http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[david_b]

tinman0 said:

I can understand Nikkor lenses still having a value because they work on the latest Nikon bodies (so I'm led to believe)

They do indeed, the majority of my lenses are old manual ones (although my D40 and D2H aren't entirely modern ) - Flickr collection

[Beardy10]

It's not just old lenses that go for silly money....I frequently see second hand examples of the top end lenses go for stupid money. I bought a Nikon 50mm 1.4g from Jessops for £285 and saw a second hand one go for £270 on eBay ?!?! I bought my 70-200 VR II F2.8 as a grey import with full manufacturers warranty for the same money as people pay for second hand lenses with no warranty. I know money is tight for people but save to save £15 on a near £300 item and have no warranty on it ? It's just daft.

[Elderly]

tinman0 said:

But why, on what can only be described as a dead mount, eg Praktina?

I can understand Nikkor lenses still having a value because they work on the latest Nikon bodies .

As you said in your opening post ".... on eBay,....."
and my point was that even though my lenses were useless (despite the mount being current)
any old rubbish can sell on eBay for sums that don't make sense.

More recently I sold a slightly used Panasonic camera battery on eBay for than it could be bought for NEW in a camera shop .

[GetCarter]

One can sell a fart in a bag on eBay as long as the end time is at 'pub out' on a Saturday evening. Lenses quite often double their money. The power of booze & credit cards. Great fun to watch.

[tinman0]

GetCarter said:

One can sell a fart in a bag on eBay as long as the end time is at 'pub out' on a Saturday evening. Lenses quite often double their money. The power of booze & credit cards. Great fun to watch.

Ebay, sore subject, had a nice Praktina FX lined up, low valution, late ending (2am GMT), so left the wife with instructions of "don't let it go for stupid low money". She's 6 hours behind me and can snipe like a b'stard.

Apparently, she sat on the sofa at 6pm her time, and fell asleep.

Camera went for silly low money but not to us. Grrr.

[Simpo Two]

tinman0 said:

Apparently, she sat on the sofa at 6pm her time, and fell asleep.

When I'm bidding and think I might forget, I set the timer on the cooker to go beep about three minutes before the finish time.

All I need to do now is connect the cooker to the computer

[K12beano]

Gas cooker? Steam powered computer?

[Simpo Two]

K12beano said:

Gas cooker? Steam powered computer?

Just finished it:

[pernod]

Beardy10 said:

It's not just old lenses that go for silly money....I frequently see second hand examples of the top end lenses go for stupid money. I bought a Nikon 50mm 1.4g from Jessops for £285 and saw a second hand one go for £270 on eBay ?!?! I bought my 70-200 VR II F2.8 as a grey import with full manufacturers warranty for the same money as people pay for second hand lenses with no warranty. I know money is tight for people but save to save £15 on a near £300 item and have no warranty on it ? It's just daft.

It's not just photography equipment... it's all of eBay!

Last week I needed a router, the "closing soon" were are £12 + shipping when the same model could be had for new for £8 on "buy now" with free posting just by scrolling down the page a little further! I suppose it's easy to forget that laziness and stupidity both command a good premium

[GetCarter]

I used to wait until the last moment when bidding on e bay, now I just plumb in what I'm prepared to pay and forget about it. I still get most stuff I bid on - often for (or close to) the starting price.