What to name an old lens.

**psoo** · 12-03-2014, 03:44 PM

Can anyone tell me the differences between vintage, legacy, classic, antique, and just old lenses (or cameras)

?

Sandy Hancock · 12-03-2014, 03:48 PM - **1 Like**

Pretty much arbitrary I would suggest. I just call them all lenses

Na Horuk · 12-03-2014, 03:54 PM

Hard to say, there are no rules that I know of!

I would say that antique are really old, from a previous era, the early lenses. Classic to me would be lenses from the "golden years" of SLR and film photography. Legacy are any lenses that are no longer in production, but can still be mounted on your camera (and function, albeit with some limitations, like MF only). And then "old lenses".. well, that depends on how old you are

**Kerrowdown** · 12-03-2014, 03:56 PM

Originally posted by P. Soo

What to name an old lens.

All mine have various "Lady" titles attached to them, if that's any help for you.

panoguy · 12-03-2014, 04:12 PM

Originally posted by P. Soo

Can anyone tell me the differences between vintage, legacy, classic, antique, and just old lenses (or cameras)

?

How would refer to a woman of an advanced age? Be careful...

tvdtvdtvd · 12-03-2014, 04:15 PM

Originally posted by P. Soo

Can anyone tell me the differences between vintage, legacy, classic, antique, and just old lenses (or cameras)

?

It all comes down to the skill of the marketer and deciding which label will turn a turd into a gem.

Beat up old K1000 with 50mm lens probably won't get many bites.
Rare Vintage K1000 with Legacy 50mm sounds so much more, erm, um, more.

**jatrax** · 12-03-2014, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by P. Soo

Can anyone tell me the differences between vintage, legacy, classic, antique, and just old lenses (or cameras)?

No real rules, so you get to make up your own.
Here's mine:
vintage - quaint and nostalgic but maybe not all that useful compared to new if you face reality
legacy - older but still useful, possibly from technology that has been replaced such as an older mount or format
classic - best of a generation. something so good it is emulated today but not exceeded
antique - no longer used or usable, from mounts or technology that is no longer supported. more valuable as a decoration than a working lens
old - off brand, third party lenses that while perfectly usable may not have been all that good when new. Usable, but not really desirable

---------- Post added 12-03-14 at 03:17 PM ----------

Originally posted by panoguy

How would refer to a woman of an advanced age? Be careful...

classic of course

EJMzagsfan · 12-03-2014, 04:55 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by panoguy

How would refer to a woman of an advanced age? Be careful...

Refined?

**THoog** · 12-03-2014, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by P. Soo

Can anyone tell me the differences between vintage, legacy, classic, antique, and just old lenses (or cameras)

?

On eBay, all those terms mean the same thing: "There's no way I can get away with calling this 'new' or 'mint'. Also, I don't know what it is.".

SpecialK · 12-03-2014, 05:35 PM

Originally posted by P. Soo

Can anyone tell me the differences between vintage, legacy, classic, antique, and just old lenses (or cameras)

?

Sellers use the first 3 or 4, buyers the last one.

**psoo** · 12-03-2014, 06:29 PM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

All mine have various "Lady" titles attached to them, if that's any help for you.

Gosh, it helps me so much. You Scots have class. However, what do you do if the lens is male?

---------- Post added 12-03-14 at 08:36 PM ----------

Originally posted by jatrax

No real rules, so you get to make up your own.
Here's mine:
vintage - quaint and nostalgic but maybe not all that useful compared to new if you face reality
legacy - older but still useful, possibly from technology that has been replaced such as an older mount or format
classic - best of a generation. something so good it is emulated today but not exceeded
antique - no longer used or usable, from mounts or technology that is no longer supported. more valuable as a decoration than a working lens
old - off brand, third party lenses that while perfectly usable may not have been all that good when new. Usable, but not really desirable

---------- Post added 12-03-14 at 03:17 PM ----------

classic of course

Thanks Jatrax. I think you're close to the best possible definitions. Of the choice to use for an elderly woman, the only possibility would be "classic". Any other choice would get your head bashed in.

---------- Post added 12-03-14 at 08:41 PM ----------

Originally posted by tvdtvdtvd

It all comes down to the skill of the marketer and deciding which label will turn a turd into a gem.

Beat up old K1000 with 50mm lens probably won't get many bites.
Rare Vintage K1000 with Legacy 50mm sounds so much more, erm, um, more.

Yes and no. I've gotten some bargains on eBay when the object was not praised to High Heaven which greatly jacks up the bidding price.

---------- Post added 12-03-14 at 08:50 PM ----------

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Hard to say, there are no rules that I know of!

I would say that antique are really old, from a previous era, the early lenses. Classic to me would be lenses from the "golden years" of SLR and film photography. Legacy are any lenses that are no longer in production, but can still be mounted on your camera (and function, albeit with some limitations, like MF only). And then "old lenses".. well, that depends on how old you are

At my age, all lenses juveniles

**psoo** · 12-03-2014, 08:34 PM

Originally posted by panoguy

How would refer to a woman of an advanced age? Be careful...

It will depend on how much I like her

12-03-2014, 03:44 PM	#1
psoo Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 485	What to name an old lens. Can anyone tell me the differences between vintage, legacy, classic, antique, and just old lenses (or cameras)?

12-03-2014, 04:12 PM	#5
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	Originally posted by P. Soo Can anyone tell me the differences between vintage, legacy, classic, antique, and just old lenses (or cameras)? How would refer to a woman of an advanced age? Be careful...

12-03-2014, 04:15 PM	#6
tvdtvdtvd Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,665	Originally posted by P. Soo Can anyone tell me the differences between vintage, legacy, classic, antique, and just old lenses (or cameras)? It all comes down to the skill of the marketer and deciding which label will turn a turd into a gem. Beat up old K1000 with 50mm lens probably won't get many bites. Rare Vintage K1000 with Legacy 50mm sounds so much more, erm, um, more.

12-03-2014, 05:27 PM	#9
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685	Originally posted by P. Soo Can anyone tell me the differences between vintage, legacy, classic, antique, and just old lenses (or cameras)? On eBay, all those terms mean the same thing: "There's no way I can get away with calling this 'new' or 'mint'. Also, I don't know what it is.".

12-03-2014, 05:35 PM	#10
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	Originally posted by P. Soo Can anyone tell me the differences between vintage, legacy, classic, antique, and just old lenses (or cameras)? Sellers use the first 3 or 4, buyers the last one.

12-03-2014, 03:48 PM - 1 Like	#2
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	Pretty much arbitrary I would suggest. I just call them all lenses

12-03-2014, 03:54 PM	#3
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Hard to say, there are no rules that I know of! I would say that antique are really old, from a previous era, the early lenses. Classic to me would be lenses from the "golden years" of SLR and film photography. Legacy are any lenses that are no longer in production, but can still be mounted on your camera (and function, albeit with some limitations, like MF only). And then "old lenses".. well, that depends on how old you are

12-03-2014, 03:56 PM	#4
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,863	Originally posted by P. Soo What to name an old lens. All mine have various "Lady" titles attached to them, if that's any help for you.

12-03-2014, 04:16 PM	#7
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by P. Soo Can anyone tell me the differences between vintage, legacy, classic, antique, and just old lenses (or cameras)? No real rules, so you get to make up your own. Here's mine: vintage - quaint and nostalgic but maybe not all that useful compared to new if you face reality legacy - older but still useful, possibly from technology that has been replaced such as an older mount or format classic - best of a generation. something so good it is emulated today but not exceeded antique - no longer used or usable, from mounts or technology that is no longer supported. more valuable as a decoration than a working lens old - off brand, third party lenses that while perfectly usable may not have been all that good when new. Usable, but not really desirable ---------- Post added 12-03-14 at 03:17 PM ---------- Originally posted by panoguy How would refer to a woman of an advanced age? Be careful... classic of course

12-03-2014, 04:55 PM - 1 Like	#8
EJMzagsfan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Idaho Photos: Albums Posts: 241	Originally posted by panoguy How would refer to a woman of an advanced age? Be careful... Refined?

12-03-2014, 06:29 PM	#11
psoo Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 485 Original Poster	Originally posted by Kerrowdown All mine have various "Lady" titles attached to them, if that's any help for you. Gosh, it helps me so much. You Scots have class. However, what do you do if the lens is male? ---------- Post added 12-03-14 at 08:36 PM ---------- Originally posted by jatrax No real rules, so you get to make up your own. Here's mine: vintage - quaint and nostalgic but maybe not all that useful compared to new if you face reality legacy - older but still useful, possibly from technology that has been replaced such as an older mount or format classic - best of a generation. something so good it is emulated today but not exceeded antique - no longer used or usable, from mounts or technology that is no longer supported. more valuable as a decoration than a working lens old - off brand, third party lenses that while perfectly usable may not have been all that good when new. Usable, but not really desirable ---------- Post added 12-03-14 at 03:17 PM ---------- classic of course Thanks Jatrax. I think you're close to the best possible definitions. Of the choice to use for an elderly woman, the only possibility would be "classic". Any other choice would get your head bashed in. ---------- Post added 12-03-14 at 08:41 PM ---------- Originally posted by tvdtvdtvd It all comes down to the skill of the marketer and deciding which label will turn a turd into a gem. Beat up old K1000 with 50mm lens probably won't get many bites. Rare Vintage K1000 with Legacy 50mm sounds so much more, erm, um, more. Yes and no. I've gotten some bargains on eBay when the object was not praised to High Heaven which greatly jacks up the bidding price. ---------- Post added 12-03-14 at 08:50 PM ---------- Originally posted by Na Horuk Hard to say, there are no rules that I know of! I would say that antique are really old, from a previous era, the early lenses. Classic to me would be lenses from the "golden years" of SLR and film photography. Legacy are any lenses that are no longer in production, but can still be mounted on your camera (and function, albeit with some limitations, like MF only). And then "old lenses".. well, that depends on how old you are At my age, all lenses juveniles

12-03-2014, 08:34 PM	#12
psoo Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 485 Original Poster	Originally posted by panoguy How would refer to a woman of an advanced age? Be careful... It will depend on how much I like her

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