What's with the new KEH rating ?

[raytoei@gmail.com]

Just saw this:

"50 F2 IN CM SUMMICRON COLLAPSIBLE
RARE EARTH (39) GLASS UGLY 35MM
RANGEFINDER MANUAL FOCUS
STANDARD ANGLE LEN"

EX $695 crossed out, new price is $339.


Why EX and UG for the same product ? I almost pulled the trigger until I saw the "Glass Ugly" bit...

[raid]

I also noticed the UG Glass for an EX lens. It is confusing, if done deliberately or maybe there is an error.

[DamenS]

The lens is fine - but it will only work on an "ugly 35mm rangefinders". People with "user" cameras should be able to mount this lens without issues ...

[Gumby]

Maybe it was EX until somebody dropped it, then the glass got UG but the catalogue writer was half-asleep when updating the listing.

With the price reduction it is certainly more UG than EX.

[FrankS]

Maybe the lens barrel is EX but the glass is UG?

[boomguy57]

I'm guessing some jerk dropped it at the warehouse

[redisburning]

couldn't the outside be impeccable but the glass hazy enough to impact image quality?

KEH posts stuff like that on ebay all the time. it would be nice if they added a little blurb to the pages like they do there for items like this with specific maladies.

[ChrisPlatt]

Perhaps they realize that folks buying in this price range would like to know.
Full disclosure helps avoid unsatisfied customers and potential returns.

If interested in purchasing this lens request it be pulled from inventory.
A salesperson can examine it and give you a more thorough description.

Chris

[Gumby]

Maybe they figured out how to get some free advertizing.

[Vics]

Originally Posted by boomguy57

I'm guessing some jerk dropped it at the warehouse

Would one HAVE to be a jerk to drop a lens?

[fotomeow]

Originally Posted by ChrisPlatt

Perhaps they realize that folks buying in this price range would like to know.
Full disclosure helps avoid unsatisfied customers and potential returns.

If interested in purchasing this lens request it be pulled from inventory.
A salesperson can examine it and give you a more thorough description.

Chris

I have asked KEH to do this before, but they refused, saying all the inventory is in the warehouse and cannot/will not be inspected prior to selling and shipping. Maybe it depends on the salesperson.

In any case, perhaps Ugly referred to the $669 price, while Exc refers to the $339 price! they are rating prices, not products!

what is "Earth Glass" anyway?

[umcelinho]

Originally Posted by FrankS

Maybe the lens barrel is EX but the glass is UG?

I'd guess the same thing. I bought a BGN M2 from KEH on January and it was cosmetically okay, but speeds were off, so a CLA would be needed. I believe the classification generally describes the cosmetics of the item, not its working. That's why they add in the description things like "rangefinder dim", "light haze" etc when it's something that really stands out, in this case an ugly glass.

[enasniearth]

Most of us would rather have cosmetics ugly glass excellent .

Ugly glass .
Still over $300 is too much for a lens with bad optics .

[raid]

"rare earth" .... is this radioactive?
This seems to be a lens with optical challenges but good looks.
$210-$230 would be a better asking price range.

I bought a very clean Canon 50/1.4 in EX condition last month from KEH for about $250 shipped and with a six month warranty.

[Gumby]

I'm certain that I wouln't pay even that much if it is optically a "scrap value" lens.

I wonder how bad it really is.

[btgc]

"UGLY 35MM", get it?

[ChrisPlatt]

Originally Posted by fotomeow

I have asked KEH to do this before, but they refused, saying all the inventory is in the warehouse
and cannot/will not be inspected prior to selling and shipping. Maybe it depends on the salesperson.

I admit that it has been several years since I made this type of request.
IIRC at that time they would do a "hands on" only with items graded higher than BGN.
It is possible that the policy has changed, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Chris

[Trius]

Sorry, but I would have no problem interpreting that, since it says the glass is ugly. As for the reduced price, it's either they dropped the price (most likely) or are showing what they would sell it for if the glass were EX as well.

Since KEH will consult over the phone and has a good return policy, it's not really much of a risk. As to whether the price is a good value, that's up to the individual. It may be that the glass would clean up fairly easily and someone who knows what they're doing would get a bargain.

[Rayt]

For a mail order house KEH doesn't do mail order well enough compared to B&H and other businesses from my experience. Now they include 360 degree views of the product but not of the actual item for sale so what is the point of that? Their weak link is the warehouse. I have had multiple experiences over the last 15 years and I buy from KEH regularly enough for myself and friends that their warehouse people have a high risk of pack the wrong item or packs it badly. When I order a BGN and get EX I wonder if it was another mistake because I have had stuff sent to me the other way around condition wise.

That radioactive lens was bought and returned by me. Unlike buying used from B&H, KEH does not put caps on their lenses unless stated so on the description. I ordered two lenses, this Summicron and an M lens, neither came with caps. The warehouse guy wrapped the two lenses in separate small plastic bags but jam them together end to end with the bayonet of the M lens against the front element of the Summicron before wrapping bubble wrap. When I opened the box the bayonet had already tore through the plastic and etched its signature on the front element of the other. What a shame because that was a mint Summicron with otherwise mint glass but now with fresh scars up front.

I emailed the salesman and sent the lens back. In usual form the salesman defended the warehouse telling me that is the way they always shipped lenses. A week later he fessed up and emailed me again the way it was packed was against warehouse policy. Weeks later i saw that lens listed again as BGN for around $150 cheaper and appeared to be sold pretty quickly. I guess the next buyer returned the lens and it is now further downgraded.

[umcelinho]

a sad solution to the summicron mistery

[jaredangle]

Originally Posted by Vics

Would one HAVE to be a jerk to drop a lens?

Nope, but 'jerk' status is achieved retroactively by the act of dropping it.

Just kidding!

Cheers

[KenR]

I've bought Bargain and Ugly stuff from them and have always been happy with the results - cosmetically challenged but always worked fine with clean glass. But if the glass itself is Ugly, I'm not so sure that I'd go there.

[rumbliegeos]

I don't know what else is going on there, but I just visited the KEH sitefor the first time in quite a while and was amazed at how much their inventory in film equipment had shrunk compared with past years. E.G. there was a grand total of 4 screw mount Pentax bodies for sale, and far less Mamiya RB equipment than in the recent past. I also noticed significant price drops on film equipment, except for high end brands like Rollei and Leica.

[loquax ludens]

Perhaps the supply of decent film equipment is starting to dry up. People who wanted to be rid of their film gear may have unloaded it on the market over the past 10 years, and it has now gone to those other people (like me) who plan to keep it and use it.

[lam]

I was going to make a joke before reading the serious issues mentioned by Rayt.. now i'm just going to murmur, oh.

loquax may have a point here though; maybe it's all dried up, hold onto your gears folks!