RB67 127mm KL - new or used?

[nightbringer]

There's an eBay seller, sanpoucamera, who is selling 'new in box' 127mm KL lenses for a price similar to what you can get for second-hand (or maybe a bit more than for used). Is it worth it getting it new in the box, or better to get an older, used one?

[paul ron]

If it's too good to be true, it's generally too good to be true.

I'd buy from a reputable seller so you can have some kind of return policy to fall back on. Flea-bay is an iffy proposition.

[tomalophicon]

They are extremely cheap. Check KEH's new prices to compare.
I have bought a 180mm KL and a 150mm SF from this seller. He provided good service and extremely fast shipping.
Often the second hand ones are overpriced.

[nightbringer]

They are extremely cheap. Check KEH's new prices to compare.
I have bought a 180mm KL and a 150mm SF from this seller. He provided good service and extremely fast shipping.
Often the second hand ones are overpriced.

How was the lenses you got? All brand new, no blemishes and things?

[tomalophicon]

Definitely all brand new with factory boxes.
No blemishes or anything.

[Marc B.]

Some buyers have had problems with New Old Stock-NOS items, from some sellers.
Musty odor/mildew, and fungus issues were/are the predominate complaint. With NOS items,
you never know the conditions that the items were stored under for the past (?)years(?)decades.

I purchased a RZ lens from the Japanese seller "sanpoucamera" described above, and there were
no issues at all. Fine lens, in new condition, and not a single issue with this RZ lens to this day.

Then, about two months after I bought the lens, KEH had the same lens, same new
condition, for about 20-25% less, with shipping (USA-USA), half the (JAP-USA) cost.

Long story short; I have no reservations buying from sanpoucamera. None at all.

[five]

I bought a few new RB lenses from sanpoucamera, they were new in box in perfect condition. They were packed well and arrived in just a few days. I ordered 3 and they combined shipping. It actually worked out cheaper than KEH.

[nightbringer]

I bought a few new RB lenses from sanpoucamera, they were new in box in perfect condition. They were packed well and arrived in just a few days. I ordered 3 and they combined shipping. It actually worked out cheaper than KEH.

Did you order from their site or what? Because their eBay only lists one or two lenses but on their site they've got a few more. I am interested in getting a 50mm as well, so have been on the hunt for one not from KEH considering their internaitonal shipping costs an arm and a leg.

[CGW]

Some buyers have had problems with New Old Stock-NOS items, from some sellers.
Musty odor/mildew, and fungus issues were/are the predominate complaint. With NOS items,
you never know the conditions that the items were stored under for the past (?)years(?)decades.

I purchased a RZ lens from the Japanese seller "sanpoucamera" described above, and there were
no issues at all. Fine lens, in new condition, and not a single issue with this RZ lens to this day.

Then, about two months after I bought the lens, KEH had the same lens, same new
condition, for about 20-25% less, with shipping (USA-USA), half the (JAP-USA) cost.

Long story short; I have no reservations buying from sanpoucamera. None at all.

These NOS Mamiya lenses and accessories aren't going to last. Funny to watch chumps listing used schlock on eBay for hundreds of bucks more than KEH's NOS items.

No clue about Japanese sellers but some of the HK crew has had problems. One of the more notorious was an eBay seller, "wkcrs," who sold from both California and HK. Aside from selling the odd fungus-y NOS Mamiya lens, he seemingly vanished in late '09 leaving dozens of buyers with no merch. Another seller("pkks56") in California using errily similar photos has been selling what I suspect is old wkcrs's stock--maybe him, maybe not.

Sanpou sounds OK and is obviously closer for the OP. For anyone in N. America, KEH is the place for Mamiya now.

[nightbringer]

I heard about that Hong Kong guy, but I heard the name Sanpou Camera even before I was looking up lenses, back when I was still shooting digital and looking up good shops in Japan for gear for my trip there.
I compared prices with KEH - even considering both charge roughly equal amounts of shipping, Sanpou comes out a little cheaper for a new in box lens with hood, whereas I pay more from KEH without the hood. If I was wanting to get a second lens or some other stuff, I would probably lean more towards KEH.