I’ve solely purchased one lens from new in 20 years – and it is the one I misplaced probably the most cash on!

I believe most photographers begin out with both shopping for one thing new, that is additionally low cost and rising their package or shopping for one thing barely higher however secondhand to see if they really like pictures after which increasing upon that digicam/lens combo.

I began out like that myself and slowly purchased higher second-hand cameras till I used to be ready to purchase new, and whereas I knew that purchasing new would even have a depreciation over time the lenses would greater than make their a refund throughout my skilled profession – which all of them did, however when it got here time for them to maneuver one, the one lens I purchased brand-spanking-new was the one I misplaced probably the most cash on… and it’ll shock you. 

The lens in query was fairly a uncommon merchandise when it comes to pictures telephotos, whereas most dream of proudly owning a 300mm f/2.8 or at a push the lavish 400mm f/2.8 – I needed to go one higher and purchase on the time the model new Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4G ED VR lens for an eye-watering £8,000 / $9,500 – and I loved all 11.2 Ib / 5.1kg of it for a lot of man-years and traveled the world with it masking worldwide occasions.

However when it got here to letting this stunning lens go I used to be hit with a sting that even as we speak sends a shiver down my backbone, as a result of up-turn Nikon releasing among the finest Nikon Z lenses across the similar time, together with the brand new Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S my ‘slightly-used’ however pristine optics 600mm took a nosedive on the secondhand market and my funding appear to be a poor selection within the grand scheme of issues.

So how a lot did I promote among the best lenses I’ve ever owned you ask? I initially purchased it for $9,500 / £8,000 in 2012, and 12 years later I bought this large lens for a mere $2,619 / £2,000… an enormous lack of $6,881 / £6,000!