Overpriced apo lathar 125mm f2.5

[kryss]

Expected bidding war on this item on ebay drives price paid,obviously not an item an experienced buyer would get involved with,also as an experienced macro photographer I have a number of lenses that produce equal or better results than this cult lens,sold mine 12 months ago in ex++ for $1400 and bought motorized focusing rail and put $900 in bank to spend on other worthwhile items.

[Attila]

To people need luxury items, not only good working which is good job well. This is true for clothes, cars houses, photography is not an exception.
If we make things to deadly simple a Helios-44 + extension rings do job pretty well in macro photography and some how we can see many, many macro lenses

[kryss]

+1

[komet]

[pst]

@kryss:

This lens might be overpriced, but you could extend this statement to many other lenses in the photography world. But this is not my point.

Like komet in the previous post I would also like to know which lenses give "equal or better results". There are not too many true apo lenses out there.
I'm not arguing for or against this lens, just curious...

[kds315*]

[kryss]

My point was that it is/was not worth $2000,and after 50years of experience as a photographer(30 of them shooting & selling macro prints to interior designers,horticulturists etc.) I feel confident in my statement and regardless of cost equipment is only as good as the user.There are many examples of this on this site when used by competent photographers,I was not aware one could buy experience.

[kds315*]

Well, I payed much less for mine many years ago, but I still won't sell it as only the Macro Apo Elmarit comes close to it in my humble opinion. Sure, I also use other lenses for shooting macro (easy when you have more than 600 here ), but still if we talk about the last percent in performance, nothing beats it. But I fully agree that the "normal" shooter won't see much difference to a - say - Kiron 105mm

[komet]

[kryss]

komet,please read my penultimate post,"there are many examples of this on this site,when used by competent photographers".

[Tervueren]

I think one sold here not long ago for around 1200 Euro, I bought mine in a Sony/Minolta mount for just over half of that

[komet]

[lauge]

What is so special about this lens that can't be had in other premium lenses that makes it increase this amount in value beside collection value?

[kryss]

Hi lauge,as a professional with many years shooting macro and making above average income, in a word..nothing.

[james]

[kryss]

James, please read my original post.

[Tervueren]

that will be a no then

[poilu]

some alternative to apo lanthar
http://forum.mflenses.com/meyer-trioplan-on-5dii-t26199.html
http://forum.mflenses.com/helios-44-2-on-5dii-t26136.html
http://forum.mflenses.com/industar-50-2-on-5dii-t26168.html

[LucisPictor]

That is an amazing lens indeed.
And the question of being "overpriced" or not has been discussed in another thread recently.

I guess "overpriced" is pretty much subjective.
If someone wealthy wants to have exactly what this lens offers, no price would be overpriced.
For me, this Lanthar is definitely overpriced, because I would never spend so much money on one lens and I hardly ever shoot macros.
You get what I mean, right?

This Apo Lanthar perhaps is a good example for a lens that is "overpriced" but not "overrated", i.e. it's a bit too expensive for the reasonable customer , but it performancewise meets its reputation.

[kryss]

Thank you,as I stated overpriced not over rated.I used one for year or two and finally sold it. I seem to have upset a few people with my opinion stated from experience and I assure them I am more than able to afford any piece of equipment but am not stupid enough to overpay just to say I own one when equal results can be obtained from other lenses.

[LucisPictor]

[Frogfish]

[kryss]

frogfish, how is it a cop out when my point was and is that $2000 is not justified for this lens,I base this on many years of successfully selling macro work and having owned and used this lens.I suggest you stop being lazy and read the many articles on the subject of macro,which in itself is very difficult to master,after all isn't this forum popular for the knowledge it imparts for those who are willing to learn?.

[poilu]

[LucisPictor]