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For sale: Zeiss Distagon CFi 4/50
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:39 pm    Post subject: For sale: Zeiss Distagon CFi 4/50 Reply with quote

I'm selling on behalf of a photographer friend this superb lens, never used, in box: Zeiss Distagon CFi 4/50.



He is asking 2500e plus shipping, insurance and paypal fee.


PostPosted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There's no doubt it's a beautiful lens (I have one), but €2.5K is well over twice the going value for this lens, box or not.

If I had to let mine go tomorrow - with warranty certificate, lens bag, box and lens hood - I'd ask no more than €1100.00.

Sorry if I sound harsh, but there's a strain of distinct over-valuation of kit at the moment.


PostPosted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd really appreciate pointing out the over pricing, i'll let him know right away.


PostPosted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

piticu wrote:
I'd really appreciate pointing out the over pricing, i'll let him know right away.


No problem - I was just being objective about the asking price.

Until last August I worked for the Hasselblad distributor here in Ireland - we were having problems selling them at their retail price back then. They only started to move when we reduced the cost considerably, and suddenly everybody wanted one!!! That's when I picked mine up - but again, I wouldn't consider paying anything more than €1100.00 for one if I needed one today.

Of course, putting it on the 'Bay might fetch him close to his asking price - it's a place of magical happenings!!!


PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks like B&H sells this lens over the recommened price, at 4023$ plus shipping. So, for the same lens the buyer will pay 500$ less, only because the box is open. A quick search on ebay revealed the lowest price of 800 pounds but the lens was hardly usable.
Do you think that maybe things changed since last August?


PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

piticu wrote:
Do you think that maybe things changed since last August?


No idea to be honest - but I did call my old boss and he offered me one for €1250.00 (inclusive of VAT). So yes, a little more than I'd be prepared to pay if I wanted one, but still close to the originally quoted figure.

Unopened box too - he's got two of them, but will only sell to existing clients.

The idiot - seems like he could make more online Laughing


PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am curious about this lens. It seems "slow" at f:4, although I know full well the widest opening does not speak for the whole lens.

Is it peaked at f:4 because of construction? Just wondering.


PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Laurence wrote:
I am curious about this lens. It seems "slow" at f:4, although I know full well the widest opening does not speak for the whole lens.

Is it peaked at f:4 because of construction? Just wondering.


It's one of several Distagons designed for the Hassie 'V' System cameras.

It's a 9 element, T* coated design and is marketed as a moderate wide-angle lens.

I've tried to access the Distributor site but my login has expired as I haven't used it in ages, so unfortunately I cannot get any more information at this stage.

Mine is with a buddy who's just bought a digi-back and has rediscovered his love/lust for all things Hasselblad, but I'll do some shooting with it when it's back and post the results.

Interestingly, Hasselblad have a Recommended Retail Price of €2980.00 for the CFi at the moment - I can only imagine what the distributors are buying them at if they can quote me €1250.00...


PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Laurence wrote:
I am curious about this lens. It seems "slow" at f:4, although I know full well the widest opening does not speak for the whole lens.
Is it peaked at f:4 because of construction? Just wondering.


My Zeiss book sheds some light on the subject.
The early Zeiss lenses for Hasselblad were a bunch of "pioneer" lenses released in the second half of the 50s.
Amongst them there was a Distagon 5.6/50.
In the early 60s, a new model Distagon 4/50 was derived from the slower predecessor's design.
This model was also created with Rollei mount for the Rollei MF cameras.
Then in the 70s a newer Distagon 2.8/50 was created, but the old 4/50 remained in the production line, obviously with the purpose to offer an affordable (if this word has any meaning for an Hasselblad line...) alternative to the 2.8/50.