shutter count on a lens {of sorts?}: is there a way of getting information on a lens, besides how old it is? I have a 105mm macro Nikon for about a year, I used it once and put in it...

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

is there a way of getting information on a lens, besides how old it is? I have a 105mm macro Nikon for about a year, I used it once and put in it my camera bag.{ turns out macro is not my cup of tea!!}
so my question is. if it is a year old and has taken 5000 photos, does it have less value than have taken 5 photo's?

before we go there!! I know the shutter is in the camera, this is more for wear and tear, value!

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

redhogbill wrote:

is there a way of getting information on a lens, besides how old it is? I have a 105mm macro Nikon for about a year, I used it once and put in it my camera bag.{ turns out macro is not my cup of tea!!}
so my question is. if it is a year old and has taken 5000 photos, does it have less value than have taken 5 photo's?

before we go there!! I know the shutter is in the camera, this is more for wear and tear, value!

The number of shots taken with it do not mean a thing, it is all about the shape its in, how well its taken care of and the images it can produce.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

redhogbill wrote:

is there a way of getting information on a lens, besides how old it is? I have a 105mm macro Nikon for about a year, I used it once and put in it my camera bag.{ turns out macro is not my cup of tea!!}
so my question is. if it is a year old and has taken 5000 photos, does it have less value than have taken 5 photo's?

before we go there!! I know the shutter is in the camera, this is more for wear and tear!

You might as well advertise it as being used "very little," which is a meaningless term. Since there is no way to document the number of pictures taken with a lens, it's a moot point. Buyers will look at the physical condition and optical performance. If the body is free of dents, scratches, and wear marks, that's good. If the glass is unscratched and mold free, that's good.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

redhogbill wrote:

is there a way of getting information on a lens, besides how old it is? I have a 105mm macro Nikon for about a year, I used it once and put in it my camera bag.{ turns out macro is not my cup of tea!!}
so my question is. if it is a year old and has taken 5000 photos, does it have less value than have taken 5 photo's?

before we go there!! I know the shutter is in the camera, this is more for wear and tear, value!

Experienced appraisers will be able to judge wear as well as exterior appearance when rating a lens by feel and their comparison to other samples of that or similar lenses.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Before you completely abandon macro-photography, please drop by the UHH True Macro-Photography Forum at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html , just to see what we are doing, and possibly get a few answers to your macro questions.

Is your lens a Nikkor 105G? I use the same.

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

romanticf16 wrote:

Experienced appraisers will be able to judge wear as well as exterior appearance when rating a lens by feel and their comparison to other samples of that or similar lenses.

so I would be able to go to a photo shop and have an evaluation put on it,? {like a ring?}
would like to make the sale legit

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

Nikonian72 wrote:

Before you completely abandon macro-photography, please drop by the UHH True Macro-Photography Forum at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html , just to see what we are doing, and possibly get a few answers to your macro questions.

Is your lens a Nikkor 105G? I use the same.

yes.. 2.8

and iwill check out your forum! thank you

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

speters wrote:

The number of shots taken with it do not mean a thing, it is all about the shape its in, how well its taken care of and the images it can produce.

The only thing hat might result from more use than less, could be dings and scuffs, the accumulation of dust and dirt, pethaps some wear on the mount, and possibly a little loosening of the focus ring. But as you point out, if two lenses appear to be in identically good shape with one never used at all, and the other having taken a few thousand shots, the minor wear and tear should not affect it much or at all. However, if you can convince a buyer that the lens you are selling was only used for a few shots it might make the purchase more desirable for some people over a similarly priced but well used copy.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Red, my experience with big expensive lenses is that cost is most affected by the visible exterior/interior condition(generally implying the amount of use/abuse but more importantly, if all factors are equal then a later manufacturing code becomes important.
I was pretty darned disappointed when a year after buying a brand new lens and I learned how to use the manufactures date code and my lens was 5 years old eventhough it was obviously new.
For max resale make sure your date codes are as new as possible. But probably not a big deal for inexpensive lenses.
It's possible to buy a used lens that looks new but has actually been thrashed but the owner always had a Lenscoat on it so it looks new!!
Also sell a lens before it goes out of service life. ;-)
SS

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

To me, the true value of a lens is based on how much I use it, not how little I use it! If I spend a lot of money on a lens and then hardly ever use it, I look upon this as money spent unwisely. When it comes to lenses, I'm not interested in showpieces for display only.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

SharpShooter wrote:

I was pretty darned disappointed when a year after buying a brand new lens and I learned how to use the manufactures date code and my lens was 5 years old even though it was obviously new.

Most lens buyers aren't as knowledgeable as you are, so the condition and model would be the most important factors. I recently bought a Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 from KEH. That lens was made from 1996-2006. Since it was new old stock, it was really brand new - never been used - so I don't care when in that time period it was made.

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

thanks for input to all .. it was helpful