What is the least expensive "L" lens?

Back to the original question...

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …&sb=ps&sq=asc&f​i=all&pn=3

(or any other retailer in the world)

Just sort price low to high and keep going till you find an 'L'

Funny though, the L primes are way more expensive than the zooms.[/QUOTE]

Always wondered why that is. After all, they are simpler in design, aren't they?

2nd hand ones are cheaper!

no not really. the L primes are generally faster and if they are not, they are cheaper. for example:

85 1.2L costs alot of money but it is a faster lens. the 400 f5.6L prime on the other hand, is cheaper than the 100-400. if you are talking about the big guns primes, they are alot more expensive because they are alot harder to build. doing a 500f4 lens is alot more complicated than doing a 50-500 f4.5-6.3 lens. also, the 200 2.8L prime is A LOT cheaper than the 70-200 f2.8 zoom so i am not sure that the comment is valid...

Faster lenses = more glass = more money. Also coatings, tolerances, special elements (aspherical, low dispersion, etc.). Varies from lens to lens though, so it's not a hard and fast rule.

The one you bought first.

Graham

'more glass' is a little vague there. More glass meaning larger diameter right? Faster lenses typically have far fewer elements.

Unless they have IS. Also, the 300 2.8 has 17 elements while the 24 2.8 has 5.

Point... Perhaps "larger glass" would be more accurate. Even "more exotic" applies.

Plus there's the notion that it's easier to mold smaller elements perfectly than larger ones (more chance of irregularities). Arguably...

I guess there's just a lot of variables when it comes down to it, really. The more you want it, the more it'll cost. How's that?