Borbin the 🐱

Selling Lenses 🛒

19 April 2025


Selling lenses (and 📷) is easy. At least according to the offers from small and large camera dealers. Advertising with 'up to 70% of retail' should have the focus on 'up to'.

Here is my result: Quotes from camera sites and then selling at eBay at the average eBay price.
If the value is 0, they didn't want the lens.


Lens   B&H   Glazer's   Kenmore   MBP   eBay
 Nikon AI-S 28-85 f/3.5-4.5 125 35 30 0 95

 Nikon AI-S 28-85 f/3.5-4.5 125 35 30 0 95

 Nikon 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 AI-S 25 15 15 28 145

 Nikon AI-S 70-210mm f/4.5-5.6 30 15 10 0 95

 Nikon AF 105mm f/2.8 D Macro 75 72 100 118 185

 Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II AF-S D 50 27 10 42 115

 Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II AF-S D 50 27 10 42 115

 Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM 70 52 50 72 185

 Sigma 50mm f/2.8 DG Macro 75 0 30 128 165

 Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC APO HSM 0 125 115 121 385

 Tokina 500mm f/8.0 Mirror Lens for Nikon 0 0 35 125 165

Ʃ 625 403 435 676 1745


Sigma 8mm f/3.5 EX DG Fisheye 140 50 125 87

Nikon AF 50mm f1.4D 75 42 65 55


The quote from Adorama required to send in the lenses, but I was told the estimate would be around 500.
B&H's is similiar price, but there is an exception for the Nikon AI-S 28-85 f/3.5-4.5. Seems like a very sought-after lens, but not for MBP.
So far, B&H pays best for those (vintage) lenses.

The last two lenses I decided to keep, but I had them added to the quote to check. Would you sell for this price?


Update:

Lenses have been sold on eBay, with an approximate 15% fee deducted. The only exceptions are the two Nikon AI-S 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5, which I traded to B&H for a tax-free voucher. They are still listed for sale there1, quietly gathering digital dust.
The lens shelf now looks more intentional and less like a clearance bin.



  1. Both lenses were in like-new condition and nearly indistinguishable from each other, yet they are listed with noticeably different condition ratings and prices. So much for consistency in evaluations.