Is the honeymoon over?

[Ronald Garrett]

I see where Cannon is coming out with two new lenses and a new rebel {XSi}. At 12 mp the Rebel will be the same price. The lenses are another matter. The 200mm F/2.0 L lens will go for $5995.00 ? The 800mm F/5.6 for $11,995.00 ? Looks like Canon is taking a hint from Nikon and asking high dollar for lenses.

I recently went to a 40D and Canon long lenses for the price advantage. Looks like that will be gone soon.

[Noel_Carboni]

Well, to be fair the other lenses you saw when you purchased are still around.

And Canon made arguably one of the most expensive long lenses ever - the EF 1200mm lens. I think it was $85,000 new.

If your work is differentiated from others' shots by you getting "The Shot" while others don't, then the way to hedge that bet is by spending big dollars on fast high focal length lenses. Otherwise, more modest lenses - possibly with teleconverters - might be the ticket you're looking for. The good thing is that there are quite a few to choose from.

-Noel

[Ronald Garrett]

To be sure there are still a lot of great lenses with great prices attached still available. I tried to be as versitile as possible with the ones that I bought. I do use teleconverters.

Getting "the shot" is not nearly as hard at the lake I am doing a book on with long lens. Shorter lens make it really really difficult. I am too old to crawl on my belly in the mud for shots anymore. My exotic travels consist of trips to the Atlanta zoo. Shots there are controlled by the enclosures the animals are in. Long lens are irreplaceable here too.

It just seems like we may be faced with much higher lens prices in the future. At least from Canon and Nikon, don't know about the other players.