keywest305 Loc: Baltimore Md.

My collection is now too big. I have 21 Nikon, Tamron and one Tokina lens. Im going to thin the herd since most are like new and rarely touched. Im going to keep about 3 of them for certain shoots. My dilemma is should i unload them at the nearest camera store which offered to buy them or is it worth it to sell to individuals. I ask because they are dslr. Is the market still buying them. I have a lot of specialty lenses.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

My best guess is the camera store will pay you about 50% of what you could sell them for if use on-line markets. Also consider KEH, etc versus your nearby store. KEH will give you quotes.

btbg

The local camera store will probably give you pennies on the dollar. However, some local camera stores allow you to set your own price and then sell the lenses for you on consignment.

Selling lenses to individuals would probably earn you more money, but it might take a lot of time depending on the lenses and where you are located. For example if you sell on line then you may lose any extra money you make on shipping costs and you run the risk of being scammed.

Just keep in mind that the camera store can not pay you the actual value of your lenses as they have to be able to make a profit on the lenses and will almost certainly have to clean them and possibly do other cosmetic work before putting the lenses up for sale. They also have to keep the lenses long enough that they can run a check that the lenses were not stolen before they can resell them.

As to your other question, yes DSLR lenses are still worth money, depending on the lens as Nikon Mirrorless cameras with an adapter can still use them and there are still plenty of people still using DSLRs.

Mama Bear984 Loc: Langley, BC Canada

I find most stores will give you 1/4 the original value. They then mark them up to 50% of the original value for re-sale. If your not in a hurry just sell them privately. Make sure you meet in a well lite public place, only accept cash no e-transfers.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

The longer you wait the less value DSLR lenses have.
Also being Nikon mount there is the problem that will they even function on a mirrorless camera or even many DSLR Nikons?
The time issue comes in also that as time passes mirrorless lenses will become more prevalent on the used market and refurbished so those looking to expand the mirrorless lenses they have there will be used ones and refurbished available. Also new mirrorless lenses are being introduced all the time duplicating the old DSLR lenses.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

List them here first. Some will probably sell then you can decide about the rest of them.

User ID

Exactly.

Really puzzles me why this thread ever even got started ...

Red6

I think it depends on several factors. I have done both and there are trade-offs with both methods.

If you decide to sell the items to individuals then you have to find a market to list them then deal with the nuts, cheap skates, window shoppers, and scammers while finding someone truly interested in what you have to sell. I have done a good deal of this kind of selling and can be a real pain. Then when you do find someone who will pay your price then you have to ship the items if they do not live close to you. You may also have to offer some type of guarantee and refund their money if they get it and do not like it for some reason. You most likely will get more money selling your items this way but there will be times you ask yourself if it is worth it.

The other option, is much easier but you will make less money. That is contact KEH, B&H or some other large camera dealer and use their services. They will give you an estimate on what they will pay you and even pay for the shipping most time. They will inspect the items and then make a final offer. Easy, no problems and you get a check in the mail or trade credit. This is my choice these days. I have had scammer attempts lately on nearly everything I have tried to sell myself. So far, I have been lucky and have not fallen for them. I came close and was saved by an observant bank teller who determined that I had been given a bogus cashier's check. I had not delivered the goods so nothing was lost. But they came very close to scamming me.

But I view the money situation a little differently than most people. Some people assume things they buy hold their value forever and expect to recover almost their full value when sold. I do not. I view money that I have spent on non-appreciating goods as "sunk" funds. In other words that money is gone, and any money we can get for them after that initial purchase is just basically salvage value that offsets the original purchase price. Like cars, most things we buy start depreciating the day we purchase them, some more than others. So, when I sell a lens or camera after using it for a few years, I am happy if I can get 45-50% of its new value. That money to me is money I would never have and I had use of the item for those years at a cost 50% lower than new.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I agree totally with your last paragraph.
I buy it, use it and if I sell it whatever is received from the sale is just a bonus.
I never look at resale of stuff. I look at how long it will be used and how much it will cost each month.
For example my Jeep has cost 148 a month now and that is far cheaper than renting or leasing.
I do NOT count gas or maintenance or tires. Maintenance has been very minimal.
Same with my cameras and lenses, no value when done, just whatever I get is fine if sold.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

This is the classic question of convenience vs time and money. You will get more by selling them individually, but each one would have to be advertised, packed, and mailed individually. I would take the quick way out.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Exactly! When I decide to get rid of something, I just want it gone. I put it on eBay, and it sells for whatever someone is willing to pay. Within a week, it's gone, and I have my money.

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

Any lens sells. Manual, SLR, DSLR, etc.
Sold all here UHH. .
How did I price them. Include shipping, US only. Cash flow pricing, no dust collectors.
Basically netted half of what used sold for.

gwilliams6

Moving from SLRs and DSLRs to mirrorless after 40 years shooting pro Canon and Nikon gear (both brands), I had a host of DSLR lenses to sell. I and many other pros I know have been cheated and scammed selling gear individually on Ebay and directly to people. I just wont do it. Yes you can get more money if all goes well. But often it does not.

For less hassle (yes less money) I prefer to sell to a reputable dealer. There are many like KEH, Adorama, B&H, Allen's Camera that will give you a fair price if your gear is in good shape. It is correct they have to still leave room to make some profit off resale, but I find the lack of hassle and the peace of mind of dealing with reputable folks is worth it to me. It may or may not be worth the loss of money to do this for you.

Best to gather all your lenses and get some quotes from these folks. You can put out feelers to private buyers and see the difference in money offered, and then decide which way is best for you to go.

FYI, I clean up my lenses myself before sale so they are in best sale condition. One thing I always did was use top optical quality protective filters, so when I trade or sell a lens , its front element is pristine. I also keep the lens boxes in storage. Believe it or not, you will get more money if you have the lens in the original box in many cases.

So do some work and get some quotes. Do not count of these DSLR lenses holding their current value going forward. Yes there is still a market for DLSR lenses, but that market is shrinking as many move to mirrorless, and even though there are decent adapters , mirrorless-designed lenses still work better, and are generally lighter and smaller.

Dont forget to just list your lenses here first in UHH. UHH is still heavily DSLR users .

Cheers

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Great summation of my feelings too . . .

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

I just sold off two cameras and 6 lenses to Roberts Camera. Many thanks to hogger CO for the suggestion to use them. They gave me a better offer than KEH and MPB. Idealt with a real person, not an online robot.

The deal was in total about 70-80% of what I could have gotten after commissions and shipping on ebay. That 20% was well worth not having to deal with ebay scammers and multiple boxing and trips to UPS.

I could have stretched it out over two months selling individual pieces and dealt with the gamut of shoppers for what? $500-750 extra? My time is worth more. This was clean and efficient and they upped the offer by $50 once inspected. I shipped on a Monday, they received on a Wednesday and I got $3900 dollars by Paypal on Saturday. Oh, and they paid the shipping! I highly recommend them now.