Used, I've seen it go between US$3750 and US$4500, depending on condition and buyer. A few days ago an eBay auction ended for a pretty used one, with no bids at US$4200.
New, most I've seen have gone for around US$6000-US$8000, with a couple reaching higher.
Of course, FM B&S prices will be, er, rather higher than this.
It is like its 85/1.2 cousin- the best of its focal length ever made. Their anniversary edition lenses are designed to be showpieces of their superior engineering, and it is reported that when Zeiss sold them as new, they actually lost money as so much goes into those anniversary lenses. Zeiss lenses are noted for their lack of CA and superior resolving power, but as with most other conventional fast lens designs, they show a reduction of contrast and highlight bloom at the wider apertures. The price of the 55/1.2 peaked at $9500 in a Japanese auction last winter.
Why is the 100th Anniversary 45mm Tessar so inexpensive? I don't to use the word "cheap" but it can be had for well less than $500.00. Is that more of a mass production actually or? Does anybody know?
The Tessar is a simple lens design, not very fast, not much glass, so there is not too much that goes into it. The Contax 55/1.2 and 85/1.2, even without Anniversary Edition attention are big hunks of glass costly for anyone to design and manufacture. True, Canon's 85/1.2 runs a paltry $1600 by comparison, but it was never close in performance to the Contax 85/1.2 and when the Contax 85/1.2 was released, it retailed for around $3500 I believe. Perhaps a little pricey, but not that out of line for a German lens with that much glass. Consider the Zeiss Hasselblad 40mm CFi (the last one they made), that one goes for around $5000 new. Not sure what the Contax 55/1.2 originally retailed for.
The 55mm f/1.2 100th Anniversary is rare as hens teeth. Easier to find the 85 1.2 50th or 60th Jahre. Drop me a line if you're interested in the one in my sig. I'll be selling off all my Canon gear shortly and will no longer have a use for this superb lens.
David I don't think so. I heard about that price during a Westlicht Auction when one went for $8000 this past spring. (That one also was with people outside the FM community)
zaknat wrote:
The 55mm f/1.2 100th Anniversary is rare as hens teeth. Easier to find the 85 1.2 50th or 60th Jahre. Drop me a line if you're interested in the one in my sig. I'll be selling off all my Canon gear shortly and will no longer have a use for this superb lens.
David
David,
Care to share some photos taken by this lens? Never seen one before. Many many thanks.
Wenye,
I am heading out of town for a few days. When I return I'll try to post a few. Son had posted some wedding shots a while back (his own) taken with either the 50th or 60th, can't remember. I'll be seeing him on Monday and will ask him to post a few as well.
zaknat wrote:
Wenye,
I am heading out of town for a few days. When I return I'll try to post a few. Son had posted some wedding shots a while back (his own) taken with either the 50th or 60th, can't remember. I'll be seeing him on Monday and will ask him to post a few as well.
Well someone seems to be trying for a new record high for a used 55mm f1.2, US$10,718!
It will be interesting to see if this not even in mint condition copy achieves it's astronomical price.
zaknat wrote:
The 55mm f/1.2 100th Anniversary is rare as hens teeth. Easier to find the 85 1.2 50th or 60th Jahre. Drop me a line if you're interested in the one in my sig. I'll be selling off all my Canon gear shortly and will no longer have a use for this superb lens.
David
What are you moving to, David?
deshojo, that is Arsenal, a very reputable, but expensive dealer.
LeSong, I think it is important to look at the actual results too. For example, the Leica 80mm Summilux doesn't have very impressive MTF charts wide open, but the pictures are stunning. I imagine that the Zeiss is similar in that respect. Does anyone here have a 55mm f/1.2? I would love to see pictures from one.
