Desperately Seeking Susan's Lens

[hausdok]

Hi All,

I think Jim K. is desperate for a lens, because he's mentioned it in a couple of posts in other threads. So, if anyone can help him, he's apparently looking for an:

85mm, F1.8 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar lens with original caps and leather case.

Let's help him out before he starts sticking up camera stores.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by hausdok

Hi All,

I think Jim K. is desperate for a lens, because he's mentioned it in a couple of posts in other threads. So, if anyone can help him, he's apparently looking for an:

85mm, F1.8 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar lens with original caps and leather case.

Let's help him out before he starts sticking up camera stores.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

Not desperate. Just covetous. I've been after one for years. No hurry. Waiting is part of the hunt.

- Jim in Oregon

[Chad Fabry]

What's it worth?

[hausdok]

Hi Jim,

I just got off the phone with the local camera shop. He didn't have one either and says it'll probably be hard to find - as if you didn't already know that.

OT - OF!!!

M.

[Gerry Beaumont]

Hi to all.

Ya'll gotta love ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/Super-Multicoated-T ... dZViewItem

Regards

Gerry

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by Gerry Beaumont

Hi to all.

Ya'll gotta love ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/Super-Multicoated-T ... dZViewItem

Regards

Gerry

Thanks Gerry. I hadn't seen that one yet. I scan evil-bay daily for cameras, lenses and related stuff so it wouldn't have evaded me for long. There are now two auctions for 85mm lenses on my watch list.

While I've snagged some spectacular deals on e-bay camera stuff, I've consistently come up empty on the 85mm front. These babies are rare enough that people bid them up to a rather high degree. Lately, in the past year or so, there's been a rash of buyers from Hong Kong & Japan who seem happy to bid ridiculous sums for Takumar lenses.

The trick is to find them mixed in with lots that contain a bunch of other stuff.

I also occasionally find them selling for very little in junk shops and backwater pawn shops.

The lens you pointed out will probably end up selling for between $300 and $400 on e-bay. Two years ago you could easily pick one up for $125. In the 1990s you could get them for $20.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Rob Amaral]

Try these guys, Jim:

http://www.huntsphotoandvideo.com/

Big old shop just north of BOS.

R

[Jim Morrison]

Brother Katen,

Hunt's is in the neighborhood I grew up in and I even did an inspection for the owners a while back. Let me know if you need a pair of eyes in the store.

Jimmy

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by Jim Morrison

Brother Katen,

Hunt's is in the neighborhood I grew up in and I even did an inspection for the owners a while back. Let me know if you need a pair of eyes in the store.

Jimmy

Hey, thanks. I'll take you up on that if I find anything interesting there.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by Jim Katen

Originally posted by Gerry Beaumont

Hi to all.

Ya'll gotta love ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/Super-Multicoated-T ... dZViewItem

Regards

Gerry

Thanks Gerry. I hadn't seen that one yet. I scan evil-bay daily for cameras, lenses and related stuff so it wouldn't have evaded me for long. There are now two auctions for 85mm lenses on my watch list.

While I've snagged some spectacular deals on e-bay camera stuff, I've consistently come up empty on the 85mm front. These babies are rare enough that people bid them up to a rather high degree. Lately, in the past year or so, there's been a rash of buyers from Hong Kong & Japan who seem happy to bid ridiculous sums for Takumar lenses.

The trick is to find them mixed in with lots that contain a bunch of other stuff.

I also occasionally find them selling for very little in junk shops and backwater pawn shops.

The lens you pointed out will probably end up selling for between $300 and $400 on e-bay. Two years ago you could easily pick one up for $125. In the 1990s you could get them for $20.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

The lens Gerry pointed out to me sold today for $338 to a buyer in China.

A similar one that I bid on earlier in the day went for $308. I was outbid in the last 16 seconds of that auction.

Another is coming up on Saturday, but I don't hold out much hope since I'm not willing to spend that much. Prices on the bay have gotten out of hand lately. In the meantime, I'll be prowling pawnshops on the seedy side of town.

Back to the hunt . . .

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Gerry Beaumont]

Hi Jim,

thanks for the update, shame prices are getting out of hand. I have been seeing the same thing on Ebay, prices are getting very silly with some stuff making far higher prices than I would expect.

Better luck next-time, but what will you do for laughs after you have bought one? The thrill is in the chase!

Regards

Gerry

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by Gerry Beaumont

. . . Better luck next-time, but what will you do for laughs after you have bought one? . . .

Well, I thought I might take some pictures. My attempts at photography are always good for a few laughs.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by Gerry Beaumont

Hi Jim,

thanks for the update, shame prices are getting out of hand. I have been seeing the same thing on Ebay, prices are getting very silly with some stuff making far higher prices than I would expect. . .

Update.

Here's the latest example of this lens to sell on e-bay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &rd=1&rd=1

A month ago they were selling for $300-$400. This one went for $890.

Whoa, Nellie!

- Jim Katen, Oregon