Some Soft Focus Lens Sales Information

[Steven Tribe]

Really lens porn here

Grubby Plasticca 600mm to be picked up from storage in The Netherlands on a very poor condition huge studio camera/support.
Internet timed auction. The engraving is very similar to the usual from Dresden but has “Bruxelles” and some other text I can’t read. The lister did not know what he was selling so the camera got the attention.
Approx, €1,500 with auction fees included.

Condition, well judge for yourself!
This is the first time I have ever seen evidence that the Plasticca actually found use in a commercial studio.

[e]

How would you guys say the LF Soft Focus lens market is these day..for buyers..and sellers?
Has it gone up over the past 5 years (good for sellers)..or a buyers market at the moment w/drop in prices..
Thinking about buying a SF lens this week ..but the owner is asking a lot of dough..
I've been out of lens buying for a long time now..and have no idea of the current market..

[jp]

I've only bought one LF SF lens in the past year.. Seems to be a pretty stable market without big changes.
If you can try it in person, I think it's potentially worth a small amount extra to not have any surprises.

[dap]

My impression is that the overall market has softened compared to 5 years ago, but the strength of the market really depends on the make of the lens. Some lens prices seem to have fallen (verito), some seem to have gone up (Cooke knucklers), and many have been relatively stable. Some lenses that you used to run across frequently have become hard to find and some that you would never see for sale have hit the market with more frequency (I have seen more gundlach hyperions on the used market in the last year or so than I have seen in the previous 5). Long term - it is anybody's guess.

[Mark Sawyer]

Vitaxes have doubled or more, though I don't think it's for their soft focus feature. Veritos were never that expensive, as there are so many of them, and they're just stellar for soft focus work. Cookes are through the roof, and deservedly so. Most others are staying about what they were, from what I've seen.

[Steven Tribe]

I have the impression that both supply and demand are down.

I think most people interested in portraits/pictorialism are well stocked up on a wide range of suitable lenses and there are not waves of newcomers or replacements coming in to influence prices.

Whilst we who dabble in passing on items regularly are prepared to adjust our prices to what people currently are willing to pay, there are plenty of eBay listers and specialist auction valueers who won’t - thinking, perhaps, that the next upturn is a few months away.

So.

-the market is smaller than 5 -10 years ago.
-certain items/sizes are as popular as ever, but average prices have fallen to a more (sensible) level.

[e]

Thx for the great info guys!
I've decided to buy the lens..probably am paying a bit too much for it..
But I know the guy selling it from long ago..and its local..so all the ducks are in a row for this purchase.
I'll post a pic in a few days..

[e]

OK..here is is..a 16" P&S..always wanted one of these..a lot bigger then I thought though..
Metal tube is minty..glass very clear but w/marks..no aperture..
price $3.3K

[Hugo Zhang]

A Pinkham is a Pinkham. You will be happy.

[seven]

it would be nice if you share also the price, that was the idea of this thread