[J-Rod]

I notice that the lens reviews suggest that the F 50mm f1.7 can be had for the average price of $150 and the FA at the crazy low price of $120. I have been all over the usual places and can't find one for under $225. I assume the two are optically the same from the specs listed. Any ideas on why these can't be touched for the 'average' price?

[Aegon]

They used to sell for that price before 2008. To get that price now, you'd need to build a time machine.




If you manage to build a time machine, you should probably go back in time and invest your $120 in Apple stock instead of buying the lens.

[dgaies]

They used to sell for that price before 2008. To get that price now, you'd need to build a time machine.

If you manage to build a time machine, you should probably go back in time and invest your $120 in Apple stock instead of buying the lens.

True, there are probably better uses of a time machine than saving $100 on a lens.

To the OP, the "average" prices in the database by no means represent the current market price for a given lens. Sometimes it's close, sometimes it's way off (as it is in the case of the F/FA50/1.7).

The F50/1.7 currently sells for between $200-240 and the FA50/1.7 currently sells for between $230-270 (so about a $30 premium for the more rare FA version).

[violini]

I got my F50/1.7 ( mounted on SF1) for $40 a month ago from local kijiji. The only problem is it has a small dent on the filter ring. The lens is not rare. All you need to do is to keep on watching on craigslist and kijiji.
There is one A50/1.7 listed on kijiji here for a while asking for $85 but no taker so far.

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Last edited by violini; 10-11-2011 at 06:31 PM.

[SOldBear]

I sold 3 copies of the F50 F/1.7 and a copy of the FA50 F/1.7 for about $100 each.

Should have kept them....

[dgaies]

I got my F50/1.7 ( mounted on SF1) for $40 a month ago from local kijiji. The only problem is it has a small dent on the filter ring. The lens is not rare. All you need to do is to keep on watch on craigslist and kijiji.

True, the F50/1.7 isn't rare at all. That said, to grab one for under $200 you're most likely going to have to find a seller who doesn't know what the market value of the lens is

[J-Rod]

Damn...I guess I'll just have to keep looking or sell some lenses!!!

[J-Rod]

I got my F50/1.7 ( mounted on SF1) for $40 a month ago from local kijiji. The only problem is it has a small dent on the filter ring. The lens is not rare. All you need to do is to keep on watching on craigslist and kijiji.
There is one A50/1.7 listed on kijiji here for a while asking for $85 but no taker so far.

I'll double you up! $80 right now!

[Don From The Radio]

True, the F50/1.7 isn't rare at all. That said, to grab one for under $200 you're most likely going to have to find a seller who doesn't know what the market value of the lens is

Like the guy who sold me mine for $15?

[violini]

There was one listed on kijiji about 2 months ago in mint condition, asking $140 but took quite a while to sell it. Therefore, you can't go to popular site like ebay because of too much competition there. I have 2 F35-70 lenses and they are as good as prime. These are kit lens for SF series cameras and can be had for $30-40. M and A are much better constructed. People pay more money for the plasticky F50 just for the convenience of auto focus.

[dgaies]

Like the guy who sold me mine for $15?

Something like that

[Pentaxor]

I originally bid on an F50/1.7 on Ebay about more than 2 years ago. I lost on it for $135. saw an FA version two days later on eBay which has a BIN offer of $200. having learned my lesson, I bit on it rather than wait for the bid to end and on the losing end again. best $200 purchase I ever done since I haven't seen such lens on sale on such regularity.

[RioRico]

To the OP, the "average" prices in the database by no means represent the current market price for a given lens. Sometimes it's close, sometimes it's way off (as it is in the case of the F/FA50/1.7).

The bible of current lens values lurks behind eBay's COMPLETED LISTINGS checkbox. The lens database values are of historical interest, nothing more.

[bdery]

the lens reviews suggest that the F 50mm f1.7 can be had for the average price of $150 and the FA at the crazy low price of $120

The database here is nowhere useful for market prices. I once got a Super program, A50 f1,4 , AF280T flash, case and filters for 10$... Some people don't know what they are selling, and well-informed buyers can get good deals if they look hard enough.

On Kijiji Canada, sometimes a F50 f1,7 turns up for around 100-130$, but if you want a good evaluation of the lens' shape, both optically and cosmetically, it's better to buy from the marketplace here. You'll pay the actual value of the lens, get a good description, honest communication and reliable photos.

[J-Rod]

My son is much faster than my focus ability on the A-50mm. It is a real gem of a lens though. I presume that the F and FA retained the same optics (at least it looks like it). Maybe I'll just practice. I do like to shoot and so it shouldn't be a bother. Lately I've just been lazy and used the 18-55wr with a flash. Maybe that is where I should be going anyway since shooting my son is mostly snapshot stuff and not something I would print.