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devorama · 04-11-2012, 02:58 PM

As my LBA grows, I realized I *could* sell some old lenses I don't use often to fuel my purchase of new lenses. Since I have a Sigma 24mm F/1.8 and a Pentax-F 50mm F/1.4, I really haven't touched my Sigma 30mm F/1.4 in over a year. I thought of selling it, but that fact that the 30mm is crazy sharp in center has me hesitant to part with it.

What's your best lens that you never use? And what keeps you from selling it?

Bonobo · 04-11-2012, 03:14 PM

Up until about a week or two ago, it was the DA 12-24. So nice but I never shoot that wide. Now that it is in a better home, my Vivitar series 1 105mm hasn't seen any action this year yet. I don't think I'll ever sell it because I'm afraid I'll never get another one.

**ramseybuckeye** · 04-11-2012, 03:27 PM

In January I bought a used Promaster AF 28-105mm 1:4-5.6, the lens is very sharp, I got a very good deal on this lens in an auction. At the time I bid on that auction, I also bid on another that featured a Tamron AF (IF) 28-105mm 1:4-5.6 and ended up winning that one also. It is an equal, in fact they are the same re-badged lens. The difference, the Tamron came with a hood so I use it. I haven't sold it because my daughter has a K-x and I think I will give it to her. I actually just got a hood for the Promaster, the hood is from a SMC Pentax-FA 28-105mm F4-5.6 [IF] which reportedly is also the same lens. This is not the powerzoom model. I had the powezoom model in the past, but it did not hold the sharpness on distant subjects like these lenses do. I also have a Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL that is rarely used, but it is not in the class of these Tamrons/Promasters.

northcoastgreg · 04-11-2012, 03:36 PM

The M 50/1.7. Have rarely used since getting a K 50/1.2, and haven't used it at all this year.

TaoMaas · 04-11-2012, 03:39 PM

I have two...a Vivitar Series 1 90-180 flat field zoom...and a SMC Pentax A* 200 f2.8. The reason I don't use the Vivitar is because it needs to have it's mount trimmed before I can use it on my digital cameras. However, that's on my "to do" list before the wildflowers start blooming here. Of course...I've been saying that for about 4 years now, so...

The Pentax lens has only gone unused for the last year or so. I bought a Tokina AF 80-200 f2.8 and have been using that most of the time.

cali92rs · 04-11-2012, 03:50 PM

Interesting topic...for me it *was* my DA 70mm LTD.
Great, small sharp lens. Just not a useful focal length for me.
So I sold it...not exactly in your parameters lol.

Roob-N-Boots · 04-11-2012, 03:54 PM

MY F50 2.8 macro because all I have been shooting is people recently and the F50 1.7 is so much lighter.

slip · 04-11-2012, 03:54 PM

Smc m 50 1.4. Great lens but I can't ever remember to get
it out... Especially when the wife has an auto focus one.

imtheguy · 04-11-2012, 03:59 PM

Hmm...interesting topic and good reminder to me to stop being a packrat.

I looked long and hard to get perfect copies of the FA35/2 and FA50/1.7 I felt I needed to complete a kit for indoor family events. The events stopped and now other than testing, I have shot neither lens in a year. Somewhere, somebody is gnashing teeth for inability to find a great copy of one of these. The reason they can't find one is because I don't know how to let them go. Someday......

Roob-N-Boots · 04-11-2012, 04:10 PM

Originally posted by imtheguy

I looked long and hard to get perfect copies of the FA35/2 and FA50/1.7 I felt I needed to complete a kit for indoor family events

How does the FA35 do wide open? I shot a Quinceanera (Sweet Fifteen) this weekend and loved the F50 1.7 wide open and it got me thinking that maybe I should get a FA35 since the FA31 is too much money. Damn LBA!

GibbyTheMole · 04-11-2012, 04:14 PM

A minty Pentax-A 35-105mm zoom. It's a superb lens, but I also have a Tamron 28-300 that's not as good IQ-wise, but it's extremely convenient and decently sharp if stopped down a bit. And to cover the macro stuff I have a razor-sharp 100mm f3.5 Promaster MF macro, which offers much higher 1:1 magnification. So.. I rarely break it out anymore. Oh - and I also have a Tamron SP 23A 60-300 which also does macro down to 1:1.55.

Why am I keeping it (so far) ?: It's too awesome and beautifully built. Maybe someday... I dunno.

lytrytyr · 04-11-2012, 04:27 PM

Originally posted by slip

Smc m 50 1.4

Same for me. It can't compete with a Nokton and a Makro-Planar.

imtheguy · 04-11-2012, 04:30 PM

Originally posted by Roob-N-Boots

How does the FA35 do wide open? I shot a Quinceanera (Sweet Fifteen) this weekend and loved the F50 1.7 wide open and it got me thinking that maybe I should get a FA35 since the FA31 is too much money. Damn LBA!

I would have to say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and recommend you try one and read the reviews. I like it obviously but I am the same guy that returned the hugely popular da40/2.8 for a refund after 3 days as its f2.8 (in my case) was just not good enough and the FA35 whipped it soundly at f2 versus f2.8. Just one opinion though.

L33tGreg · 04-11-2012, 05:25 PM

Sigma EX 100-300 f4. I don't use long telephotos very often as I mostly shoot my kids from close range.

RioRico · 04-11-2012, 06:01 PM

Maybe not never, but rarely: the Lil'Bigma DG 170-500, my most expensive (to me) lens. I'm just not often enough in situations where it would be useful; and when I am, it's probably not nearby.

Why not sell it? Because I can't afford to take a US$500 loss. I know, I know -- a logical approach would be to sell it, take the loss, then use the proceeds to buy something that I *would* use. Bother...

04-11-2012, 02:58 PM	#1
devorama Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 638	What's your best lens that you never use? As my LBA grows, I realized I could sell some old lenses I don't use often to fuel my purchase of new lenses. Since I have a Sigma 24mm F/1.8 and a Pentax-F 50mm F/1.4, I really haven't touched my Sigma 30mm F/1.4 in over a year. I thought of selling it, but that fact that the 30mm is crazy sharp in center has me hesitant to part with it. What's your best lens that you never use? And what keeps you from selling it?

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04-11-2012, 03:14 PM	#2
Bonobo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Miami Posts: 226	Up until about a week or two ago, it was the DA 12-24. So nice but I never shoot that wide. Now that it is in a better home, my Vivitar series 1 105mm hasn't seen any action this year yet. I don't think I'll ever sell it because I'm afraid I'll never get another one.

04-11-2012, 03:27 PM	#3
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,296	In January I bought a used Promaster AF 28-105mm 1:4-5.6, the lens is very sharp, I got a very good deal on this lens in an auction. At the time I bid on that auction, I also bid on another that featured a Tamron AF (IF) 28-105mm 1:4-5.6 and ended up winning that one also. It is an equal, in fact they are the same re-badged lens. The difference, the Tamron came with a hood so I use it. I haven't sold it because my daughter has a K-x and I think I will give it to her. I actually just got a hood for the Promaster, the hood is from a SMC Pentax-FA 28-105mm F4-5.6 [IF] which reportedly is also the same lens. This is not the powerzoom model. I had the powezoom model in the past, but it did not hold the sharpness on distant subjects like these lenses do. I also have a Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL that is rarely used, but it is not in the class of these Tamrons/Promasters.

04-11-2012, 03:36 PM	#4
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,176	The M 50/1.7. Have rarely used since getting a K 50/1.2, and haven't used it at all this year.

04-11-2012, 03:39 PM	#5
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	I have two...a Vivitar Series 1 90-180 flat field zoom...and a SMC Pentax A* 200 f2.8. The reason I don't use the Vivitar is because it needs to have it's mount trimmed before I can use it on my digital cameras. However, that's on my "to do" list before the wildflowers start blooming here. Of course...I've been saying that for about 4 years now, so... The Pentax lens has only gone unused for the last year or so. I bought a Tokina AF 80-200 f2.8 and have been using that most of the time.

04-11-2012, 03:50 PM	#6
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Interesting topic...for me it was my DA 70mm LTD. Great, small sharp lens. Just not a useful focal length for me. So I sold it...not exactly in your parameters lol.

04-11-2012, 03:54 PM	#7
Roob-N-Boots Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Palm Springs CA Posts: 393	MY F50 2.8 macro because all I have been shooting is people recently and the F50 1.7 is so much lighter.

04-11-2012, 03:54 PM	#8
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	Smc m 50 1.4. Great lens but I can't ever remember to get it out... Especially when the wife has an auto focus one.

04-11-2012, 03:59 PM	#9
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	Hmm...interesting topic and good reminder to me to stop being a packrat. I looked long and hard to get perfect copies of the FA35/2 and FA50/1.7 I felt I needed to complete a kit for indoor family events. The events stopped and now other than testing, I have shot neither lens in a year. Somewhere, somebody is gnashing teeth for inability to find a great copy of one of these. The reason they can't find one is because I don't know how to let them go. Someday......

04-11-2012, 04:10 PM	#10
Roob-N-Boots Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Palm Springs CA Posts: 393	Originally posted by imtheguy I looked long and hard to get perfect copies of the FA35/2 and FA50/1.7 I felt I needed to complete a kit for indoor family events How does the FA35 do wide open? I shot a Quinceanera (Sweet Fifteen) this weekend and loved the F50 1.7 wide open and it got me thinking that maybe I should get a FA35 since the FA31 is too much money. Damn LBA!

04-11-2012, 04:14 PM	#11
GibbyTheMole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Iowa Photos: Albums Posts: 2,275	A minty Pentax-A 35-105mm zoom. It's a superb lens, but I also have a Tamron 28-300 that's not as good IQ-wise, but it's extremely convenient and decently sharp if stopped down a bit. And to cover the macro stuff I have a razor-sharp 100mm f3.5 Promaster MF macro, which offers much higher 1:1 magnification. So.. I rarely break it out anymore. Oh - and I also have a Tamron SP 23A 60-300 which also does macro down to 1:1.55. Why am I keeping it (so far) ?: It's too awesome and beautifully built. Maybe someday... I dunno.

04-11-2012, 04:27 PM	#12
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by slip Smc m 50 1.4 Same for me. It can't compete with a Nokton and a Makro-Planar.

04-11-2012, 04:30 PM	#13
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	Originally posted by Roob-N-Boots How does the FA35 do wide open? I shot a Quinceanera (Sweet Fifteen) this weekend and loved the F50 1.7 wide open and it got me thinking that maybe I should get a FA35 since the FA31 is too much money. Damn LBA! I would have to say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and recommend you try one and read the reviews. I like it obviously but I am the same guy that returned the hugely popular da40/2.8 for a refund after 3 days as its f2.8 (in my case) was just not good enough and the FA35 whipped it soundly at f2 versus f2.8. Just one opinion though.

04-11-2012, 05:25 PM	#14
L33tGreg Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Photos: Gallery Posts: 369	Sigma EX 100-300 f4. I don't use long telephotos very often as I mostly shoot my kids from close range.

04-11-2012, 06:01 PM	#15
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Maybe not never, but rarely: the Lil'Bigma DG 170-500, my most expensive (to me) lens. I'm just not often enough in situations where it would be useful; and when I am, it's probably not nearby. Why not sell it? Because I can't afford to take a US$500 loss. I know, I know -- a logical approach would be to sell it, take the loss, then use the proceeds to buy something that I would use. Bother...