eBay Camera Shoppers Are Wicked SMART
DarqueKnight
Posts: 6,765
I wanted to add a Nikon 135mm AF f/2D DC lens to my collection. I was disappointed to find that all the dealers in the US and Canada were out of stock. No dealers even had a used one for sale. There were also none available on any of the photography forums I visit. I then turned my attention to eBay.
This is a specialty lens which is made in limited quantities. A lot of dealers don't even stock it because of the low demand for it. This lens was first offered in 1990. In 1995, an updated "D" version was introduced which transmitted the subject-to-camera distance information.
Therefore, any 135mm AF f/2 DC lens which does not say "1:2D" on the barrel is the non-D version and is at least 15 years old. Some of the people listing their lenses as "D" versions are, in fact, offering the older non-D version. The 4th item in figure 1 is listed as a D version but the seller revised his ad after I pointed out the differences between the two versions. Likewise for the seller of the 10th item.
The MSRP for this lens is $1,560 and the average authorized dealer price for a new lens with 5 year factory warranty is $1300.
Notice that the 1st item on the list has been bid up to $1,300. This is a used D version lens. The 9th item is a non-D version that sold for $1,225. The 10th item is a non-D version that initially sold for $1,055, but the winning bidder refused to pay. "Second chance" offers were made in succession to the 2nd ($1,051), 3rd ($1,001) , 4th ($970) and 5th ($950) highest bidders. The 2nd-4th bidders declined and the lens was sold to the 5th highest bidder for $950.
On yesterday (2-19-10), four brand new Nikon 135mm f/2 D version lenses were offered on eBay (items 5-8 in figure 1). I expected that, by the time I finished researching the seller, they would all be gone. However, all four of them were still there when I finished my research. I purchased item #8.
The four new lenses were offered by an authorized dealer in Canada with free shipping and standard 5 year warranty. I paid 5 cents less for my new lens with 5 year warranty and no questions asked return privileges than the current bid price on a used lens with no warranty from a total stranger.
When I checked my watch list this morning, the remaining three new lenses were still there. I wonder if there is some "mystique" about the 15 year old non-D version lenses that I don't know about?
Figure 1. My eBay 135mm lens watch list as of 2-19-10.
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Figure 2 is a list of completed 135mm f/2 lens sales on eBay for February 2010. The 5th item is interesting. Notice that it is a D version lens that sold for $621 whereas the other lenses sold for over $1,000. The $621 lens sold "AS IS" for "parts or repair" because it had fungus growing on the glass elements inside the lens.
You might think that the purchaser is going to simply buy the lens and send it to a service center to be cleaned, or they just want it for spare parts. Perhaps that what the purchaser is thinking too.
Fungus and mold growing inside a lens is indicative of improper lens care. If the mold or fungus is caught very early enough, the lens can be disassembled and cleaned. However, mold and fungus eats the special coatings applied to the lenses. When the mold or fungus eats all the way through the internal lens coatings, and then the mold or fungus is cleaned off, an etched surface will remain on the glass where the coating was eaten away.
It does not make sense to buy a fungus infected lens for parts because you risk transferring spores to a clean lens. Furthermore, this lens is still in production, so new repair parts are still available at "reasonable" prices.
Another thing is that fungus and mold growth inside a lens is indicative of improper use or storage in a humid environment. Water inside the lens leads to mold and fungus. Water inside the lens also leads to RUST. So, where you have mold and fungus you might also have rust. For a manual focus lens, a little rust on the internal mechanics is not a death sentence. For a precision auto focus lens with internal electronic circuitry, water and rust is a very, very bad thing.
Figure 2. Interesting. Someone paid over $600 for a musty, rusty, dusty old lens.
Such good shopping.
This is a specialty lens which is made in limited quantities. A lot of dealers don't even stock it because of the low demand for it. This lens was first offered in 1990. In 1995, an updated "D" version was introduced which transmitted the subject-to-camera distance information.
Therefore, any 135mm AF f/2 DC lens which does not say "1:2D" on the barrel is the non-D version and is at least 15 years old. Some of the people listing their lenses as "D" versions are, in fact, offering the older non-D version. The 4th item in figure 1 is listed as a D version but the seller revised his ad after I pointed out the differences between the two versions. Likewise for the seller of the 10th item.
The MSRP for this lens is $1,560 and the average authorized dealer price for a new lens with 5 year factory warranty is $1300.
Notice that the 1st item on the list has been bid up to $1,300. This is a used D version lens. The 9th item is a non-D version that sold for $1,225. The 10th item is a non-D version that initially sold for $1,055, but the winning bidder refused to pay. "Second chance" offers were made in succession to the 2nd ($1,051), 3rd ($1,001) , 4th ($970) and 5th ($950) highest bidders. The 2nd-4th bidders declined and the lens was sold to the 5th highest bidder for $950.
On yesterday (2-19-10), four brand new Nikon 135mm f/2 D version lenses were offered on eBay (items 5-8 in figure 1). I expected that, by the time I finished researching the seller, they would all be gone. However, all four of them were still there when I finished my research. I purchased item #8.
The four new lenses were offered by an authorized dealer in Canada with free shipping and standard 5 year warranty. I paid 5 cents less for my new lens with 5 year warranty and no questions asked return privileges than the current bid price on a used lens with no warranty from a total stranger.
When I checked my watch list this morning, the remaining three new lenses were still there. I wonder if there is some "mystique" about the 15 year old non-D version lenses that I don't know about?
Figure 1. My eBay 135mm lens watch list as of 2-19-10.
======================================================
Figure 2 is a list of completed 135mm f/2 lens sales on eBay for February 2010. The 5th item is interesting. Notice that it is a D version lens that sold for $621 whereas the other lenses sold for over $1,000. The $621 lens sold "AS IS" for "parts or repair" because it had fungus growing on the glass elements inside the lens.
You might think that the purchaser is going to simply buy the lens and send it to a service center to be cleaned, or they just want it for spare parts. Perhaps that what the purchaser is thinking too.
Fungus and mold growing inside a lens is indicative of improper lens care. If the mold or fungus is caught very early enough, the lens can be disassembled and cleaned. However, mold and fungus eats the special coatings applied to the lenses. When the mold or fungus eats all the way through the internal lens coatings, and then the mold or fungus is cleaned off, an etched surface will remain on the glass where the coating was eaten away.
It does not make sense to buy a fungus infected lens for parts because you risk transferring spores to a clean lens. Furthermore, this lens is still in production, so new repair parts are still available at "reasonable" prices.
Another thing is that fungus and mold growth inside a lens is indicative of improper use or storage in a humid environment. Water inside the lens leads to mold and fungus. Water inside the lens also leads to RUST. So, where you have mold and fungus you might also have rust. For a manual focus lens, a little rust on the internal mechanics is not a death sentence. For a precision auto focus lens with internal electronic circuitry, water and rust is a very, very bad thing.
Figure 2. Interesting. Someone paid over $600 for a musty, rusty, dusty old lens.
Such good shopping.
Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
Post edited by DarqueKnight on
Comments
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You see this behavior all the time on ebay. Probably lack or research plus wishful thinking plus herd mentality. I've seen things get bidded up and sold for more than they're going for on Amazon.SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
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It was odd to me because I don't often see this behavior for pro level camera gear that is still in production.Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
