I sympathize with you a lot (owning a number of vintage lenses for several systems myself, though I have to admit I rather heretically mostly prefer the new-ish

I sympathize with you a lot (owning a number of vintage lenses for several systems myself, though I have to admit I rather heretically mostly prefer the new-ish stuff!) I guess, however, the collectors can just as validly suggest that they hate photographers who USE (and, hence, run the risk of scratching, chipping, breaking, whatever a classic lens which really, really belonged in a collection!) the lenses they'd rather collect... Besides, if it wasn't for those pesky photographers ooohing and aaahing about how lens such-and-such was fantastic, prices would be oh-so-much-lower for those true lovers of vintage optics, the collectors... :)