Need alot of cash, and I have to sell some lenses...but which ones?

Ok guys n gals, without going into to much humbling detail, there's a little over $4k in payments I will need to make in about 2 months. I have relied too long on my profit sharing in my career to cover these annual blessings, but since this year has seen more employee layoffs and cash flow crunches than previously, my projects made money in 2009, but the distribution of these funds are not available to be released right now. So, i feel I must liquidate some assets...my camera gear has the most to offer (thought about my car, but not enough equity built up yet)

So, the gear list shows what I have. First off, one body has to go, I don't do weddings so the extra body is a luxury. I'm about 99% sure the 1d IIN should be sacrificed, since my 5d won't get as much green. The rest of the lenses..well, I need help.

I shoot lots of everything, macro being my least practiced. I did get a few paying gigs doing portraits (3-4 people max) and a little soccer revenue in 2009 using the Mark IIN and my 120-300. I dabble in architecture a little too.

I am weighing what I can get out of them, vs what I can repurchase maybe next year when things pick back up...which I am hopeful it will. I know for a fact I will pay more, and I accept that, I just don't want to feel like I sacrificed my most enjoyable hobby to survive the creditors in the meantime.

If it helps, all of these lenses were purchased new in late 2007 and are mint in physical conditions. The IIN body was used when I picked it up, but recently checked/cleaned by Canon and has a new screen.

My few days of heavy thinking has me with this as my first option -

Sell

• 1dMarkIIN ~ $1800
  
• canon 70-200/2.8IS ~ $1600
  
• Tamron 90mm ~ $350
  
• canon 24-70/2.8 ~ $1100

• 5d
  
• Zenitar 16mm FE
  
• Sigma 50/1.4
  
• canon 85/1.2
  
• canon 135/2
  
• Sigma 120-300

I would keep the 24-70. You have way more telephotos than normal lenses.

forgot to put down..I still have my manual focus 16mm fisheye, no good at below f8, but will work for landscapes.

I think your first option looks pretty good...sell enough to get the money you need while still leaving you with a pretty solid/versatile line up.

The only thing id change is either trade your 50 1.4 for something like the canon 28 1.8 or 35 2.0 or sell it and keep your 24-70 (youd still get the $4k you need). 50 isnt very wide if you do architecture/landscape and i find 50 and 85 too close together to justify having both.

Just make sure you can cover close to far, and then sell the rest.

For me, I already have a 100-400L, and a 15-55, so I only feel like I need something like a 30-135 or something like that. Something to bridge the gap.

So, find the three lenses that spread you out properly, and learn to shoot them as best as you can.


Good luck. Money problems suck. But it's water under the bridge. Someday it'll be on the good side again. It just takes time and patience.


Damn Bush/Obama recession!

How about just DAMN OBAMA!

The guy wins a Nobel Peace Prize for learning to sign his name with 15 pens.

nureality wrote in post #8882174
How about just DAMN OBAMA!

The guy wins a Nobel Peace Prize for learning to sign his name with 15 pens.

Don't bash the guy!
He's mastered the art of doing that w/o taking a break in-between...

yah, wide end is where i'm really hurting...I'd love to keep the 24-70. Another option, maybe I can sell it, keep the 50, and pick up a Tamron 28-75 in the meantime.

Or, maybe the 28/1.8 is a good idea for wide. Hmmm, decisions decisions...

keep 5d, 24-70, 70-200

ditch the rest.

unfortunatly as a seller,your best resale value is in your quality canon glass..your choice to keep the quality or sell the generic stuff for a lot less.

It really all depends on what types of things you shoot.

id recommend you to just sell everything but keep the 5d and Holy Primes (buy the 35L). thats if you prefer shallow DOF as oppose to the convenience of zooms. if you prefer the convenience of zooms, then do as what bluefoxer has said.

Dont ever sell the 135mm 2.0!

Sell the 135mm 2.0!

Which lenses/FL ranges do you rely on most..?

Just glancing at your equipment, and guessing from your profile picture, I'd say keep the 1D, 24-70, 120-300, and 85 or 135..and whatever else you can keep while paying off your debt.

I think your prices are a bit too optimistic. Just My .02

^I do like to consider myself an optimist thanks C&J

I appreciate the help, so many ways to go, there's no recurring suggestion it appears. I agree with you bluefox, selling the canon gear now will yield the best net to my bank account, thus keeping both sigmas in that first option.

nightcat and nick, you two just canceled each other out - like a double negative. lol

i'm gonna ponder my choices again (with a little prayer thrown in there) and come up with a plan tomorrow evening. I'll start posting some items soon after.

i still don't know what I'm going to do.