Thinking of setting up Lens Buyers Anonymous

Hi, My name is John (aka LennyBloke) and I have a problem......

....I know I'm not the only one, but I'm finding a pattern emerging with me buying certain lenses then convincing myself I should sell them, only to find myself buying them again - sometimes just weeks later. I've even reached the point where I think it's okay to have 2 of some lenses, telling myself that Silver and Black are different

In the last year or so I've sold off my final FA*85mm f1.4, Takumar 200mm f3.5, Super Multi Coated Takumar 50mm f1.4 (8 element), Sigma 70mm f2.8 Macro and DFA 21mm f2.4 Black Limited lenses, only to buy each one again. The most recent of these being the DFA21mm Limited (Yes, my 3rd Black copy) !!!

I'm often too embarrassed to post on the What's your latest Acquisition? thread

Who else is willing to admit to this (or a similar) problem :

Come on, don't be shy

Hands up, I'm in... I've lost count how many times I've sold lenses or bodies and then bought them back!

Although in self-defense the repurchasing has occurred after having been drawn to the darkside, AKA mirrorless with brands such as Fuji / Olympus & Panasonic. All those brands have been fine, some really nice bodies & lenses, but after a few months I've always yearned to be back with Pentax.

So I'm currently on my third KP, I have a HD20-40mm which is my second one, a DA50mm F1.8 (3 or 4 of those), but definitely not swapping again, my heart is with Pentax. I no longer worry about may be missing out on the latest technologies that other brands provide, my KP & 20-40mm does everything I need it to do and somehow feels a more enhanced photographic experience compared to Mirrorless.

Speaking of Mirrorless, K-01s had 3 or 4 of those too!

Hi John.
My name's Ben and I have a problem. Whilst I've never sold and re-bought a lens, as far as I can recall, I have previously sold a Voigtlander 40mm f/2 to make way for a native Sony-mount Voigtlander, in the Nokton 40mm f/1.2.
I am now strongly debating trying to find a replacement for the difficult-to-come-by Ultron 40/2 to pop on a Pentax MX now I'm shooting more film these days...

I know it'd cost me a kidney, though. Hence why I'm trying so damned hard to put it off...

'Hi, my name's Kevin and I'm a Pentax user.' ('Hi, Kevin' from people sitting in a circle in the room.) 'I admit to, (shudder), having sold lenses and then later bitterly regretted it.' (Nodding in sympathy, occasional murmurs, 'I hear your pain, buddy.') 'Even though my preferred format is full frame, I've felt empty without my 12-24,' (gulps back a sniffle), 'which is why I'm here.' (Tentative smile.)

'Welcome, Kevin.' (Says John, the facilitator. Wise beyond years and an outstanding photographer.) 'It's why I feel the value of such a group as ours.'

Nods from around the room.

(To be continued...)

Hides head in shame .....
I am looking at a pentax F*300, a Pentax DA*300, a Takumar 300, a Tamron Adaptall 300, a Pentacon 300 and a Tair 300 (and that rat Lenny Bloke sold me the Tair!). Then there are the collections of Pentax SMC-A and SMC-F lenses; then the Soviet lenses; then .............. I can't go on. There are too many of them. At least I don't sell them - I just collect more of them. Sob Sob.

While I have too many lenses and I like to buy and use "new" ones, I don't re-buy lenses after regretting selling them, especially brand new ones. When I buy a brand new lens it's because I've fully done my research and decided that's definitely the one for me.

The only lens I've re-bought several times is variations on the 50/1.4 Takumar, the most recent one coming from John and it's the third copy I've owned, although the second one came as part of a package and I bought it to re-sell for a profit. That third copy is probably going to go soon too in order to free up funds.

I don't have a lens problem. I research and buy loads and loads of lenses and when my lens cabinet is full again I simply buy another lens cabinet followed by more lens buys - absolutely no problem!!!

As someone who has bought a number of excellent lenses from you John, I can only say I celebrate your affliction

I have never sold anything (except my Spotmatic back around 1976)

As a result I still have everything: A black MX, a silver MX, an auto winder, my original M series lenses, a Zorki 4 rangefinder, a Rokkor enlarging lens, a couple of Flashes, filters and cables. None of which have seen the light of day for the past 35 years or so.

My K5, K3ii, numerous lenses (including double of some), a couple more flashes and filters are my second hoard.

I have thought about selling some on occasions. But I quickly regain my senses

It comes and goes, in phases. Recently I've tried to stay away from eBay and so my bank balance is steadily rising instead of hitting rock bottom constantly.

But yes, I know of the illness. Four 50-135s once upon a time, three A*135 lenses more recently. It's a thrill.

I also stopped posting on the acquisition thread for the same reason. It's a bit tedious doing a weekly post when LBA flares up again.

Hello John,
I too have celebrated your unknown affliction having bought the excellent D FA* 50 f1.4 from you.
You recently sold a second D FA 21 f2.4 in black, just after I bought one elsewhere, so I was a little miffed at missing that one .

I have some older gear that I need to off load as I am just not using it but somehow can't quite bring myself to do it
Perhaps some tips are in order.

If I were a more prolific poster here I might be tempted to try the marketplace, but then I would just fill the space again with even more gear but with less guilt .

This thread clearly shows the value of having a 'lens buyers anonymous' group. Plenty of good advice and mutual support already...



I now feel absolutely glowingly positive about having 7 macro lenses plus extension tubes plus macro thingies that clip onto lenses (not all of them bought from LennyBloke...) when most people can live quite happily with only one.

Steve

Lubbyman - '(not all of them bought from LennyBloke...)' Brilliant! Made me laugh out loud.

OMG - well that turned out to be more embarrassing than I expected it seems that at least eight of you who contributed to this post have benefitted from my affliction

Clearly the support group has attracted some of the most prolific collectors, and some who may even part with some lesser used gear in the future We have to live by some rules I guess, so mine are as follows:
My first rule is if something is a bargain "Buy it!"
My second rule is if I haven't tried it before "Buy it!"
My third rule is if it's Silver "Buy it!"
My final rule (which I haven't stuck to 100%) is if I haven't used it for over a year the "Sell it!" - I can usually find another one somewhere if I miss it

Finally I'd like to thank all the members of the newly formed LLBA - LennyBlokes Lens Buyers Anonymous club

Plus One Rule to Rule Them All: If all justification to buy fails - buy anyway!