I was trolling ebay looking for an 18/3.5, and came across one that was in rough cosmetic condition (hence the asterisk) but in working order mechanically at a bid price of $85 or so. The front element looked worse for wear with scratches and other problems and seemed pretty bad off. I thought about making a bid, but first tried to contact Olympus to see if the front element was still able to be replaced. Didn't hear back from Olympus, so I decided to pass. I checked my watch list, and the lens went for a final price of $103. For that low of a price, it seems in hindsight that it would have been a good gamble to take...rats.
I saw that lens as well, but decided it was too beat up. I also saw a great deal when I looked a recent sales in which a 18/3.5 and a 50/1.4 sold together for $465, and they were in what looked like quite nice shape. Perhaps the price of the 18/3.5 is going done maybe because of the new ZF 18/3.5. I hope this is right, because I would really like to get the Oly 18/3.5 at some point.
I saw that lens as well, but decided it was too beat up. I also saw a great deal when I looked a recent sales in which a 18/3.5 and a 50/1.4 sold together for $465, and they were in what looked like quite nice shape. Perhaps the price of the 18/3.5 is going done maybe because of the new ZF 18/3.5. I hope this is right, because I would really like to get the Oly 18/3.5 at some point.
Steve,
I saw that deal. The aperture on the 18 didn't work - seller's word was "DEAD" - I don't know if John Hermanson could have reapired it or not, probably not worth almost $500 to find out -
Then again, it might have been a $135 repair -
Then front element on the other 18 had been "buffed out" at a local optometrist, and the result was images that were going to be perpetually "soft" - didn't sound promising.
Probably the best thing to do would have been to buy both, and send them to JH to reassemble a single working lens - would have gotten the overall price right back up to the $900+ these little puppies are going for these days -
Dec 13, 2008 at 09:21 AM
Steve Spencer Online • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
You're right I didn't read the description carefully because I only saw it after it had already sold. The description said the 50mm had fungus too, so not nearly the deal I thought it was. I suppose I will just have to wait a bit longer until I can afford one. I just picked up a 28mm f/3.5 from KEH, which is more what I can afford.
Saw both of these, I put in a bid on the one with the 50, since fixing the apeture would not be that bad. The one that had been buffed out was really only worth $100 if that, IMHO.
The cost for service @ Olympus is $229/hour according to the service center here in the Orange County Olympus USA service center. Not sure if anyone else got a different quote.
I do have the Oly 18/3.5 and it is a sweet little lens. I was thinking about trading "up" to the ZE 18/3.5 but I'm not so sure any more.
