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http://www.keh.com/camera/Pentax-Manual-Focus-Fixed-Focal-Length-Lenses/1/sk...09016184N?r=FE

Unbelievable! I mean is this serious?

I couldn't possibly afford this one. I think I have the wrong job.

[tzrenz0]

I don't remember without digging through some of my paper records, but the A* 135/1.8 was very expensive when it was new.

Can you dig it for us please. I am curious as well.

[froeschle]

Here is a collection of some UVP/MSRP prices (lens year price): DigitalFotoNetz.de - Projekt Preisliste

DA 14/2.8 ED [IF] 2007 799 EUR
K 15/3.5 1990 1.299 DM
A 15/3.5 1999 2.999 DM
A 16/2.8 Fish-Eye 1999 1.799 DM
A 20/2.8 1999 1.499 DM
FA 20/2,8 2004 677 EUR
M 20/4 1981 2.041 DM US
DA 21/3.2 AL Limited 2007 549 EUR
FA* 24/2 AL [IF] 2004 597 EUR
M 28/2 1981 824 DM US
M 28/2.8 1981 375 DM US
F 28/2.8 1990 329 DM
FA 28/2.8 AL 2004 347 EUR
FA 28/2.8 Soft 2004 477 EUR
K 28/3.5 Shift 1999 2.499 DM
FA 31/1.8 AL ED Limited 2007 929 EUR
FA 35/2 AL 2007 329 EUR
DA 35/2,8 Macro Limited 2008 308 EUR
M 40/2.8 1981 261 DM US
DA 40/2.8 AL Limited 2007 399 EUR
FA 43/1.9 Limited 2007 549 EUR
A 50/1.2 1999 1.399 DM
M 50/1.4 1981 397 DM US
F 50/1.4 1990 379 DM
FA 50/1.4 2007 289 EUR
A 50/1.7 1990 199 DM
F 50/1.7 1990 220 DM
FA 50/1.7 2004 197 EUR
A 50/2 0 1990 149 DM
F 50/2.8 Macro 1990 749 DM
FA 50/2.8 Macro 2004 427 EUR
D FA 50/2.8 Macro 2007 549 EUR
M 50/4 Macro 1981 549 DM US
DA 70/2.4 Limited 2007 599 EUR
FA 77/1.8 Limited 2007 799 EUR
A* 85/1.4 1990 1.149 DM
FA* 85/1.4 [IF] 2004 1.047 EUR
M 85/2 1981 785 DM US
K 85/2.2 Soft 1990 465 DM
F 85/2.8 Soft 1999 999 DM
FA 85/2.8 Soft 2004 527 EUR
F 100/2.8 Macro 1990 1.199 DM
FA 100/2.8 Macro 2004 677 EUR
D FA 100/2.8 Macro 2007 599 EUR
FA 100/3.5 Macro 2004 247 EUR
M 100/4 Macro 1981 731 DM US
A 100/4 Dental Macro 1990 899 DM
A* 135/1.8 1990 1.275 DM
K 135/2,5 450 DM
F 135/2.8 [IF] 1990 415 DM
FA 135/2.8 2004 447 EUR
M 135/3.5 1981 338 DM US
K 200/2,5 999 DM
FA* 200/2.8 ED [IF] 2004 1.497 EUR
DA* 200/2.8 ED [IF] SDM 2008 849 EUR
M 200/4 1981 586 DM US
A* 200/4 Macro ED 1999 3.199 DM
FA* 200/4 Macro ED [IF] 2004 1.497 EUR
A* 300/2.8 ED [IF] 1999 8.999 DM
FA* 300/2.8 ED [IF] 2004 5.297 EUR
K 300/4 1981 1.167 DM US
A* 300/4,0 1400 DM
DA* 300/4,0 ED [IF] SDM 2008 928 EUR
F* 300/4.5 ED [IF] 1990 1.695 DM
FA* 300/4.5 ED [IF] 2004 1.147 EUR
A* 400/2.8 ED [IF] 1999 13.399 DM
M 400/5.6 1981 1.360 DM US
A 400/5.6 1999 2.999 DM
FA* 400/5.6 ED [IF] 2004 1.697 EUR
K 500/4.5 1990 2.299 DM
F* 600/4 ED [IF] 1990 13.959 DM
FA* 600/4 ED [IF] 2004 6.997 EUR
K 1000/8 1990 3.998 DM
K 1000/11 Reflex 1999 6.699 DM
A* 1200/8 ED [IF] 1999 22.999 DM
K 2000/13.5 Reflex 1990 13.439 DM
DA 10-17/3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye ED [IF] 2007 599 EUR
DA 12-24/4 AL ED [IF] 2007 699 EUR
DA 16-45/4 AL ED 2007 549 EUR
DA* 16-50/2.8 AL ED [IF] SDM 2007 829 EUR
F 17-28/3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye 2004 527 EUR
DA 17-70/4,0 AL [IF] SDM 2008 499 EUR
DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 AL 2007 199 EUR
DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 AL II 2008 79 EUR
DA 18-250/3.5-6.3 AL ED [IF] 2007 489 EUR
FA 20-35/4 AL 2004 677 EUR
A 24-50/4 1999 639 DM
F 24-50/4 1999 835 DM
FA 24-90/3.5-4.5 AL [IF] 2004 617 EUR
FA* 28-70/2.8 AL 2004 1.427 EUR
FA 28-70/4 AL 2004 197 EUR
F 28-80/3.5-4.5 1990 715 DM
FA 28-80/3.5-5.6 2004 97 EUR
FA 28-105/3.2-4.5 AL [IF] 2004 297 EUR
FA 28-105/4-5.6 1999 899 DM
FA 28-105/4-5.6 [IF] 1999 699 DM
FA 28-200/3.8-5.6 AL [IF] 2004 377 EUR
A 35-80/4-5.6 1999 199 DM
F 35-80/4-5.6 1999 249 DM
FA 35-80/4-5.6 2004 97 EUR
A 35-105/3.5 1990 510 DM
F 35-105/4-5.6 1990 599 DM
F 35-135/3.5-4.5 1990 819 DM
DA* 50-135/2.8 ED [IF] SDM 2007 929 EUR
DA 50-200/4-5.6 ED 2007 299 EUR
DA 55-300/4,0-5,8 ED 2008 289 EUR
FA 70-200/4-5.6 1999 599 DM
A 70-210/4,0 540 DM
F 70-210/4-5.6 ED 1990 599 DM
FAJ 75-300/4.5-5.8 AL 2004 147 EUR
FA* 80-200/2.8 ED [IF] 2004 2.199 EUR
A 80-200/4.7-5.6 1999 299 DM
F 80-200/4.7-5.6 1999 449 DM
FA 80-200/4.7-5.6 2004 197 EUR
FA 80-320/4.5-5.6 2004 277 EUR
FA 100-300/4.5-5.6 2004 217 EUR
K 135-600/6.7 1990 4.670 DM
F* 250-600/5.6 ED [IF] 1990 16.340 DM
FA* 250-600/5.6 ED [IF] 2004 8.887 EUR
K 400-600/8-12 Reflex 1999 2.999 DM

The A* 135 (availability: "used, once in several years") was a bit more expensive than the A* 85 ("used, several times a year") when bought new in 1990. The K 15/3.5 ("used, several times a year") cost about the same price. According to Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page , it thus seems to be quite a bit rarer though.

[dragon132312]

Big price difference in the A 400/5.6 compared to A 400 /2.8, and thats the first time i seen a price for the A 1200/8 wonder how much that was to wages at the time

[baro-nite]

From a 1985 Adorama ad:

All sizes | Adorama 1985 - Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Minolta, Pentax, Konica, Richoh, Fujica, Yashica/Contax | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

some of the more expensive glass on offer:

A15/3.5 $370
A85/1.4 $330
A135/1.8 $385
A300/2.8 $1430
A300/4 $350
A400/5.6 $350

Using the CPI shows inflation since then around 120%, meaning all of these lenses have held at least a good proportion of their value (the A400/5.6 and A300/2.8 doing worst in that regard, but still pretty good) with the 85 and 135 going up significantly.

[monochrome]

From a 1985 Adorama ad:

All sizes | Adorama 1985 - Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Minolta, Pentax, Konica, Richoh, Fujica, Yashica/Contax | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

some of the more expensive glass on offer:

A15/3.5 $370 = $803 in 2013
A85/1.4 $330 = $716 in 2013
A135/1.8 $385 = $835 in 2013
A300/2.8 $1430 = $3,103 in 2013
A300/4 $350 = $759 in 2013
A400/5.6 $350 = $759 in 2013

Using the CPI shows inflation since then around 120%, meaning all of these lenses have held at least a good proportion of their value (the A400/5.6 and A300/2.8 doing worst in that regard, but still pretty good) with the 85 and 135 going up significantly.

I just used a common inflation calulator found on the internet.

I wonder whether KEH simply mis-priced the lens? It isn't their reputation to troll for noobs like a (pick your fraudulent scam haven) eBay seller.

[JinDesu]

On the other hand, what if the last few 135 1.8s were sold in that region, and Keh is only going by that? I mean, it's not commonly sold so if Keh saw one or two selling at that price (and hey, there may be people that just throw that money down) and priced it at that?

[gofour3]

F/1.8 and f/2 are only 1/3 of a stop appart... A star and all, still a really old, overpriced lens. Even coatings, as good as SMC might have been at the moment, modern coatings are a lot better.

Part of the reason these older lenses are expensive is their collector value.

The Pentax A* lenses were some of the best that Pentax ever made and also on the rare side.

There is no collector value in today’s equipment, maybe in 30 – 50 years but not now.


Phil.

[froeschle]

On the other hand, what if the last few 135 1.8s were sold in that region, and Keh is only going by that? I mean, it's not commonly sold so if Keh saw one or two selling at that price (and hey, there may be people that just throw that money down) and priced it at that?

$ 2099 - BGN only

$ 2100, Discussion

$ 2269

HERE: $ 2569

$ 2655, Discussion

$ 3150

[JinDesu]

So it seems consistent then?

[TropicalMonkey]

These inflated prices we see might prove to be temporary unless Pentax comes out with an FF :-) Is that good or bad !!??

[clockwork247]

why is this lens more than the zeiss 135 1.8? lol.

[drypenn]

Wow!

This example just shows the difference between PRICE and VALUE.

To an avid collector, a rare glass is INVALUABLE, and damn the PRICE! Price, after all, is what some people are willing to pay, value, on the other hand, differs from one person to another.

Unfortunately, the collectors will almost always drive the prices way, way up for mere mortals to reach. It is in their interest to ensure that their collections' value will be high, else they quickly lose the value of their collection (and their enthusiasm). If Pentax will produce modern equivalents of these excellent glasses, there will be no point for collectors to drive the prices up, and eventually the prices should go down.

[baro-nite]

To an avid collector, a rare glass is INVALUABLE, and damn the PRICE!

That's taking the point of view of a practical photographer. Most collectors must by necessity have some sense of value, it's just that they value rarity more highly than non-collectors. Practical photographers put a higher value on function. But most photographers aren't completely practical and also value other things such as aesthetics and, indeed, rarity to some degree. Indeed, for lenses such as this one I suspect most would-be buyers are neither collectors per se, nor thinking in completely practical terms, but somewhere in between. I fear that most copies of such "legendary" lenses get little use, not because they are in a collection as such, but because they have been bought by someone wanting "the best" but who doesn't really have particular use for it.

[Clavius]

It's pretty safe to say such high values are generated by the lack of modern day equivalent. Same goes for the A* 200 macro. Apparently there's market for such lenses.

[dadipentak]

such high values are generated by the lack of modern day equivalent.

I'd love to get my hands on a DA*135/1.8 WR!