Why are some lenses more expensive than others?

Question

I am interested in buying a telephoto lens for my DSLR. Since I am new in this subject and I trying to get into photography, I was looking at different lenses on the internet. Soon I discovered that some lenses, even though they have the same mm range and f-stops, are waaaay more expensive than others. Can someone explain to me why this is? Is it because of the quality of the glass or the material or something?
Thank you for your answers, if one should post one. LOL

Answer 1

Yep. The Canon and Nikon 18-55 lenses are about $150 and the Canon/ Nikon 17-55mm versions cost over a grand. Similar price differences can be found for 70-200 ish lenses.
Here's the deal. You're paying for:
* image quality
* low light sensitivity
* image stabilization / vibration reduction
* build quality, and
* auto-focus speed
So with a $150 zoom the lens will focus in its own sweet time, and if the light is good you'll get decent shots.
A $1500 lens will snap into focus, you can shoot pictures by candle light, every picture will win at LEAST three awards, and it provides full-body protection against stray bullets.
Heh heh... well, maybe not those last two points.

Answer 2

In addition to the range of focal length,
also look at the /f-stop. at both ends of the zoom range.

An 18-50mm F4-F5.6 will be a lot cheaper than an 18-50mm F2.8. That's usually the first level of price difference- as the lower the number, the bigger the glass elements need to be.

Then- you get into the quality of glass and coatings. The number of aspherical surfaces used to correct bad effects, like distortion. Or barrel and pincushion distortion.

Cheaper lenses also have reduced contrast. The light bounces around in them so that the whites bleed over into the blacks.

With poorer coatings- you get internal reflections and reduced contrast.

Cheaper lenses have poorer image quality- especially when wide open, and near the corners.

There are plenty of lens reviews on line- with comparison photos such that you can assess the magnitude of these differences and what's right for your needs and budget.

Answer 3

Well first the cheaper ones, their build quality tend to be very cheap. Generally made of plastic and not sturdly built. The higher cost lenses generally are metal bodies and have weather proof seals on them. Second, the more expensive lenses have LOTS of glass in them. The cheaper ones try and use an "all in one" sorta glass to not use that much glass but your IQ (Imagine Quailty), contrast, and colors might/will suffer. Not saying that their bad just not as good as lets say Canons L series. Third, its harder to make a fixed aperture than a non fixed aperture, such as f/3.5-4.5 is not a fixed aperature, it changes as you zoom. f/4 is a fixed aperture so as you zoom the aperature stays constant at f/4 which is very hard to do.

Answer 4

Maybe you should take one of the pricy lenses out for a try and see (literally) for yourself! There are several places on the Internet that rent lenses.

But, be warned! Playing with a $2,000 lens and making fantastic pictures is addictive! You may not be able to settle for 2nd best after you're done! :)

In Canada, there's my company, Lens Lenders.

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http://www.lenslenders.com

Answer 5

sometimes it depends on the brand or the material

Answer 6

they are either better lenses
or you are paying for the manufacture name