why is this so much...

[WolfHeart]

Hi all,
I am really new to the photography world and am over whelmed with how much glass can cost. I never imagined that it would cost so much. but i was about fell over when i saw this. Can someone explain to me why this particualr lens is SO much???

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=282683

I drool over the large lensesand can understand why they are so expensive but this? Whew!

Help me understand glass prices...

thanks all.

[TeamSpeed]

Speed of the lens AF, quality of the lens glass/optics, build quality, and the smallest aperture supported by the lens all feed the price. L lenses utilize some of the best Canon engineering both mechanically and optically. A 1.0 lens is just crazy for low light situations, you could have almost no light in a room and get a picture without a flash. Most of the time you are forbidden to use a flash anyways, so this type of lens is almost mandatory given the environment, like an indoor concert or play, etc. Now with the Mark III supporting ISO 6400 with manageable noise, the needs for really fast glass drops just a bit, but still, f/1.0, just crazy.

50mm f/1.8 = $70
50mm f/1.4 = $275
50mm f/1.2 = $1600
50mm f/1.0 = $3000ish (http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=153&sort=7&cat=2&page=2)

There are cheaper alternatives, Sigma and Tamron make great lenses (nothing this fast though that I am aware of), and then you go to the "junk" Quantaray, Opteka, etc.

[Roach711]

You can get a good 50mm for wayyyyy less than that. Check Bhphotovideo.com for competitive pricing on lenses. If memory serves you can get a good Canon brand 50mm f1.8 for around $80US. The lens you're looking at looks like a collector item.

Nonetheless, you can drop some serious money on lenses. Particularly Canon "L" glass. Figure $1000 to $1500US for a good Canon L zoom. Resistance is futile. Get used to being broke from now on.

[evandavies]

As TeamSpeed mentioned, the factors affecting price are AF speed, build quality, image quality, range and speed.

What makes this lens so expensive is the SPEED. At f/1 its the perfect lens that allows all the light entering into it to hit the sensor.

[WolfHeart]

Resistance is futile. Get used to being broke from now on.

Oh great and i just got accepted to Grad School. I thought i was broke before. Man i will never see my kids now.

[montreal]

You can get a good 50mm for wayyyyy less than that.

Yes but as TeamSpeed explained it won't open up as much (ie it won't be as "fast"). Is that particular advantage worth the price difference? Not for me, not for you but that's why we don't own one ;)

[radiohead]

My feeling is that that particular lens still maintains a good degree of collector kudos, but that the release of the 50/1.2L makes its value somewhat less than a year ago.

[sblais]

Well, the 50mm f/1.0 is discontinued, and is a bit of a collector's item. Which explains its hefty price. Its actually not a very performing lens at wide aperture, having lower IQ than some of the newer (and actually cheaper) models.

[nicksan]

I would rather save myself $1400 and get the 1.2L.
Better yet, save $2700, and get the 1.4. Perfectly fine lens!

[JWright]

The Canon 50mm f1.0 L is still not the fastest lens ever produced. Canon marketed the 7/7S Rangefinders back in the early 1960's. These camera were available with a 50mm f0.95 lens.

http://www.eastman.org/fm/mees/m197701380001.jpg

I'm sure this has been posted here before, but if you've never seen the Canon Camera Museum website, it is well worth a look.

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/

[corterlifecrisis]

you can get a 50mm 1.8 for a lot less then that, and yes, compared to 1.0 it's "slow", but 1.8 is not slow by any means. i didnt even know they made that lens though....wow.

[AirBrontosaurus]

you can get a 50mm 1.8 for a lot less then that, and yes, compared to 1.0 it's "slow", but 1.8 is not slow by any means. i didnt even know they made that lens though....wow.

You can get 50 50mm f/1.8 for less than that. But, the real alternative I believe would be the Canon 50mm f/1.2. It's only marginally slower, but costs less than 1/2 as much.

The reason the f/1.0 is so expensive is because it is a collector's item. I remember a POTN'er (forget who, atm) talking about how he had one, didn't like it and sold it for MORE than he bought it for. Now it sells for twice that.