Best value for money --- All brands

I think $1900 for a 85L is the best bang for the buck.

I think my signature already has 3 or 4 candidates for the best bang for buck lens list
tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4, paid $300
tamron 28-75 f/2.8, paid $300
tamron 70-200 f/2.8, paid $400
canon 100mm f/2, paid $320

definetelly include 17-40L. Fantastic lens for the money

Many used manual lenses

Helios 44 58mm f/2.0, got my last ones for $5, $7 and $11. Have several copies for sometimes destructive experiments.

Meyer Goerlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8: Unique soap bubble bokeh - with that lens I make better bokeh pictures than with Canon FD 85/1.2L, Minolta Rokkor 58/1.2, Zeiss Contax 35mm/1.4.
And this Trioplan cost around $220 on Ebay. Got mine for under $25, two years ago.

Manual Canon FD lenses are most time much cheaper than EF lenses - and optical quality seems to be nearly equal for primes. But mount conversion is most times a big problem (Ed Mika adapter or conversion kits could help, as far as available).
FD 85mm f/1.2L $900
FD 300mm f/2.8L ~ $1000
FD 400mm f/2.8L ~$1400

I agree with ZoneV. I just bought a Vivitar (Komine) 28mm/2.8 for £2.50, or $3.95.

Good deals certainly but used lenses...

My opinion about good lenses which are well worth the money.
Cheap BFTB:
- Samyang 14
- Samyang 35
- Canon 50F1.8II
- Canon 85F1.8
- Canon 100F2.0
- Canon 70-200F4.0L

More expensive BFTB:
- Tokina 11-16
- Canon 17-40L
- Canon 35L
- Canon 24-70L
- Canon 85LII
- Canon 70-200LII

this is like arguing who is the prettiest actress.

Earwax69 wrote in post #14916361
Canon ef 50mm f1.8 - 110$

Canon ef 85mm f1.8 - 369$

canon ef 200mm f2.8 - 780$

Canon ef-s 55-250mm IS - 190$

Canon ef 70-200 f4L - 679$


Sigma 30mm f1.4 - 334$ (japan price)*

Sigma 50mm f1.4 - 380$ (japan price)*


Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 non VC - 230$ (japan price)*


Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f2.8 - 399$

*Sorry, could not resist to put the good deals we have here in Japan. It's rare that we have anything cheaper than in the US.

I dont include the 18-55 IS because it come by default.

Should I include the 17-40L?

I think you nailed it, the new 40 f2.8 STM seems to be a good buy for the buck, it might fit on you list.

bob

135L, sharp as a sharp thing on razor day!

Earwax69 wrote in post #14916361
Canon ef 50mm f1.8 - 110$

Canon ef 85mm f1.8 - 369$

canon ef 200mm f2.8 - 780$

Canon ef-s 55-250mm IS - 190$

Canon ef 70-200 f4L - 679$


Sigma 30mm f1.4 - 334$ (japan price)*

Sigma 50mm f1.4 - 380$ (japan price)*


Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 non VC - 230$ (japan price)*


Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f2.8 - 399$

*Sorry, could not resist to put the good deals we have here in Japan. It's rare that we have anything cheaper than in the US.

I dont include the 18-55 IS because it come by default.

Should I include the 17-40L?

If I could get the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 non VC for that price I would be all over it. I rented the VC version and wasn't horribly impressed with it (for what it would cost retail anyway), but I have read the non-VC version is better for sharpness and for a 2.8 lens with that useful range it would be perfect.

That being said as others have stated it is hard to compare such varied focal lengths. The 50mm 1.8 is a great value, but the 55-250IS (which commonly goes on sale for 150ish) is an excellent deal for the price. I am still blown away by some of the pictures that come from my camera with it. Unfortunately I don't get to use it as often because I am on a crop and need wider typically when I shoot.

tkbslc wrote in post #14921288
this is like arguing who is the prettiest actress.

OK .. I'll bite.

Kate Beckinsale
Elizabeth Hurley
Salma Hayek

See that's my point, I wouldn't put any of them in the top 50.

tkbslc wrote in post #14921288
this is like arguing who is the prettiest actress.

Not actresses but:

Soledad Obrien
Brooke Burke
Katie Couric, and yes I know she is 55 years old.

tkbslc wrote in post #14922591
See that's my point, I wouldn't put any of them in the top 50.

Maybe so, but just like all the lenses mentioned, I'd have no trouble mounting any of them in front of my camera