Which lenses did you dump, why, and why did you rebought them ?

135L too long, went FF, missed and and rebought it, perfect IQ/AF compact best privé/quality

24-70L I, boring range. During a studio modelling workshop a top modelphotographer used it constantly and perfect travellens and allround versatility.

85 1.8 (twice) hated CA but 85L had it too, razerfast af and perfect price/quality as its so close to the L, will rebuy it third land last time

I have never bought anything sold it and bought it again. Not just camera stuff but anything. I just don't get this.

I'm too long in the tooth to fall into the buy - sell - buy trap. Do the due diligence, buy it, and if it falls out of use, keep it; it'll inevitably see use again. Sometime.

Normally, that is.

But after my pension debacle 2009 - 2011, when I had to eat into my savings to stay alive, I then had to sell a 200 2.8 and an 85 1.2. Losing the latter was a real wrench.

When the pension nonsense was resolved - fully back-dated AND with interest - I immediately re-bought a used 200 2.8 from a POTN member.

But, having bought the 100mm 2.8 macro and found it also quite cheerful in covering portrait needs, I looked hard at the 85 again and decided I couldn't justify it.

I do miss the extra 2.5 stops, but the lack is not as crippling as expected. I confess I do miss the 'fondle' factor, but I can live with that.

I sold my 300/4 when I got the 300/2.8 but then realised how useful the 300/4 was as a portable option and short MFD so bought another.
Not learning from this, I sold my 200/2.8 when I got the 200/2 and then missed having a lightweight 200mm handy....bought another.
It isn't going to happen again.

Bob

The 70-200 F4, the aperture was very limiting for me sometimes but the images it's producing is just too good for me to let go of the lens. Sold it but after a week, I got the IS version .

70-200 f4 IS. Bought new, decided it wasn't worth $1200, returned it. Found a nice used one for $800 ish, bought that instead.

Sirrith wrote in post #16157842
70-200 f4 IS. Bought new, decided it wasn't worth $1200, returned it. Found a nice used one for $800 ish, bought that instead.

That made me laught!

FEChariot wrote in post #16157532
I have never bought anything sold it and bought it again. Not just camera stuff but anything. I just don't get this.

Must be lucky. Life can throw some curve balls sometimes. Camera/lenses are just things and sometimes there are lot more important things that need money.

bobbyz wrote in post #16158039
Must be lucky. Life can throw some curve balls sometimes. Camera/lenses are just things and sometimes there are lot more important things that need money.

Well it is more than luck because I have always lived with in my means and kept a focus on savings over buying so that helps a lot. However I was more answering the question from a "changed my mind" stand point that I see so often here. Needing the money I get.

Agree the OP keeps buying/selling for nothing. And you see same questions every week.

Sold the nifty fifty and missed it. So I bought the 40mm pancake. Aside from size, I think they're very similar. Like buying the same lens twice.

Just got the pancake this week. Having fun!

Quite a few lenses for me...

135L - I am on my third I believe... First with a 7D in which it was a bit too long. Sold it. Rebought it back when I got a 5D2 and the lens really shined. Had it for a while until the 70-200 II overtook its place and I sold it... Recently, I got it back again and have no plans to unload it and use it alongside my 70-200 II. It really is an amazing lens, it is just one of the first I will give up when funding other lenses if need be.

35L - Had two of them... No plan to get it again, but I am waiting for a 35L II... I tried the Sigma, but the AF is wonky on both I tried. Sad, because the IQ is breathtaking. 35mm is my favorite prime FL on the 5D3, so I am looking forward to see what Canon has in store to replace the 35L when and if. No issue with the IQ, but not a fan of the build quality of the 35L.

70-200 II - A few months ago sold it because it got boring... Right after, of course, I get work that would really benefit from it. So I had to get it back. It is one of those never know what you have until its gone, because I don't want to be without it again.

400 f/5.6L - Had it originally with the 7D and I liked it, but did not love it. Bought it recently after I sold the 70-200 II and really enjoyed what I was getting out of it with the 5D3... Sadly, because the work came in that required me to rebuy the 70-200 II, this one had to go as it was most "specialized" in my collection.

17-40L - The original one I had was downright soft and mushy... Even stopped down. Turned me off from it for a long time. I decided to try it again and glad I did, very sharp wide open end to end and performance is just excellent. Worlds of a difference from the first copy I had.

Samyang 14mm f/2.8 - Had this lens for over a year and sold it when I got my 24-70 II... Decided it was a mistake and bought another from Amazon. Sadly, had bad decentering issues. Exchanged and the replacement was just as bad. Decided to just give up trying to get another and got my 17-40 instead. Which I am more than happy with. I miss the 14mm perspective, but I also like AF too


I am sure a few more, but those are the ones that stand out... I always like to change my gear around, its part of the hobby for me... So this is why I tend to cycle through lenses.

I bought the 24mm f/2.8. Sold it as pointless on APSc.
I bought the 135L. Sold it for the versatility of a 70-200 2.8.

Last December I got a full-frame 5D. Now I wish I had both of those lenses back. Damn!

I once read this on the back of a package of sugar at the table of a Chinese restaurant: You need to learn from the mistakes of others because you'll never live long enough to make them all yourself.

I try to factor this in when making purchases of just about anything. Before I make a major appliance purchase, I make it a practice to call a couple independent repair people and ask their opinions on this or that model I'm considering and also ask them to recommend their favorites in that appliance category.

I have avoided a few mistakes here on POTN.... at least, potential ones. I have the three lenses I have because of POTN-ers' recommendations and I like them all. Where I had problems personally was accepting tripod advice. I've taken the scenic route there, unfortunately.

FEChariot wrote in post #16157532
I just don't get this.

This is a technical forum but OP isn't asking a technical question. Half the threads on here are about behavior and POTN would be half as interesting without them.

Phoenixkh wrote in post #16158575
I once read this on the back of a package of sugar at the table of a Chinese restaurant: You need to learn from the mistakes of others because you'll never live long enough to make them all yourself.

Nice