Excess DSLR lenses??

I've heard contradicting stories about the market for older DSLR lenses as folks move into mirrorless. Some say there are too many lenses, depressing the market. Others claim that everyone is using adaptors so there isn't a lot of DSLR lenses on the market. I don't know what to believe.

Rainyday wrote in post #19473174
I've heard contradicting stories about the market for older DSLR lenses as folks move into mirrorless. Some say there are too many lenses, depressing the market. Others claim that everyone is using adaptors so there isn't a lot of DSLR lenses on the market. I don't know what to believe.

Go take a look. I suspect it's a combination of the two, many keeping EF lenses ans some selling. I know last time i looked on my "NextDoor" site, there were a ton of lenses of all brands being sold, some for very low prices. Not many really good ones though.

Millions of insterchangeable lens cameras were sold, millions of lenses for dSLR were sold. About 160 Million interchangeable lens cameras sold 2007-2021 alone, per CIPA
https://nikonrumors.co​m …r-2022-cipa-numbers.aspx/
IOW there is an inherent demand for used lenses for dSLR. And everyone is not stampeding to changing over.

Mirrorless camera volume has been rather stubbornly limited in growth of Units, stuck at a plateau for many years around 3-4 Million units each year, and gaining market share as a Percentage only due to the decline of dSLR sales. 2021 Unit volume for mirrorless was about the same as it was in 2012. We have not yet seen CIPA numbers for 2022, to see if mirrorless has finally been able to get above its longtime plateau.
Many dSLR owners are resisting changeover, in part waiting for mirrorless designs to reach personal threshholds in features/performance and in part due to the inherent expense of purchasing mirrorless accessory items that are not yet plentiful enough on the used market. That RF lenses are typically more costly than 'the same' lens EF equivalent does not help stimulate changeover, especially when EF lenses can be put on RF bodies...keeping them in demand even for mirrorless body purchasers.

I went to the local camera store that buys and sells used lenses to see if they would by my EF lens and they said no thanks, they already have more than they can sell. Anecdotal evidence, but I'd say probably indicative of the lens market in general.

I’m half the year in Hong Kong and they buy EF lenses, any lenses, in Sim City, Mong Kok. they asked I bring them my 70-200 2.8 next time. I just traded a 5D4 in for $1200, no box, charger or anything but my worst battery.

Rainyday wrote in post #19473174
I've heard contradicting stories about the market for older DSLR lenses as folks move into mirrorless. Some say there are too many lenses, depressing the market. Others claim that everyone is using adaptors so there isn't a lot of DSLR lenses on the market. I don't know what to believe.

It's hard to measure trends in used gear prices. Too many variables. And individual sale prices deviate way more from the trend than the direction of the trend itself.

Where you going with this? Is this a "buy or sell something now or later" kind of question? Are you trying to time a precipitous price drop? (Tough to do in any market. Hasn't happened to EF lenses yet.)

You got any more specifics?

I had a very good feel for the used Canon market around 2021. My gut feeling now is that prices for EF lenses are generally down a little since then and there is a lot of inventory. But not enough of either to keep a vigilant buyer from finding a good deal or a motivated seller from getting a fair price or better.

Not really going anywhere myself but I have friends who are shifting from DSLR to mirrorless. They are finding the market confusing, as am I. It's interesting to study.

Rainyday wrote in post #19482482
Not really going anywhere myself but I have friends who are shifting from DSLR to mirrorless. They are finding the market confusing, as am I. It's interesting to study.

Shift to mirrorless may be for work reasons. Some because they want a new toy.

Any which way anyone decides the limiting factor is available labor and spare parts for dSLR systems.

For ~99% of people looking at your work will be hard pressed to determine a dSLR from a mirrorless iamge.

This may change 1-2 decades from now.

At the end of day we're just recording images as a form of record of what happened this day.

dolina wrote in post #19482521
Shift to mirrorless may be for work reasons. Some because they want a new toy.

Any which way anyone decides the limiting factor is available labor and spare parts for dSLR systems.

For ~99% of people looking at your work will be hard pressed to determine a dSLR from a mirrorless iamge.

This may change 1-2 decades from now.

I don’t think anyone can tell the difference, not 99%, because there is no difference. How will that change? They’re basically the same sensors, definitely the same sensor tech.
The difference is the user experience. I originally got an R to explore focus peaking with my MF lenses. I could not tell which body I used on any given shot. I didn’t want a new toy, but Canon took away interchangeable focus screens. I just got an R5 because I got a good sum for my 5D4— a decision I still lament.
Another reason for me is size and weight. I DID NOT want to learn a new camera, I’m just old and my kit weighs too much.
The only EF lens I’m selling is the 2.8 70-200 beast. I have no intention to buy any more RF lenses— I’m just not a fan of the rendering of Canon glass.

mcluckie wrote in post #19482791
I don’t think anyone can tell the difference, not 99%, because there is no difference. How will that change? They’re basically the same sensors, definitely the same sensor tech.
The difference is the user experience. I originally got an R to explore focus peaking with my MF lenses. I could not tell which body I used on any given shot. I didn’t want a new toy, but Canon took away interchangeable focus screens. I just got an R5 because I got a good sum for my 5D4— a decision I still lament.
Another reason for me is size and weight. I DID NOT want to learn a new camera, I’m just old and my kit weighs too much.
The only EF lens I’m selling is the 2.8 70-200 beast. I have no intention to buy any more RF lenses— I’m just not a fan of the rendering of Canon glass.

2016 EOS 5D Mark IV is different from a 2020 EOS R5 in terms of tech. That's 4 years worth of R&D at work.

I notice the color difference between EF & RF systems assuming both are using system-native L lenses shooting the subject at the same time.

Also resolving power of RF L glass is better than early EF L or FD L glass. Of course for aesthetic reasons people will prefer one over the other as they want a period-specific look. That is what film makers to increase the production value of their film when they do period-specific stories. Want the 1977 Star Wars look? Use a 1970s lens. Any of the design/manufacturing "flaws" back in 1970s would be corrected for half a century later with R&D.

It is like difference of a 2001 EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS USM vs 2010 EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS II USM. I bought the Series II lens because I liked how it rendered.

I started as an enthusiast in 2003 and since 2015 I am asking myself... why do I keep buying the latest and greatest? Does it materially make for a better image?

Or do I want a new toy? Better ISO and AF system are considerations for sports/wildlife photography but for regular people photography we've reached pretty much what 99% want.

Last body I bought still records better images than any iPhone I've ever own. Only reason it has not left the electronic dry cabinet since 2018 is because it's heavy, bulky and I cannot do desktop-class edits or share the images within 1 device.

It does not hurt that on the month it was released my telco offered me a $45/month 24 month contract for a $1099 iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB with unlimited domesict text/calls & 50GB data.

It makes ownership frictionless from a cashflow point of view. Unlike any camera that you have to buy from BH/Adorama that only gives you up to 12 months amortization without text/calls/data.

RF bodies having bluetooth, wifi and USB-C ports are addressing the shortcomings of EF bodies from 2007-2017. So that it is easier to send the photo to my iPhone or iPad without cables or cards getting involved.

The workflows we've learned in the past 2 decades needs to be updated from time to time to take advantage of the new features we buy into.

Only reason I'd liquidate my EF system is fear of Canon not having parts for their servicing a decade from now. Something of an option to me when a few photo studio companies wanted to buy my whole inventory. Too bad.. the offer was made a year before any rumor that the RF system would arrive.

That would have been the best time to do so and buy into RF system in 2024 with the R5 Mark II before July 2024 Paris Olympics.