Are L lenses overrated and overpriced?

panicatnabisco wrote in post #16795380
I buy overrated and overpriced gear because I can
/troll

+1

I am a person with several hobbies, with photography being one. I bought a 5DIII and 24-70 f2.8 on impulse for Christmas. I sold my 7D and 50 f1.4 to help recover some of the cost. I love the 5DIII and 24-70 combo. I also want a 70-200 f2.8, but the Canon is just too expensive for me to justify, even though I can afford to buy one. The Tamron 70-200 f2.8 VC on the other hand is in my sights. I've rented both, love the Canon, but the Tamron is good enough for my needs.

For the professional, I can see spending "L" money. For a person like me that just shoots for fun and enjoyment, maybe not.

No and no.

In my opinion, this is the top of the line for that manufacturer and this is what you pay. The research, testing, development, patents, fabrication, labor, materials, marketing, distribution and promotion is (in my opinion), what I would expect. The irony for me is (and I'm sure for most), high quality isn't about is it over priced, it's a matter of I just have to find a way to get the funds, or you can't seemingly get the money for the item and start complaining at how much money it is (not aimed at the OP).

I dont believe anyone wouldn't WANT any L lens, if you didn't, then its probably more the case you don't have a need for a particular lens. If I could afford it, I would buy every L lens in the Canon lineup and I would use every one of them at some point.

roodig wrote in post #16796674
No and no.

In my opinion, this is the top of the line for that manufacturer and this is what you pay. The research, testing, development, patents, fabrication, labor, materials, marketing, distribution and promotion is (in my opinion), what I would expect. The irony for me is (and I'm sure for most), high quality isn't about is it over priced, it's a matter of I just have to find a way to get the funds, or you can't seemingly get the money for the item and start complaining at how much money it is (not aimed at the OP).

I dont believe anyone wouldn't WANT any L lens, if you didn't, then its probably more the case you don't have a need for a particular lens. If I could afford it, I would buy every L lens in the Canon lineup and I would use every one of them at some point.

^^^^^
+1

roodig wrote in post #16796674
...I dont believe anyone wouldn't WANT any L lens, if you didn't, then its probably more the case you don't have a need for a particular lens. If I could afford it, I would buy every L lens in the Canon lineup and I would use every one of them at some point.

Are you saying that the only reason someone wouldn't want an L lens is because they wouldn't want one, which would be a bit redundant. Or are you saying that, for example, if someone doesn't want a 50L lens, it's only because they don't need a normal focal length lens?

I have and use lots of 50's and never had a desire to get a 50L.

sjones wrote in post #16797086
Are you saying that the only reason someone wouldn't want an L lens is because they wouldn't want one, which would be a bit redundant. Or are you saying that, for example, if someone doesn't want a 50L lens, it's only because they don't need a normal focal length lens?

You probably don't see the need for that particular L lens.

I can already see any reply i make being bait for the circling sharks to challenge me. So here's my point again. When anyone think's it's overpriced, it is because you cannot afford it. Just like Photoshop.

Not to get off point, no one complains about text message plans or bottled water.

roodig wrote in post #16797353
Not to get off point, no one complains about text message plans or bottled water.

Bottled water is way overpriced. I can get clean water delivered to my house for a little over $3 for 1000 US gallons, and there is even a pipe system to send back the used water.

roodig wrote in post #16797353
You probably don't see the need for that particular L lens.

I can already see any reply i make being bait for the circling sharks to challenge me. So here's my point again. When anyone think's it's overpriced, it is because you cannot afford it. Just like Photoshop.

Not to get off point, no one complains about text message plans or bottled water.

So then what you are saying is that everyone wants an L lens except for the L lenses they don't want...well, that's a bit tautological.

But yes, when you make staggeringly presumptive declarations about the motivation of everyone, then reasonable people, not sharks, are going to reasonably challenge your blanket generalizations.

You might want to throw in some qualifiers, like "many", "a lot", "most", or "some". Yes, such clarification is important.

Years ago if you had asked me to invest in a bottled water company, I would have laughed. The USA has some of the best tap water in the world and where I live, even better, in general. Proud to say I have never bought a single bottle of water.

roodig wrote in post #16796674
I dont believe anyone wouldn't WANT any L lens, if you didn't, then its probably more the case you don't have a need for a particular lens. If I could afford it, I would buy every L lens in the Canon lineup and I would use every one of them at some point.

There are L lenses that I don't want, and the reason I don't want them is because they are simply not good enough. By "not good enough", I mean that they have shortcomings that will prevent me from being able to create the photos that I want to create with them.

One example is the 85L. Its autofocus is slow, at least compared to the other L lenses that I use. For what I need to shoot at 85mm, I need fast autofocus, and I need AF that will pick my intended subject out of a scene with lots of contrast-rich distractions. The 85L does not do a sufficient job at this, so therefore I have not bought one, even though it isn't very expensive (compared to other L lenses I have used, rented, or purchased).

Another L lens that I don't want is the 16mm f2.8. I do not need that focal length, but if I did shoot more landscapes, and found myself wanting to shoot at 16mm, I would not buy the Canon 16mm L. Even thought it is well built, it is inferior optically to other (much cheaper) 16mm lenses. The 16mm lenses offered by 3rd party manufacturers are superior, from a sharpness/resolution standpoint, and sharpness and resolving ability are of paramount importance when shooting at wide focal lengths such as 16mm.

L lenses are by no means the best lenses available. They are just the best that Canon has to offer in the EF mount. And in some cases, that is not even true.

roodig wrote in post #16797353
When anyone think's it's overpriced, it is because you cannot afford it.

Absolutely, positively 100% correct.

BTW, I've got a five dollar bill to sell you - the price is $10. Sound good? You can afford it, right?

WhyFi wrote in post #16797560
Absolutely, positively 100% correct.

BTW, I've got a five dollar bill to sell you - the price is $10. Sound good? You can afford it, right?

I have one for sale as well. But mine is $20 since I wrote the letter "L" in the corner. Let's deal!

gasrocks wrote in post #16797433
Years ago if you had asked me to invest in a bottled water company, I would have laughed. The USA has some of the best tap water in the world and where I live, even better, in general. Proud to say I have never bought a single bottle of water.

Kudos! That is pretty amazing, and not that you need it, you have my respect!

JeffreyG wrote in post #16796612
It's always good to remember that price and cost are only distant relations to each other.

Price is simply what people are willing to pay.

The only solid relation to cost is that when cost is higher than the price that can be charged, the item won't be available.

But isn't this what we are discussing. Obviously people pay the price for L lens...but are they really worth that price or are people getting hooked by the mystic of the legendary L lens and the great Canon marketing machines.

So many posts I see people getting excited because they made their first L purchase. Really doesn't seem to matter what the lens will be used for, all that matters is the photog has now entered the exclusive L club.

kfreels wrote in post #16797625
I have one for sale as well. But mine is $20 since I wrote the letter "L" in the corner. Let's deal!

Sure ship it to me. The cheque is in the mail to you.