Is this a great deal ? « Nikon Rumors Forum

Nikon Rumors Forum » Nikon Lenses

Is this a great deal ?

(15 posts) (9 voices)

Tags:

zlik

senior member
Joined: Dec '11
Posts: 88
offline

Hi everybody,

Simple question: how do you guys find out about what those AI and AI-S lenses should be worth used ? I have spent the last couple of days looking at various places (internet and hardware stores) like:

keh.com
ebay.com
adorama.com (used)
various forums....

What do you use to get an idea?

The reason I'm asking is because I know someone that is selling this set for about 1800$ :

Nikkor AI primes:
-20mm f/2.8
-24mm f/2.8
-28mm f/2.8
-35mm f/1.4
-35mm f/2.8 PC
-50mm f/1.4
-50mm f/1.8
-85mm f/2
-105mm f/2.5
-135mm f/2.8

Nikkor AI/AI-S zooms:
-35-105mm f/3.5-4.5
-80-200mm f/4
-80-200mm f/4.5

Nikon FM2 chrome + MD 11
Nikon FM2/T Titanium
Nikkor Telekonverter TC 200
Nikon Extension Tubes PK 11, PK 13

Everything in near perfect condition. I went to his house to try everything out two days ago and now he's waiting for my answer.

The 35/1.4 and the 20/2.8 are the ones that are worth the most. What about the two FM2 bodies? The titan one was expensive. Are people still interested in this somehow "rare" body ?

I recently got a D7000 -which helps with those lenses- and I own an 85mm f/1.4 AI.
I am listening to your opinions.

Posted 1 year ago #
Gareth

preferred member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 591
offline

well, i suppose it depend on

a. do you have $1800 to spend

b. would yo buy this to use or to make money

c. if to use, what would you rather have for the money

that collection certainly covers a lot, i wouldn't want to sell it individually, just like the person selling it doesn't, but it might be very useful in the right hands.

these are some very nice lenses for making movies on your d7000

Posted 1 year ago #
zlik

senior member
Joined: Dec '11
Posts: 88
offline

thank you for your reply.

a) yes, I can invest 1800$

b) the idea was to buy it to use it, try everything out, and sell whatever I don't need later on. I think if I sell everything individually, which I wouldn't mind if it's worth it, I can get at least the amount I "invested", maybe even more, and that's why I am posting.

c) of course you can get a nikon af-s 24-70/2.8 for that money. but resale value will drop more than with AI lenses from one year to another.

I estimate the value of this kit, if sold individually, to be between 1900$ and 3000+$.
Sometimes a 35mm/1.4 AI sells for about 700+$, an FM2/T for 500+$, a 20/2.8 AI for 300+$. Sometimes much less too.

All in all, I am really starting to consider buying the whole kit. I can't wait to try everything out (focus pulling with those manual lenses is a dream) and then resell whatever I don't need.

Does anybody think I won't be able to resell everything and get at least the amount I invested back ? Again, making money out of it is not the primary purpose. I just don't want to lose any money if I sell most of it in a year or so.

Posted 1 year ago #
jerl

preferred member
Joined: Dec '10
Posts: 425
offline

If you want all or most of what's there, I'd say it's a good deal, from having pieced together a much smaller Nikon MF system. Of course if most of what's there isn't that useful too you, then it becomes less of a good deal, although you can sell some of what you don't like to recover costs.

How much you can get back depends on how patient you are. My guess (I don't do much price sales by the way) is that you can get 70-80% of what KEH is asking for.

Posted 1 year ago #
dslr

member
Joined: Aug '11
Posts: 12
offline

To sounds like you've done your homework. As long as majority of them are in decent condition you should be able to make your money back and more. You also have the opportunity to test and/or own quite a few lenses. I can't see the downside, other than the hassle of listing/selling them individually if you choose to do so.

Posted 1 year ago #
DutchNikon

preferred member
Joined: Apr '11
Posts: 241
offline

If its all in good oreder, i'd say well worth it..

Before you buy : Did you shine a light ( torch) throug the lenses to look for any sign of Fungus ? If one lens got it, all of them could be contaminated moking the set a lot less worth....

Posted 1 year ago #
golf007sd

preferred member
Joined: Nov '10
Posts: 585
offline

Hello and welcome zlik,

That sure is a lot of prime lens, not to mention gear, given the asking price. I would assume you are dealing with the owner and not "someone" who just happened to come across a bag full of goodies...if you get my meaning. With that in mind, have a look at the following web site to check the lens authenticity...you will the serial numbers: http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html.

Cheers and good luck....

Posted 1 year ago #
TaoTeJared

preferred member
Joined: Apr '10
Posts: 2,422
offline

You would be able to get probably about 150-200 on each lens and about the same on each body on average. Doing my math quickly you could expect about $2,800 min back.

I have done this in the past but just to resell everything to pay for other lenses that I want. In this case, I wouldn't buy these planning on using or keeping any except the Fm2/T and the 35 1.4 & maybe the 1o5 2.5. Those three are the only ones "worth" anything really. The rest of the lenses (and in part those as well) have been surpassed by any modern "new" lens. Personally unless you really like old MF lenses or a particular look one gives you, I just don't see the point on using them on digital (AF) bodies.

Unless you want to buy them to sell, so you can get better gear, I would say use the money on 2-4 new AF lenses. If you are just going to buy them to sell - this is a fantastic great deal!

Posted 1 year ago #
zlik

senior member
Joined: Dec '11
Posts: 88
offline

Thank you everybody for your replies. The 35 and the 105 are indeed interesting lenses. The 20/2.8 too. I think I will end up keeping those three and maybe the 135 for video as well.

I visited him again last night and I hadn't realized but his FM2/T was never used. Not one roll. A like new, virgin titanium FM2. Those ones sell for 500-800$.

Well, tomorrow I will be walking home with all that stuff.

Thanks for convincing me that this is a great offer. In the end I will end up with a 20, 35 and 105 for free !

Happy shooting.

Posted 1 year ago #
TaoTeJared

preferred member
Joined: Apr '10
Posts: 2,422
offline

I have seen new FM2/Ts go for $1,200. Great find!

If you want to sell me that T for $200 pm me! lol ;)

Posted 1 year ago #
zlik

senior member
Joined: Dec '11
Posts: 88
offline

And here it is, sitting on my little table :

Posted 1 year ago #
adamz

The Predator
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 3,461
offline

nice, lot's of decent lenses and cameras

Posted 1 year ago #
TaoTeJared

preferred member
Joined: Apr '10
Posts: 2,422
offline

Wow!

Posted 1 year ago #
zlik

senior member
Joined: Dec '11
Posts: 88
offline

The first thing I noticed as soon as I tried every lens was that, although all of those old manual lenses have a much better focus ring than the AF lenses, there is quite a difference between some of them, like for example the 35mm f/1.4 which is amazing to focus, and the 24mm f/2.8 or the 85mm f/2 which have a little less "professional" feeling.

I have been shooting a few video tests with those AI lenses and it is quite something. It's exactly the same thing as comparing a fluid video tripod head with a normal, cheap head.

Focus pulling with my af nikkor was a nightmare compared to this!

Posted 1 year ago #
tcole1983

preferred member
Joined: Feb '10
Posts: 1,553
offline

Nice find. I only seem to see people selling their old junk equipment for way too much money. A D40 with several broken parts for $400 or some old AF version zoom lens.

Posted 1 year ago #