so many lenses, whats the deal?

[AF44]

ok... so my question is this: why is there such a cost difference between lenses that seem to do the same thing?

example:

http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=3735- 100-400mm zoom $1300

http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=3732- 100-300mm zoom $300


so why would 100MM more cost $1000 more?





another example

http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=8499- 28-80mm $80

http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=3665 24-70mm $1000




so what gives?

 

[ThePup]

http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=3735- 100-400mm zoom $1300

http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=3732- 100-300mm zoom $300

so why would 100MM more cost $1000 more?

The expensive one has Image Stabilisation built into it as well - The internal lens elements move to help counteract movement when handheld.

another example

http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=8499- 28-80mm $80

http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=3665 24-70mm $1000

The Tamron is F3.5 - 5.6, the Canon is F2.8 for the entire focal length range, which requires larger elements, more glass = more cost.

Also worth noting that in many (Not all) cases, You get what you pay for... The more expensive lenses have better anti-flare coatings, better build quality and are made to finer tolerances than cheaper lenses, so take sharper images with better contrast throughout the focal length range.

 

[Groupcaptainbonzo]

I think that the easiest way to answer this one is to use the analogy of the family car.
A Ford Focus will carry the shopping, will seat five, take everyone on holiday and do 120 MPH etc.
So will a Jaguar X-Type. But the focus is about half the cost.

Lenses are the same. (No you can't get five people in a lens, unless it is one of those realy big 500mm f2.8 jobs..). But a lens may have a focal length the same as another, BUT the apperture (f1.4 or f5.6) makes a huge difference. The quality of the Glass (Canon EF 70 - 300 f4.0 - 5.6 IS USM is better glass than the 75 - 300 mm f4. - 5.6 Mk III) small faults in the glass. The build standard, Do all the wavelengths of light focus at the same place? And that of course brings us to the other point. All the extra toys on it . Image stablisation, Ultra Sonic Motors et al. Finally you often (Though not always) pay a priemium for the Name. USUALLY a marque lens (Canon, Nikon leica etc) will cost more than a Sigma of similar performance. Although this is not always the case.
Do you get good after sales backup. Has the manufacturer paid out vast sums in research and developement which need to be recouped, or have they just reverse engineered a product off the shelf.
All these things and more go towards determining the price you pay for your lens. Even if on the face of it they appear to be similar.
Hope that helps a little.

 

[Keagle]

ok... so my question is this: why is there such a cost difference between lenses that seem to do the same thing?

example:

http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=3735- 100-400mm zoom $1300

http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=3732- 100-300mm zoom $300


so why would 100MM more cost $1000 more?

Because the 100-400mm is one of Canon's "L" lenses. L for luxury I do believe. They have superior build quality and optics compared to the consumer 100-300mm. This model in paticular, as others have mentioned, has image stabilisation. It's not just that it's got "100mm" more.

another example

http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=8499- 28-80mm $80

http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=3665 24-70mm $1000




so what gives?

Again - the 28-80mm is basically a kit lens. I have one, and I adore it (Not that paticular model). However - I'm saving for the 24-70mm. The 24-70mm has an aperture of f/2.8, throughout. As I mentioned before - it's also an "L" lens. It has better contrast, image quality and build quality than the Tamron you gave as an example.

 

[Iron Flatline]

I think that the easiest way to answer this one is to use the analogy of the family car.
A Ford Focus will carry the shopping, will seat five, take everyone on holiday and do 120 MPH etc.
So will a Jaguar X-Type. But the focus is about half the cost.

LOL, no offense to you, but that's a terrible metaphor. Ford owns Jaguar, and there's a lot of people who consider the Jaguar X-Type just a highly marketed, pretty Ford Focus.

GCB is right though, there are considerable differences. The most expensive component is the glass itself, btw. It's not all the same. There are huge differences between the different lenses.

 

[AF44]

thanks a lot for all your replies, i learned a lot, i also learned that i wont be getting a stabilizing lense for a while :mrgreen:

 

[Keagle]

Heh - I don't own any but they are supposed to be very, very useful.

 

[ThePup]

i also learned that i wont be getting a stabilizing lense for a while :mrgreen:

Real cameras have the image stabilisation build into the body

(TIC)