Future value of aps-c glass?

[kavudan]

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Any early conjectures on what will happen to the value of the lenses that went along with the aps-c system? I have a couple of the zooms and the 35 summilux and just trying to figure out whether I want to hold or not...and understanding how much they might depreciate would factor in (and granted, we can't predict whether Sigma or Panasonic will pick up the slack...). Presumably the more MP cameras have, the more relevant these will stay (given crop mode). Then again, some of the r-lenses have depreciated considerably (granted, they are much older now).

[nicci78]

after the 6 years period, their value will tanked. Contrary to fully mechanical R lenses (which suffered massive lost of value) TL lenses won't be saved by adapters and no workshop able to service them. 

That's the price of AF lenses. only as good as their latest bodies are. 

 

[wda]

They will work well on any L-mount body, including Leica. Suitable bodies are still made by Leica, Sigma and Panasonic.

Edited May 18, 2022 by wda

[LocalHero1953]

An alternative view.......

In six year's time, people will have forgotten that Leica stopped making these bodies and lenses, and will simply recognise them for their superb fundamental qualities, and the value will go up.

Put your money on black or red.

[JayBird]

43 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

An alternative view.......

In six year's time, people will have forgotten that Leica stopped making these bodies and lenses, and will simply recognise them for their superb fundamental qualities, and the value will go up.

Put your money on black or red.

I have to agree. As long as the bodies hold up, we still have a good camera. Given the longevity of other Leica cameras, I don't see the need to discard or replace the CL. I am thinking of adding an M body for when I retire in a couple of years. But that would be an augmentation not replacement.

[Chun Chang]

The few CL/TL users I know sold off their APS kit in the last 6-12 months.  Wisely so.  Good gear, but local shops will not even purchase L-mount APS gear as they cannot sell it.  

[danielfrimley]

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37 minutes ago, Chun Chang said:

The few CL/TL users I know sold off their APS kit in the last 6-12 months.  Wisely so.  Good gear, but local shops will not even purchase L-mount APS gear as they cannot sell it.  

I just asked for a trade in quote on my equipment from Wex Photo in the UK and they declined to make any offer - that’s on a body and three lenses

[Shawn30]

I don't have a crystal ball to answer the value question, but the TL lens's work really well on the SL2.  I bet that the TL 60 APO. and TL 35 f1.4 hold value. 

[elambo]

8 hours ago, Chun Chang said:

The few CL/TL users I know sold off their APS kit in the last 6-12 months.  Wisely so.  Good gear, but local shops will not even purchase L-mount APS gear as they cannot sell it.  

I was lens shopping a couple weeks ago and asked two different mega shops about L-mount lenses -- both said that they'd been selling a lot of them and didn't currently have any in stock.

[bags27]

I stopped using my CL and TL glass two years ago. But I held on to it all even while facing the inevitable. I can imagine myself using the CL as a travel camera.

But the TL glass will really sing if Sigma does come through with its FF Foveon L mount body. There are somewhat confirmed reports that renewed progress has been made and that there is indeed a light at the end of that dark tunnel. I'll be first in line for that camera, which will have mps to spare for TL glass. 

[lct]

No problem with M lenses of course but the German made TL lenses (35/1.4, 60/2.8) should hold value for their optical quality i guess and the Japanese should remain interesting too, especially for their compact size and the red dot. As to know to which extent i have no idea. Not sure what adapters may change to this situation. TL lenses can be used as is on L-mount cameras including FF ones in crop mode as long as Leica, Sigma and Panasonic keep selling cameras. Personally i will keep my M lenses and my only TL lens (Sigma 18-50/2.8) for the CL and any other L-mount camera i could acquire in FF or APS format. FWIW.

[rob_w]

I thought the same about APS-C but now I am building a Sony outfit I question myself.  It's possible for me to buy excellent APS-C glass for the Sony, such as the Sigma 18-50 2.8 zoom much liked by members on this forum, but when it comes to actually making the purchase I find I do not do it.  There is always a full-frame alternative which offers potentially more quality and versatility for a small marginal weight gain.  Thus the Tamron 28-75 2.8 for example is only 120gm heavier than the Sigma APS-C zoom covering the same range and aperture values.  So I do wonder if APS-C glass will persist except for the remaining APS-C camera users.

[wda]

57 minutes ago, rob_w said:

I thought the same about APS-C but now I am building a Sony outfit I question myself.  It's possible for me to buy excellent APS-C glass for the Sony, such as the Sigma 18-50 2.8 zoom much liked by members on this forum, but when it comes to actually making the purchase I find I do not do it.  There is always a full-frame alternative which offers potentially more quality and versatility for a small marginal weight gain.  Thus the Tamron 28-75 2.8 for example is only 120gm heavier than the Sigma APS-C zoom covering the same range and aperture values.  So I do wonder if APS-C glass will persist except for the remaining APS-C camera users.

Rob, age is a major influence on equipment purchasing decisions. The older you get, the more you appreciate a lighter system solution. Younger equipment designers seldom have this factor in mind.

There has been a trend towards longer life expectancy.  So an increasing number of keen photographers are living longer and enjoying their photography longer. That is why many mourn the demise of the powerful and versatile APSC system.

[rob_w]

Couldn't agree more, David.  Indeed, that is the risk for the path I am currently exploring -- that a little more here and a little more there eventually adds up to a lot more!

[RM8]

On 5/18/2022 at 5:12 PM, wda said:

They will work well on any L-mount body, including Leica. Suitable bodies are still made by Leica, Sigma and Panasonic.

Likely no problem with the L mount itself but does anybody know if non-Leica bodies also drive the AF and aperture in a TL lens

[nicci78]

As long as there is L-mount bodies. It should be ok. 
Weirdly APO-Macro-Elmarit-TL 60mm is the sole 1:1 macro lens. When it will disappear from shelves. I guess that it will hold its value more than any other TL lenses. 
 

But frankly I am not sure if the L-mount will be sustainable. 
No more APS-C Leica. 
Sigma full frame Foveon looks like Vaporware. 
Panasonic Lumix reinvesting back to m4/3 instead of full frame.

Leica Full frame SL is selling poorly. 
Sigma is saying that L-mount lenses sales are too low. (Underlying threat to pull the plug). 
Panasonic only manage to sell few S5 and even fewer S1H. Due to their price and/or video capabilities. S1 and S1R are total failures. 

Edited May 20, 2022 by nicci78

[wda]

You paint a dismal picture. But we have what we have. Highly capable equipment with plenty of life left for those who value its potential. It won't all suddenly stop working, provided you continue to use it.

[Simone_DF]

1 hour ago, nicci78 said:

Sigma is saying that L-mount lenses sales are too low. (Underlying threat to pull the plug). 

Source? Because I clearly remember they said that L mount rapidly grew to be their third market in terms of sales, with the first being obviously Sony and the second the Canon DLSR market

https://dclife-jp.translate.goog/camera_news/article/sigma/2021/0227_01.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Edited May 20, 2022 by Simone_DF

[robgo2]

On 5/18/2022 at 8:43 PM, bags27 said:

I stopped using my CL and TL glass two years ago. But I held on to it all even while facing the inevitable. I can imagine myself using the CL as a travel camera.

But the TL glass will really sing if Sigma does come through with its FF Foveon L mount body. There are somewhat confirmed reports that renewed progress has been made and that there is indeed a light at the end of that dark tunnel. I'll be first in line for that camera, which will have mps to spare for TL glass. 

I will be strongly disinclined to purchase a Foveon-based camera, as it will mean using Sigma’s much disparaged raw conversion software rather than Capture One. For me, that would be a dealbreaker. 

Edited May 20, 2022 by robgo2

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[bags27]

58 minutes ago, robgo2 said:

I will be strongly disinclined to purchase a Foveon-based camera, as it will mean using Sigma’s much disparaged raw conversion software rather than Capture One. For me, that would be a dealbreaker. 

Certainly this is thread drift, but have you ever used that software personally? It's a breeze to batch very large TIFFs that I process in PS and LR. I imagine it'd go just as easily to C1.

The software, very low ISO, and poor battery consumption are all challenges with the Foveon sensor. But my dp-2 and 3 Merrills produce results that certainly equal or exceed what I get on my M10 and CL, at a fraction of the cost. And I, at least, find them more fun to use. 

YMMV, of course!