I bought the 30D kit with the 18-55 lens and I realized that the lens won't do in the vacation of a lifetime in Paris. I bought a Tamron 18-250 in a hurry and that got the job done. I've got plenty of L glass since but I won't sell the Tamron just so I can gift it away together with the 30D to my brother when I'll move up to 5D Mark III I sold the 18-55 as fast as I could though.
If I truly thought I'd never again use a lens that I have... and it was worth quite a bit, I'd definitely sell it. That said, I don't buy tools to turn around and sell them. If I did that I wouldn't have any tools for woodworking, auto maintenance, hunting, fishing, lawn care, etc. (I'd have to sell everything off every winter wouldn't I) I don't usually buy a tool unless I need it or know I can afford to hang on to it.
I have a whole collection of Minolta MD lenses (from 21mm to 300mm), bought new, that I no longer use (along with two like-new X-700s and an XD). But, when I consider selling, I'm offered $15 for a lens and $25 for a camera, but if I wanted to buy, they're listed for a LOT more. So, I dutifully keep the batteries fresh and hang on to them. When I die, I'll donate them.
Why keep them? Just now I'm scanning in over 6,000 slides and an equal number of negatives taken over many years with the above kit. They were (and are) fine gear.
Digital - I use every lens I have bought, from 15mm to 500mm.
Yakim Peled wrote:
I have no sentiments for gear. What I don't use and don't foresee using in the near future I sell. I'm not rich enough to keep useless gear.
I am on my third 135L, this time I promise I will not sell it again...
PS all three copies have just been as good as the other, no variation in quality whatsoever..GREAT LENS.
sorry AWESOME LENS, now one of my favorite on the full frame.
Since obtaining the 85L II I have hardly used my 85 f/1.8 lens at all, but one day I may need to sell one or the other, and I want to keep at least one 85mm lens in my bag at all times, so for now I'm going to hold on to both of them.
I think it was a radio guy, Bruce Williams that always says, "Never love something that can't love you back." I try to take this to heart. What good does old gear do when your dead? It gets sold or given away because the people cleaning out all our collectable junk don't want to deal with. Sell it now before it gets given away....
I had a bunch of lenses which I sold as I was gradually upgrading to L.
I never regretted any that I have sold, except maybe for the bigma (non OS) as it was my first big lens (but the 100-400 delivers better).
Even if some of my lenses are not often used, they always come handy when I need them, at the end of the day that's the value of a diverse lens collection and not so much in how often one uses them IMHO.
The most difficult part is not to fall for lust of L lens or upgrade (eg going to 24L II when the 24L is good enough for the few times I use it, or the 100L IS when the old 200/2.8 is sufficient for the few macro I do).
I sold the 18-55 as fast as I could though.