[EyeSpy]

I was bidding on a Tak 1.9 85mm. I left for work this morning and when I returned this evening my bid had been doubled by nearly 100% by other bidders and it sold in less than hour up approx. another $100 for $260+.

I officially declare the recession is over for ________________(fill in the blank)

[yusuf]

I agree, ebay is crazy, once I saw it selling it over 500.

[axl]

You think 260USD is a lot? Here in UK is one for sale now. Asking price? "Only" 349 GBP

[dgaies]

I have to agree that $260 is not a very high price compared to what some have sold for recently. Whether or not recent prices were too high or not is another story. The "current" price on an ebay item has no real meaning as the majority of bids (especially winning bids) are placed in the last 3-5 seconds of the auction.

[v5planet]

it's not really unusual to see them going for much higher than. the s-m-c version goes for FA Ltd prices; it's absurd. and don't even look at the 85/1.8.

[blende8]

Goood time to sell! :ugh:

About 5 years ago was a goood time to buy!

[pickles]

There was a beautiful 85 1.8 SMC (M42) with both caps, hood & case, sold on ebay yesterday for $520 U.S.
Cheers, Pickles.

[Porga]

I was bidding on a Tak 1.9 85mm. I left for work this morning and when I returned this evening my bid had been doubled by nearly 100% by other bidders and it sold in less than hour up approx. another $100 for $260+.

I officially declare the recession is over for ________________(fill in the blank)

Anything below 300 is low price nowdays.

[erkie]

Of course this past week 2 non smc versions sold for less than 200 each.

[abacus07]

While it might be a great lens I find it hard to justify those prices when compared vs the DA 70mm or the FA 77.

But this is a case of a somewhat rare lens (low supply) that is more useful (increased demand) on digital (1.5x crop) than the more common film short telephotos. I also wonder if there are investors/speculators jumping in because they have seen how much prices have increased in the last couple of years. And this phenomenon is also occurring on the wide end. I can't see any reason at all buy a 20mm or wider pentax/tak lens at the current prices (compared to the DA 15 or 21 for example). These were an ultra wide on film cameras and it's low supply driving the price imo and not picture quality.

The common (though not the fastest) film lenses at 28, 35, 50, 55 and 135 (the 24 and 100/105 to a lesser extent) are still bargains despite the recent increase in prices. But all of these lenses are in high supply which can keep prices reasonable in most cases. And they offer outstanding IQ.

[Wheatfield]

These old lenses give a particular look to the image that has, I think, been lost to a certain extent by the rush for resolution to keep up with these new sensors.
If one values this look, then I could very much see one of these lenses fetching a nice dollar. I'm fortunate to own an a*85/1.4, which has a look that I have not seen matched by any lens.
It cost me a fairly premium $, but they have not devalued, and I don't really look at my equipment as a business investment anyway.

[EyeSpy]

Okay, so I'm cheap.
p.s. any lens brand stamped 85mm is selling for blue sky....I'm begining to think people are buying to hedge inflation!

[ewig]

if the price for takumar 85/1.9 still too high... perhaps you can considered walimex 85/1,4 ... i know its not so famous popular... but at least you got NEW glass with AF and only about 350 usd ...
worth to try i think ..

[Asahiflex]

if the price for takumar 85/1.9 still too high... perhaps you can considered walimex 85/1,4 ... i know its not so famous popular... but at least you got NEW glass with AF and only about 350 usd ...
worth to try i think ..

The Walimex/Samyang/Falcon/Vivitar Series I etc variants all do not have AF, but they do have a KA bayonet (so the diaphragm can be controlled by the body).

[ewig]

yeah ..sory for the technical data... it can be used in Av mode...
but considered with ekspensive Takumar 85/1,9
i think this walimex is also worth to try ..