Do lens prices generally drop over time?

How quickly, if ever do prices on lenses drop? And I don’t mean depreciation on a lens you bought new that you would like to resell. What I mean is I’ve got my eye on the 70-200L f2.8 lens, but I really don’t have much use for it now, although I’m sure I could find something to do with it. But when my son is old enough to play team sports in say 4 or 5 years, I think this would be a good lens to use. In general, do you think this lens will be cheaper if I wait a few years?

Thanks in advance!

Most of the time lenses seem to drop a little bit from full MSRP after being out for a bit (6-8 months or less) but then they seem to stick at that price.

Expecially L glass...it holds its value well and store prices do not seem to drop very much if at all on it after it has been out for awhile.


Only thing that really makes glass price drop is when the manufacture switches to a new mount.

Sometimes the biggest "drop" is a rebate.

L's pretty much stay the same as do the 'good' selling lenses. The only time I've seen good lenses drop a little is when the MKII or higher of the same lens comes out - then again, I've seen prices go UP on the older versions too (eg 50mm 1.8).

If a lens design is brand new, it carries the higher price tag if it is something with pent up market demand. If it has been on the market for a year or so, it might settle downward very slightly. After that it almost never goes down, and often can go even higher as inflation rears its ugly head.

I once bought an Olympus OM lens new, and a few years later to DOUBLED in price as a USED lens!

If you want a budget 70-200/2.8, look at either the Sigma or an older 80-200L/2.8. I have the 80-200 and it is a vary sharp lens. You can find both of these in the $600 range.

sigma has raised the prices of some of their lenses over time - especially the popular ones. can't remember the models off hand though.

It seems good lenses (L) will start out at MSRP and will drop over the first year or so to a level 80-90% or the MSRP. There they will generally stay there until rebates come out. Sometimes (but not always) they will drop again when an improvement is released.
Now bodies on the other hand drop quite abit...

It pays to shop around, as prices can differ between retailers (and I'm talking reputable dealers) at any time. I think that it would be very rare for anyone to pay retail list price any more.

Jaetie wrote in post #4260422
sigma has raised the prices of some of their lenses over time - especially the popular ones. can't remember the models off hand though.

I can. They raised the price of the 300-800 and the 500 prime for sure. The price rise co-incided with the decline in the value of the dollar so it wasn't that surprising to see a relatively small company who's costs are in yen to do that.

foxbat wrote in post #4262143
I can. They raised the price of the 300-800 and the 500 prime for sure. The price rise co-incided with the decline in the value of the dollar so it wasn't that surprising to see a relatively small company who's costs are in yen to do that.

thanks for filling in the blanks.