[monochrome]

Last spring I sold my Vivitar Series 1 105/2.5 that I bought NOS in 2004 and had mounted precisely three times since.

To this day I regret it, and I hardly used the thing.

then again, I have a Tamron SP 90/2.5 and I've had it on the camera more in six months than the Viv in five years.

Not much help Gus, I guess. Didn't I sell you a couple lenses back in the day?

[creampuff]

What is there to regret? If you don't use it enough, think of it like you never had it in the first place. I've always adopted a utilitarian approach, gear needs to be used, thoroughly at that. I sold off my Voiglander SL 125mm f/2.5 Apo-Lanthar and I didn't bat an eyelid simply because I didn't use it enough then. Yeah it's a lovely lens but if it sits in storage because it's either too precious to use or you've got other lenses, then it serves little purpose in improving your photography.

[jsherman999]

Gus, I've sold two lenses to you, and within months, bought replacement copies because I couldn't stand seeing images from them. So I'm just saying... Be careful.

Don't sell the Viv 28 2.8 CF, Don't sell the Cosina. You've done a lot to define that Helios to the Pentax community, you should probably keep that too.

Also keep the few AF lenses you need to get by, and then sell the rest. That 'clean' feeling is worth something too

I've sold:

31td
43ltd
40ltd
Viv S1 105 2.5
Voigtlander 180 f4 Lanthar
Voigtlander Nokton 58 1.4
FA 50 1.4
50-135
16-50
Jupiter-9
FA 28 2.8
Tamron 70-200 2.8 (but only because I bought sigma 100-300)
Many M's and Taks and A's
Several K's

I've sold, then re-bought:

F 50 1.7
Cosina 55 1.2
Vivitar/Komine 28 2.8 close focus
Helios 44m
Tamron 28-75 2.8


Good luck bud.

[monochrome]

What is there to regret?

Well, I did say, "Then again." The 90/2.5 suits my needs and ability and cost 1/4 of what I received for the Viv.

But I really liked just the fact that I got that lens for a song, NOS.

[Blue]

Gus, I've sold two lenses to you, and within months, bought replacement copies because I couldn't stand seeing images from them. So I'm just saying... Be careful.

Don't sell the Viv 28 2.8 CF, Don't sell the Cosina. You've done a lot to define that Helios to the Pentax community, you should probably keep that too.

Also keep the few AF lenses you need to get by, and then sell the rest. That 'clean' feeling is worth something too

I've sold:

31td
43ltd
40ltd
Viv S1 105 2.5
Voigtlander 180 f4 Lanthar
Voigtlander Nokton 58 1.4
. . .

Good luck bud.

What made you sell the 31mm ltd? That's like Mecca to some. Didn't you sell a DA 35mm ltd and buy another?

[jsherman999]

What made you sell the 31mm ltd? That's like Mecca to some. Didn't you sell a DA 35mm ltd and buy another?

Ah - yeah. Forgot about the DA 35, that's another one. Actually I traded it to soccerjoe for the Nokton, then bought another when someone tipped me off to a really good price on a new 35.

I sold the 31ltd because it was worth a lot of money, I wasn;t using it enough, and I wanted to buy the Tamron 70-200.

Gus, here's an idea - list all the lenses below, we'll vote on them!

Was not expecting this much feedback... but there is some great advice in here.

I truly understand almost all of the sentiment... There are some lenses I dont use often that I would not sell. The Meyer Trioplan 100 with its crazy bokeh... The Vivi Series 1 90 and 105... shoot one of them should go but I just can't.

The workhorses for me that are off the table:

Vivi 28 close focus
Auto Tak 35 2.3
Helios 44M
Industar 61 50mm macro
Cosina 55 1.2
Jupiter 9 85
Vivi 90 &105 macros
Vivi and Tair 135's

One of my AF 50's the 1.4 or 1.7
The tamy 28-75
Da 50 200
Tamron adapt 103a 80-210

The rest are all in play but some Less than others... There are just too many lying around. I think there is something to be said about the "it feels good to purge" idea.

Wow, even looking at that list above seems a bit much... WHAT A SICKNESS this LBA is!

Thanks again everyone...

Josh, I started this post before you posted yours above and then I watched Curb Your Enthusiasm... I will make a list of all that are in play tomorrow...

[Ash]

Wow Gus - each is a dilemma to decide upon.
Comes down to you - do you get the pleasure of shooting with any of those lenses that don't get mounted all that often? If so, I'd be hesitant to let those particular lenses go. Steve said this well earlier.

Deciding which macro to go is tough - both are fine but you really don't need both being so close in FL. Hope you don't agonise over this too much mate!

[Nick Siebers]

Gus, you've hit a nerve! Many of us face similar issues.

Gus,

You might want to realign your thoughts to consider that small time collecting is part of your photo hobby. Just because taking pictures is your primary emphasis does not mean that you can't enjoy a few lenses and cameras as objects just because you like them. I use that kind of logic to justify my small collection of film cameras and lenses to match for the shear novelty of ownership.

Steve

Steve, I made that adjustment, and it helps a lot. Well said.

[Alfisti]

I sell anything I don't use enough and i have really got my system down to what i need.

12-24
18-250
55-300

21 ltd
35/2
77 ltd
100 DFA Macro

[Blue]

Gus,

There are 2 ways to go. Pair down your system, or become a collector and get more lenses.