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Recommendations

Most collectible vintage lenses

By the criteria below, the Konica Hexanon AR 57mm f/1.2 leads: 57mm f/1.2 on Konica AR, typically $850 used. Close behind: Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 (C/Y) and Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI-S. 8 lenses qualify.

How this list was built

  • Highest end of the used-market range at or above $500, which is where variant and condition premiums show up

Ordering: Highest top-of-range value first. Values are used-market estimates, not appraisals, and each lens page states the basis for its range. Minimum focus distance, weight, and measured sharpness are not in the catalog, so no list ranks on them.

The 8 lenses that qualify

  1. Konica

    Hexanon AR 57mm f/1.2

    57mmf/1.2Konica AR

    Used value
    $500 to $1,600
    Made
    1965-1970s

  2. Carl Zeiss

    Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 (C/Y)

    85mmf/1.4Contax/Yashica

    Used value
    $500 to $1,400
    Made
    1975-2005

  3. Nikon

    Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI-S

    50mmf/1.2Nikon F (AI-S)

    Used value
    $400 to $950
    Made
    1981-2020s

  4. Leica

    Summicron-R 50mm f/2

    50mmf/2Leica R

    Used value
    $350 to $900
    Made
    1964-2009

  5. Meyer-Optik Gorlitz

    Trioplan 100mm f/2.8

    100mmf/2.8M42

    Used value
    $250 to $900
    Made
    1950s-1970s

  6. Nikon

    Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 AI-S

    35mmf/1.4Nikon F (AI-S)

    Used value
    $350 to $900
    Made
    1976-2020s

  7. Olympus

    OM-System Zuiko Auto-S 55mm f/1.2

    55mmf/1.2Olympus OM

    Used value
    $300 to $900
    Made
    1972-1984

  8. Minolta

    MC Rokkor-PG 58mm f/1.2

    58mmf/1.2Minolta SR (MC)

    Used value
    $300 to $850
    Made
    1966-1973

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