Is it a good idea to let go of lenses that do not get used a lot?

Since my primary camera is still broke, and I have not been able to shoot a lot lately, I have been considering in selling my other "less" used lenses.

Less used to me is defined as a lens that is not frequently used i.e. 6 months or more.

With that said, the candidate lenses are Nikon 300mm f4 AFS, Nikon 105mm f2.8 VR, Nikon 28mm f1.8G, and Nikon 16-35mm f4 VRII.

The lenses that I intend to keep are the Nikon 24-70mm f2.8, 70-200mm f2.8 VRII, Sigma 85mm f1.4, Nikon 50mm f1.8G, and Zeiss 135mm f2. These are the most used focal lengths that I have been shooting more frequently.

The hard part is that it took me a while to get these lenses and what I am worried about is if I sell them, I might regret that decision later on.

What says you?

I was going to say sell all but the Nikon 300mm f4 but on second thought with the Camera you are using or have been using you have the resolution to crop that extra 100mm it you really need it so SELL THEM ALL or just ship them to me.

I want the 105 and the 16-35.. Christmas is just around the corner.

Don Kuykendall said:

I was going to say sell all but the Nikon 300mm f4 but on second thought with the Camera you are using or have been using you have the resolution to crop that extra 100mm it you really need it so SELL THEM ALL or just ship them to me.

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LOL! Your not helping Don.

Re: The Nikon 300mm f4 AFS is a great lens which is one of the reasons why I bought it. What is your address again?

Mark F said:

I want the 105 and the 16-35.. Christmas is just around the corner.

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Those two are my precious too! Can someone please convince me not to sell them?

gqtuazon said:

Those two are my precious too! Can someone please convince me not to sell them?

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I'll try. Don't sell. Donate them to a worthy cause, me! and you won't have the guilt of selling them afterwards.

I would keep the 16-35 if you plan to stick to FX. You do need a super-wide once in a while and this one is a great one.

No don't sell. All can be used on your next body. Glenn you will regret it if you do. I know I did when I sold one of mine.

gqtuazon said:

LOL! Your not helping Don.

Re: The Nikon 300mm f4 AFS is a great lens which is one of the reasons why I bought it. What is your address again?

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WE are adding on to our house starting tomorrow which means that they are demoing a screen porch and storage room. Friday I had help in cleaning out the storage room. There were things in there that I know I saved for a reason but in looking back I have no idea why. My new rule around this house is that if you have not used it in six months GET RID OF IT!!

Not only do I have a back-up body, I am starting to collect back-up lenses.

Marcel said:

I would keep the 16-35 if you plan to stick to FX. You do need a super-wide once in a while and this one is a great one.

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Thanks for your advice Marcel. I'll keep the 16-35mm f4 then.

gqtuazon said:

Thanks for your advice Marcel. I'll keep the 16-35mm f4 then.

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Darn... thats one of the 3 in my wish list. I want the 16-35, the 70-200 f4 or 2.8, and the 80-400 AFS.
Good choice to keep it though

Sambr said:

No don't sell. All can be used on your next body. Glenn you will regret it if you do. I know I did when I sold one of mine.

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That's what I have been thinking Sam. I know I can't live without the 24-70mm and 70-200mm f2.8 VRII. They are my go to lenses when covering special events and paid assignments. The rest are all specialty lenses that are used for specific photo shoot.

The reason why I am/was considering in cutting down the lenses is that I think I may have too much redundancy.

I would be concerned about loosing the Macro ability and would keep the 105, nor could I part with my wide. You have the 28 covered by the 24-70, I would part with that. I'm not a long shooter, so I would not miss the 300.

Don Kuykendall said:

WE are adding on to our house starting tomorrow which means that they are demoing a screen porch and storage room. Friday I had help in cleaning out the storage room. There were things in there that I know I saved for a reason but in looking back I have no idea why. My new rule around this house is that if you have not used it in six months GET RID OF IT!!

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Good point Don but these are lenses unlike the scrap computer parts that I have kept since 2002 which are now obsolete like my USB zip drive.

Mark F said:

Darn... thats one of the 3 in my wish list. I want the 16-35, the 70-200 f4 or 2.8, and the 80-400 AFS.
Good choice to keep it though

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Those are all great lenses on your wishlist.

gqtuazon said:

Good point Don but these are lenses unlike the scrap computer parts that I have kept since 2002 which are now obsolete like my USB zip drive.

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But you can sell these and buy other lenses that you want more.

I'd sell the 50mm also, I don't miss mine and you've got it covered with the 24-70. Comes down to 1.8 vs. 2.8?

gqtuazon said:

Those are all great lenses on your wishlist.

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yeah.. the only lenses I will ever need actually. I'll get em eventually, if I can ever stop spending the money on medical expenses instead!

Rick M said:

I would be concerned about loosing the Macro ability and would keep the 105, nor could I part with my wide. You have the 28 covered by the 24-70, I would part with that. I'm not a long shooter, so I would not miss the 300.

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Hi Rick. I guess I should have expected to receive various comments depending on what the person shoots the most.

I'm not in a hurry anyway and I am just trying to get a general consensus on what other might do or don't.

For now, I have not received any opposition on not to sell the Nikon 28mm f1.8G. It's a shame since these lenses are in LNIB condition.