what makes a professional lens?

[MHB]

im still a noob and im working on moving up the lens ladder. im wondering what makes a pro lens different from an entry level/kit lens? that the f numbers are lower than 3.5?

 

[Alex_B]

The term professional lens is not really rigidly defined.

Often it refers to a lens with a wide maximum aperture (small f stop, a "fast" lens), if it is a zoom lens, often constant over the whole zoom range. Often so called professional lenses are weather sealed, built well for everyday rugged use, show little distortion or vignetting, chromatic aberration is reduced and all the rest from the optical quality aspects.

 

[MK3Brent]

$1,500 and up.

 

[ghache]

any sharp, fast focusing, that delivers consistent image quality is a professional lens in my opinion. weather sealed, fast aperture or not (all depends on what you shoot or in what condition), if its consistent and sharp, in my book, its good.

 

[Alex_B]

$1,500 and up.

... not necessarily.

 

[tirediron]

If it's Nikon a gold band on the barrel, if it's Canon, a capitol 'L' in the model.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

If it's Nikon a gold band on the barrel, if it's Canon, a capitol 'L' in the model.

Individual shooters can have their own definitions if they want, but the gold ring and the L don't leave much room for interpretation...

If we're talking about older lenses (before gelded lenses IMO) the water gets a lot muddier.

 

[Overread]

If it's Nikon a gold band on the barrel, if it's Canon, a capitol 'L' in the model.

My MPE 65mm macro wants a word with you



The Canon L only stands for Luxury and is a label they only apply to their higher end fullframe (ie 35mm) compatible lenses. As a very rough rule of thumb its a good indication of a quality lens. There are, however, some lenses in their line up which are not classed as L but which still deliver a very high quality result, most (not all) are EF-s lenses which are crop sensor only. This doesn't mean that they are necessarily lower quality, just that the image circle they cast and the overall design of the lens is aimed at the smaller sensor in Canon crop sensor camera bodies.

"Pro" grade equipment is a very hazy term and the standards will shift a lot between different fields of interest - heck if you want to get into something like stock or high fashion photography chances are your "pro" gear is going to be a medium format camera not a 35mm DSLR.

The term is a very loose definition of quality equipment that is generally considered to be at the top of its game (or very near the top) at that time in the market; whereas lower grade gear is generally equipment which has superior alternatives in the range and which is more a reflection of the design being made to fit a specific price point for budget than for best optical quality and a less restricted budget.

Professionals in the working world will often use anything - heck some lower grade gear even has very legitimate uses. For example I know several professionals who use 18-200mm lenses for scouting out locations - letting them carry a small and light lens that will do a wide range of focal lengths and can let them test frames and compositions in the scene before they come on site with a more extensive and heavier setup (which also slows you down).
In general most professionals will work with the highest quality gear that they can justify using for their intended output - so there is some variation depending upon what they output and also where they focus their budgets most (for example a studio photographer is likely to have the least money in their camera and lens and the most in their lighting equipment).

 

[MK3Brent]

the real answer is, "any lens you make a living with."

 

[EIngerson]

Nikon and Canon make professional lenses.

 

[412 Burgh]

$1,500 and up.

darn! my 80-200 was 400 dollars short... Just when I thought I had some old professional glass.

 

[Josh66]

I think actual working pros probably use less expensive gear than most hobbyists...

 

[MK3Brent]

I think actual working pros probably use less expensive gear than most hobbyists...

I respectfully disagree.
especially with insurance.

 

[Josh66]

I think actual working pros probably use less expensive gear than most hobbyists...

I respectfully disagree.
especially with insurance.

I guess it depends on which specific field they're working in, or how long they've been doing it. I know I wouldn't have most of what I have if photography was my sole source of income, lol.

 

[Overread]

I think actual working pros probably use less expensive gear than most hobbyists...

Most pros - are convinced that amateurs use the most expensive gear because they don't have to justify the costs with the budget and earnings.

Most amateurs - are convinced that pros use the most expensive gear because they can justify the costs because it earns them the bread and butter money