At 09:20 AM 12/25/2002 +0000, you wrote:
That factor is important when comparing vendors, but the fast lenses are not unique to a vendor, but a range of lenses in a given vendor's product line. For instance, the Sigma 300 F2.8, while cheaper than the Nikon counter part, is still more expensive than a 300 F4 in the Sigma line.The biggest factor determining the price of lenses overall is not aperture but brand name. Manufacturing costs only determine whether a company can afford to produce the lens at all for a price people will pay. Sigma vs Canon vs Nikon vs Leica ...
As an example, the Nikon 300/f2.8 is $4400 while the Sigma is $2200.
The 3rd party makers have to be cheaper to be competitive. Sadly, that half price translates into manufacturing shortcuts and less quality. There are way too many horror stories about Sigmas falling apart in ones hand as they are used.
But this isn't what this thread is about. Its about the difference in price based on aperture. Two examples:
Sigma makes a 100-300 Zoom. Here are the prices from B&H:
F2.8 $1900
F4.0 $800
F4.5-5.6 $129
As aperture goes up (@ 300mm + variable zoom factors) the price drops by over half.
Now lets look at a similar set up in the Nikon line:
300mm F2.8 $4400
300mm F4.0 $1120
70-300 F4-5.6 $265
What people will pay is one of those great mysteries. It seems at about this time of year the price structure gets turned on head because Santa seems to choose things that are normally considered extravagant.
I musta been a bad boy. Santa didn't bring me any new Nikkor's. Happy Holidays, Rob -- Rob Miracle Photographic Miracles 203 Carpenter Brook Dr. Cary, NC 27519 http://www.photo-miracles.com
