noone

Looking at Ebay for sold prices, it seems to range wildly for what people have actually paid (not what is asked for).
$116 (Australian) for one for "spares and repair with haze" from the UK, $137.93 for one in good condition with a Fuji X adapter also from the UK (this one seems an absolute bargain), $141.61 working but some dust and not so smooth focus (UK), a $143.45 for one with fungus (UK again).
User ones in ok condition generally seem to be around $200-$250 with the better ones seemingly in the $300-$400 dollar range.
I would rate this charity store copy as a very good one.
Since it has now sat unloved in the front window for several weeks, I think I will suggest they either send it to Sydney to go on Ebay, or reduce the price to $100 (and sell it to me...Not that i need another lens like this so probably not).

Sigma 50mm f2.8 APS-C Lens *

* Fixed lens on the Sigma DP3 Merrill. 
75mm FOV but easily enough resolution for 105mm when you need it. Quite decent macro performance too. 

Sigma 19mm f2.8 APS-C Lens *

* Fixed lens on the Sigma DP1 Merrill. 
27mm FOV but with the resolution in the camera for it to be 35mm when you need it.

Sigma 14mm f4 APS-C Lens *

* Fixed lens on the Sigma DP0. 
Shot in 65x24 AR on the DP0 and posted as an FYI for anyone interested in doing Hasselblad XPan style stuff without dropping £4K 😉 
 

I concur and have had the RX100v and currently have the ZV1.

Yeah the RX100 could be a good idea!

For something different, what about a 1 inch sensor compact.    Some of the Sony RX100 cameras have amazing AF and can focus quite close and later if she wants to upgrade you can still sell them for a decent amount if looked after.    Sound would have to be maybe done apart unless you get one with a mic input.
The AF in my little Rx100 iv is great and that is  old now and the last of the CDAF only RX100s so the v and va are better still or maybe the Sony ZV-1 might be good (if pricey...Maybe used?) Or even an older and newer model combination....
The coming APSC ZV-E10 would be ideal but too dear.
Any of the other large sensor compacts? Canon?  Panasonic?

Yes, I think you could definitely get a Voigtlander for that money, but then you have a m4/3 lens that is fairly pricey with an unknown as to how long the mount will be used. Full frame lenses can always be adapted.
I don't really have an approach. I mostly just tinker. I really need to get a new computer or monitor. I've been using my MacBook Air which does not have a 178 degree viewing angle so depending upon how I look at the screen, the image could look different. It's very annoying. I figure once I have something... anything... completed I'll take that stuff more seriously.
For those shots I used a Log to Rec709 LUT, made a couple exposure adjustments to open up the waveform and then desaturated the image. So nothing fancy.

just the plain non L Version. As you have noted the L versions are fairly pricey. I think that for those sought of prices i could probably buy  a new fast Voigtländer in mft. Still its alot of money either way, for me anyway.
The 1.4 certainly does alright. nice image.
May i ask what your approach is to b&w conversion ?

Are you looking at the non L version? Admittedly I've never used it but from all accounts it isn't that great of a lens. I'd go with the 1.4 for a 1/4 the price.
As you may remember, I also have the 1.2 L that I had modified to EF mount, iris de-clicked, etc... and I think that is one of the best lenses I've ever used. However, with the prices the way they are, I am having a hard time justifying its existence in my bag. I've been looking at some footage lately between the two lenses and although the 1.2 L is definitively a better lens, the 1.4 gets you most of the way there.
1.4

1.2 L

I have a few side by sides I'll post later when I'm on my computer. 

These lenses continue to rise in price. I saw a 28mm f/2 listed for $2500! That lens was about $150 before the pandemic started. That K-35/FD-L video ruined the FD market for buyers. One of the FD lenses that hasn't drastically gone up is the nFD 50mm 1.4 and that lens is a damn good lens. I've had two or 3 copies over the years and never had a bad one. Weirdly, I found two copies that were modified to Nikon F mount.
Here's a shot from the first copy I had...
 
 

good luck, As you know covids playing silly buggers with states of aus at the moment 🙄
i have in mind, to buy a canon fd 50mm f1.2. keeping things vintage again.  I'm after one fast lens, and i figure if i get an fd it will be a close enough match to my other fd's i have.  I have looked at some fast 50's  I thought of pentax as i have seven or so m42 takumars however alot of my searches  seem to come up with either fungus of haze and still want to dollar.  I think if i'm patient i might be able to come away with a canon $500 - 550 and postage on top. Then i'm going cold turkey on lenses, thats the plan anyway.  

I love my Rokkors and when I bought them they had arguably the best cost for quality ratio out there. FD prices had taken off, but Rokkors hadn't. The Rokkor X 50mm 1.4 stands up to some Leica lenses I've used, for instance. 

But I don't think you can go wrong with any real Zeiss lens. Even the old Rollei Zeiss lenses were pretty special. Especially the ones made in Germany.

I think I was wrong, it's been a while since I've looked at the lens either. I think they only made AEJ and MMJ versions. So all of the 50mm 1.7 were manufactured in the Yashica plant in Japan. The later versions were the MMJ. Hopefully you see a green f/16 marked on the aperture ring. I think I had a serial number in the 7xxxxx range and it was really good. But that was waaay back when I had a G7 on a dummy adapter...
Good Luck!
I just bought a Zeiss ZF Classic 50mm 1.4. It's now the 3rd one I have owned. I got it for an UNBELIEVABLY good price, but it isn't perfect with a few particles in the glass. When I attached it to the camera, I didn't notice anything weird. So all in all, not bad at all. I'm probably the only one, but I prefer the Zeiss Classic line over the Contax. 

$200 Australian is about $150 US at the current exchange rate.      If it gets put down to $100 or even $150 for its condition that will be a bargain.      Since it is a charity, I wish they would put it on Ebay but they are not allowed to do it locally for some reason.   I think even $300 is a great price for it (not that I would buy it for that).   Will look at the serial number today hopefully for an 8## serial number! (must read up on it again, it has been a while). 

Is it an MMJ or an AEG? You can tell by looking at the last number on the aperture ring. If it's green, then it's an MMJ. Also the later serial numbers are supposed to be sharper versions, but I believe they're the ones in the 8xx... range. The AEG versions will have the sawtooth bokeh.
I've owned 2 or 3 over the years. The first one I owned was unbelievably good. I don't remember which version I had. I never paid more than $125 for one, but I haven't owned one in a few years.
If you pair it with a 25mm 2.8 or 28mm 2.8, I think it's a great little Zeiss set. And then eventually, if needed, you can get the 35-70mm 3.4 to fill in the gaps... if you don't mind a push/pull zoom.

It currently retail $209 0n eBay

$150-$250

cruising through the fd lens section on ebay. Honestly i was only window shopping... when my eyes started watering. This aught to lift your spirits noone  there was also one for $7000 and another for $6500ish 

Im surprised you don't get a bit of redeye with the built in flashes. From memory i used to get a lot of redeye whenever i used my flash on the camera still could have been my technique 🙄

super moon / blood moon tonight. Busted out the  canon 500mm mirror lens. clouds were all over the place and blocked my view of totality, still did get one nice image that i liked.   Conditions permitting next time i plan on filming with the p4k as opposed to taking some stills. May even have a new / second mount which will open thing up.
The peaking on the om-d mark two is really quite helpful. Quite happy with the way its working out.  

im not addicted. I just want one of every interesting lens, that  i can lay my hands on 😇
google is no longer my friend. Accidently found a nikon lens that flares with lots of little circles. i will say that i am somewhat enamored with lens flares.  Its price is quite realistic, cheaper that the last couple of lenses i have bought anyway. So it will most likely get added to the collection. In the meantime i'm sposed to be saving for  btm's miraculous p4k lens controller thingy but lenses keep getting in the way. 🙄 
 

I think the phrase you're looking for is "I'm not addicted.  I can stop any time I like."

I am taking my FD 24 1.4 L to Sydney to a major camera store for them to sell on consignment... I will not get anywhere near th $4000 minimum they seem to go for on Ebay but I expect to get enough for a decent portrait lens or a decent (older) FF camera or even a Sony Rx10 iv.