Vintage lenses costs and prices during last decade, increased a lot… reason quite simple. The demand on market has grown, because many amateurs and non-amateur photographers have turned to this type of photographic lenses.
Regarding the costs of vintage lenses, today on the market.
Some of these lenses became COLLECTOR’S items. Very high priced, and for some models even difficult to find. Despite this, and without sacrificing the quality of the optics, there are interesting buying opportunities on the market. Many good if not excellent lenses, are available at affordable prices and without compromising on quality. Their external vintage look it’s amazing, the mechanical quality is almost always of excellent level. Quality of the optics it’s also generally very good. Final image often really nice, with a particularly charming look. For each of us, a price is “expensive” or “affordable” depending on the real need to have that item, and obviously on the basis of financial personal resources.
This is my PERSONAL SCALE of values when I consider the prices of vintage lenses.
Cheap lenses = Around or Under 50/70€
Average quality = Between 80€ / 130€
Quality lenses = Over 130€
I’m NOT a collector, I buy vintage lenses to USE these.
So all the lenses I buy, need to be fully functional. Hopefully in good or very good condition. Both for the mechanical part and for the optics part.
But for each of these lenses, need to be made an appropriate research… considering that each of these lenses has had its own history, and not all of them are in perfect or good working order. Depending from original owner or owners.
It’s NOT INTERESTING for me to have non-working antiques in a nice closet window, to show off to friends, or to look at.
First of all, I check the prices and the quality of the LENS on various specialized sites (Ebay is certainly a site to check). Then I do more detailed research by looking for reviews of amateurs who have had or still have the same lens. Taking note of their observations and comments. Often also several reviews, both on Youtube and/or on specialized sites. Normally I don’t buy at the first interesting opportunity, I wait some time and I check if there are better opportunities. Both for the price and for the quality of the lens, and the state of functionality and conservation of the same.
HOWEWER, it’s normal that in purchasing lenses you can be disappointed. Happen and will happen, for various reasons.
Incorrect evaluation of the lens, with respect to personal needs.
Excessive price paid, compared to subsequent offers on the market.
Specimen of lens, with defects not visible to eye (fungus / mold, excessive dust) or with poor overall quality.
Production quality differences, directly from the lens manufacturer. This is very possible considering the period of construction of these lenses. Generally aged 40 and over. The standard production quality wasn’t mechanized or roboticlike today is. Therefore, quality differences in the production series of the same type of lens are absolutely possible. Especially for mass-produced products, or on the contrary sometimes also for limited pieces productions, where production was often manual, or mostly manual.
Wrong or fraudulent description of the product by the seller.
By updating this page to July 2024, I must unfortunately highlight how the indiscriminate increase in prices on the market continues. Especially on the Italian market. I am looking in Germany and France for better and more interesting product offers.
In conclusion, what I can suggest is not to be in a hurry, and to do thorough research on the vintage lens market. And then also a bit of luck, which doesn’t hurt… sometimes it helps a lot !
