Help needed appraising a 14 inch lens

[Red F]

I'm trying to figure out how to price my lens. I've done the ebay search and see some close matches, but their prices vary.

I have a Kodak Commercial Ektar f6.3 14inch with a Ilex No. 5 Synchro shutter in a nice box.

Any idea would be appreciated.

[Red F]

89465

[goamules]

Yeah, that happens with used items, the prices do vary. There is no lens stock exchange or blue book of prices. If selling on ebay, it will sell for somewhere in the range the others sold for, depending on the day of the week, how many others are for sale at the same time, etc. There are not that many people looking for large format lenses, and the common ones sell for common prices. Still, it's a good lens.

[pierre506]

It's between $450 to $550 according to the glasses & shutter's conditions. Poor & superior one is out of the price.

[goamules]

That's a little high, I'd says the range starts at $350.

[C. D. Keth]

That's a little high, I'd says the range starts at $350.

I don't think it is anymore. Prices have gone/are going up for this kind of stuff. One with a dented front rim sold in the classifieds for $425. I paid $445 for a clean one with flange and one original cap.

[William Whitaker]

Depends on if you're buying or selling. If you're buying one, then prices probably begin around $450. But if you're trying to sell one, prices begin around $350. Happens every time...

[Alan Gales]

Chris is right. Kodak 14" Commercial Ektars have really shot up in price on Ebay. I hate to admit it but I paid $600.00 for a real clean example which was just CLA'd.

[Alan Gales]

Will, I like your logic! ;)

[Red F]

Thank you guys for all of you input. That's about what I was figuring, but I feel more confident about it now.

[goamules]

I don't think it is anymore. Prices have gone/are going up for this kind of stuff. One with a dented front rim sold in the classifieds for $425. I paid $445 for a clean one with flange and one original cap.


Chris is right. Kodak 14" Commercial Ektars have really shot up in price on Ebay. I hate to admit it but I paid $600.00 for a real clean example which was just CLA'd.

For every one that sells for $450 and up, two sell for $350. Prices for any used item vary widely, especially on Ebay where you don't know the reliability of the seller. We're only talking a hundred dollar range, it's really a pretty predictible price range (compared to Petzvals that can go for from $200 - $3000 for similar lenses). Here are a few recent 14" Commercial Ektar sales:

200862427627 - $358
350658987101 - $338
APUG 14" Comm Ektar (http://www.apug.org/forums/forum379/110104-fs-kodak-commercial-ektar-14-inch-f6-3-no-5-shutter-needs-adjusting-340-a.html) - $340
230860305285 - $355

[ic-racer]

The only 'advantage' I can see to buying a lens that only fits in an old shutter like that is that it would be significantly cheaper than a lens in a modern shutter.

[C. D. Keth]

You could just say you don't care for the look of the classic lenses that were used when 8x10 was a current format.

[Alan Gales]

When I bought my 8x10 camera, the first lens that I wanted was the 14" Commercial Ektar. Sure, there are 360mm lenses out there in modern shutters that cost more money but I wouldn't trade my Commercial Ektar for one. Like Chris, I really like the look that these classic lenses have.

[Bernice Loui]

+1

Commercial Ektars have a certain look that appeal to some, but not everyone.
Like them very much for their balance of sharpness/contrast/out of focus rendition/color rendition... The only trade off might be image circle, physical size of the lens and older shutters (easily solved by using a Sinar shutter).


Bernice



When I bought my 8x10 camera, the first lens that I wanted was the 14" Commercial Ektar. Sure, there are 360mm lenses out there in modern shutters that cost more money but I wouldn't trade my Commercial Ektar for one. Like Chris, I really like the look that these classic lenses have.

[C. D. Keth]

Like Chris, I really like the look that these classic lenses have.

Especially on 8x10. On 4x5 and smaller you might have to compromise other things for sharpness. On 8x10, you can afford to compromise sharpness (I don't feel like a commercial ektar is unsharp, by the way) for things like smoothness, bokeh, and character.

[Alan Gales]

Especially on 8x10. On 4x5 and smaller you might have to compromise other things for sharpness. On 8x10, you can afford to compromise sharpness (I don't feel like a commercial ektar is unsharp, by the way) for things like smoothness, bokeh, and character.

I'll go along with that. The 14" Commercial Ektar does make great color portraits on 4x5 outside or inside if you have the room.

[Alan Gales]

I shoot 8x10 b&w and 4x5 color. If I won the lottery, I would shoot entirely 8x10.

[ImSoNegative]

yes i have noticed as well how high they have went up recently,

[C. D. Keth]

I really think the commercial ektars are the best (that can be read as "my favorite" of course) balance of sharp and smooth.

[Alan Gales]

yes i have noticed as well how high they have went up recently,

I realize that I paid top dollar for mine. I had just bought my Wehman 8x10 and so much wanted a 14" Commercial Ektar. When a clean one came up on Ebay just CLA'd I bought it. It's from the 1940's and maybe I paid too much but I just love the thing.