Hallo everyone, and welcome back to my site. Thanks to those who have the patience to follow my posts. A warm welcome to those who are here for the first time.
Here’s a quick update on my vintage lenses. I haven’t purchased any in 2024 and I don’t plan to this year.
Rising prices and market trends have discouraged me from buying (see my previous post). The deals on offer haven’t been worth considering.
I’ve monitored the market for months but haven’t found any interesting or worthwhile lenses. Quality often feels questionable.
In Italy, I haven’t seen real opportunities. German and English markets seem more promising but still have challenges. Insured shipping costs often raise the final price significantly, making purchases uneconomical despite finding potentially interesting options.
On popular online platforms, I’ve noticed better options abroad but still struggle with high costs. So, I’ve postponed further purchases.
For brands like CARL ZEISS and CARL ZEISS JENA, availability has decreased, especially for models from the ’50s and ’60s.
Finding TESSAR or PANCOLAR lenses in good condition has become more complicated compared to just a few years ago.
Vintage MINOLTA and SIGMA lenses face similar issues. Macro lenses, in particular, seem especially rare across almost all focal lengths.
I don’t know the exact reasons. Perhaps people are preserving good lenses, or time has reduced their availability.
In Italy, quality options are scarce, and prices have risen sharply. This trend feels disappointing for vintage lens enthusiasts. So concerning my vintage lenses update. In this market situation I sold my Carl Zeiss Jena – Tessar 50mm (zebra version model). Let’s say I didn’t get a deal, but I got back what I paid for the purchase.
I hope 2025 brings better opportunities in the market. Let’s see if something interesting comes along next year!
