Stress of Buying Lenses - Sight Unseen / Reputation

[dodphotography]

I find it incredibly stressful buying lenses sight unseen... not necessarily the condition, but rather, how the lens draws and it’s characteristics. Some of these lenses command high value in the 8x10 world and it’s hard to get your hands on something to “test it” and see if it’s for you. My dream is a rental company sending out rental glass from old vintage dagors to modern APO Sironar S lenses.

I know they hold their value but plunking down 1500-2000 and hoping you like it always makes me nervous!


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[darr]

I agree! I want an old brass soft focus lens for my 4x5, but I do not know what I am looking at. I have 30+ years in film and digital photography and not an iota of experience with old lenses. I sold off my Cooke PS945 and now I want something similar but antique. Anyone with advice, please share your experience, opinions, etc.

Much appreciated!
Darr

[Mark Sampson]

What you wanted was a company called Lens&Repro in NYC. They had all the LF lenses you could desire. Sadly, they closed down a few years back.
I don't know who in New York offers equipment rentals now, so can't help with that.

[Two23]

Most sellers offer return privilege in a reasonable length of time.


Kent in SD

[Bob Salomon]

What you wanted was a company called Lens&Repro in NYC. They had all the LF lenses you could desire. Sadly, they closed down a few years back.
I don't know who in New York offers equipment rentals now, so can't help with that.

FotoCare, Adorama, K&M among others.

[Leszek Vogt]

Would it be out of step to request some photos taken with the lens ? If it's a collector, then that could be more difficult. At least...it would be SOMETHING.

Les

[Mark Sawyer]

I sold off my Cooke PS945 and now I want something similar but antique. Anyone with advice, please share your experience, opinions, etc.

Well, the obvious choice is the 9-inch P&S Visual Quality, which the PS945 is based on.

If people are lucky enough to live where a number of LF photographers are nearby, you may be able to try a few lenses. I've loaned a few of mine out locally with no regrets.

[Tin Can]

What did you NOT like about the PS945?


I agree! I want an old brass soft focus lens for my 4x5, but I do not know what I am looking at. I have 30+ years in film and digital photography and not an iota of experience with old lenses. I sold off my Cooke PS945 and now I want something similar but antique. Anyone with advice, please share your experience, opinions, etc.

Much appreciated!
Darr

[darr]

Well, the obvious choice is the 9-inch P&S Visual Quality, which the PS945 is based on.

If people are lucky enough to live where a number of LF photographers are nearby, you may be able to try a few lenses. I've loaned a few of mine out locally with no regrets.

Yes, I have this lens on a search. Thank you Mark.

Also want to say how much I enjoyed your pixie portfolio in Lenswork a few years ago.
I was teaching photography at a technical college and shared your work on the big screen with my students.
They all loved it as much as I do.

Kind regard,
Darr

[darr]

What did you NOT like about the PS945?


I liked the lens a lot, but needed money towards my digital medium format setup, and the medium format tech camera would not take Copal 3 shutters (too large).
So I had to trim the gear some. I had put my 4x5 on hold for a few years, but now I am back. I shoot probably as much film as digital now.

Darr

[Mark Sawyer]

Yes, I have this lens on a search. Thank you Mark.

Also want to say how much I enjoyed your pixie portfolio in Lenswork a few years ago.
I was teaching photography at a technical college and shared your work on the big screen with my students.
They all loved it as much as I do.

Kind regard,
Darr

Thank you for the kind words, Darr!

Not to drift the thread too much, but I wonder how the price of an original 9-inch P&S VQ would compare to the price of the Cooke PS945. Did it drive the price up or down? At an equal price, I'd rather have the original, myself. Of course, we can't talk numbers here, but as a general trend. Also of course, there aren't enough originals to set a trend...

Having been fortunate enough to use a variety of old soft focus lenses, I think the best value and one of the very best performers is the venerable Verito. There were so many made, they don't command the prices they deserve. But there's a very good reason they were so popular...

[darr]

Thank you for the kind words, Darr!

Not to drift the thread too much, but I wonder how the price of an original 9-inch P&S VQ would compare to the price of the Cooke PS945. Did it drive the price up or down? At an equal price, I'd rather have the original, myself. Of course, we can't talk numbers here, but as a general trend. Also of course, there aren't enough originals to set a trend...

Having been fortunate enough to use a variety of old soft focus lenses, I think the best value and one of the very best performers is the venerable Verito. There were so many made, they don't command the prices they deserve. But there's a very good reason they were so popular...

I can say that when I bought the PS945 from Badger Graphic ~2005 it was $3500.
I sold it for the price I paid for it. There is one currently on auction for $5870 used.
No way, no how would I pay that. It is a nice lens, but IMO not worth more than $3500.

[Bob Salomon]

I can say that when I bought the PS945 from Badger Graphic ~2005 it was $3500.
I sold it for the price I paid for it. There is one currently on auction for $5870 used.
No way, no how would I pay that. It is a nice lens, but IMO not worth more than $3500.

So, you sold yours to soon!

[darr]

So, you sold yours to soon!

Bob,

Yes and no. :) I needed the cash for gear that was used in my paying jobs.
If the MFD (medium format digital) system could have taken Copal 3, I probably would have sold off something else instead.
It is all part of the photography journey.

Kind regards,
Darr

[Emil Schildt]

see here : https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?126648-Lenses-and-their-quot-personality-quot

[darr]

see here : https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?126648-Lenses-and-their-quot-personality-quot


Thank you so very much Emil! :o
So many lovely images to experience and the ability to see the lens they were made with is remarkable.

Thank you! Thank you!!
Darr

[goamules]

It is a gamble buying expensive optics, like expensive sports cars. You can't learn to use either in an "reasonable amount of time" that a seller would let you use it for. In a year, yes. In one or two sessions, no. Small time sellers can't do that, and there are few big time sellers anymore.

I buy a lot of lenses that some would call expensive. My main thing is when it arrives ensuring all the parts are still there. These are antiques, I just want it complete, I can decide over time if I don't like it, then I can sell it.

I've spent a happy decade learning about soft focus, petzvals, strange early lenses. I keep some, I sell some. If you can only afford one or two, I guess it is a bigger risk. I can't afford any really, but I did it by....buying some and selling some.

[John Kasaian]

This thread reminds me of that old line about yachts--- "If you have to ask how much it costs, you probably can't afford it."

I admit that been fortunate when it comes to buying old lenses---the most expensive cost $600, the least expensive $10 (these cover 8x10, btw)
Lens envy is a real issue. Early on I was convinced I needed a Cook triple convertible just like Ansel Adams used if I wanted to take pictures like Ansel Adams.
Raising my family by holding down four part time jobs, I just couldn't afford that but I could afford a nice 10" Wide Field Ektar, a lens which Ansel Adams also used, and it turned out to be a wonderful lens for me.
No, nothing I've done with any lens even remotely resembles Adams, LOL, but I've exceeded my own expectations more often than not.

What is more important to me is the condition of the lens and how reliable the shutter---if it has a shutter---is.
Qualities such as bokeh and swirlies exist in cheap old lenses and finding them is part of the fun, OR you can spend your loot on a known optical performer.
Life involves more than enough stresses to wear one down. I think that having a little fun with an old camera shouldn't add to those stresses.

While in the Army, I was on TAD one weekend with a Chief Sneathen, the DOD's premiere authority at the time on the fabled deuce and a half. He flew in to So Cal and I drove down in my hammered old 1977 240 D. While driving the Chief to LAX to catch his flight home the Mercedes cr@pped out on the 405.
Chief Sneathen got us on the road again with baling wire(actual baling wire as I was shoeing horses part time then and I had some in the trunk) and a pair of pliers. The repair got me back across the Grapevine to Fresno and likely still work if I hadn't replaced the part a few months later.
There's often more than one way to accomplish a goal, especially when it comes to lenses and clapped out 240Ds

[neil poulsen]

No stress for me. But then, my lenses aren't that expensive.

I would never purchase anything, unless seller posted photos.

I always pay through PalPal, which has buyer protection.

I always clarify w/questions any aspect that might be vague. If EBay, always using their messaging system.

I stick to sites that I trust. (I.e. here, EBay, igorcamera.com, BH, etc.)

[goamules]

I found a guy a few years ago that said he had some old lenses, from a studio his dad ran. This guy was in his 60s. I asked what they were and got answers like "some were black, some were brass...I don't know". I asked him for pictures. He sent blurry ones. I identified all of them (Tessars and such) except one brass one that looked like a magic lantern lens, but I couldn't see the knob or slots. We agreed on a price for all. When I met him at a truck stop (literally), he handed me the box of lenses, took the cash and - skedaddled. When I started looking at the brass one better - it was a CC Harrison. Pretty much bought those sight unseen. And the "delivery" felt like a drug deal in a parking lot.

[Tin Can]

eBay

However I bought my hoard from the son of a way bigger hoarder