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I'm guessing this is the main reason lenses like the 600mm f/4 FL VR are $12,000+ (probably every element is handmade/inspected), while cheap plasticky lenses l

I'm guessing this is the main reason lenses like the 600mm f/4 FL VR are $12,000+ (probably every element is handmade/inspected), while cheap plasticky lenses like the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR are $100 or so. My guess is the cheap lenses are fully automated, using fewer actual glass components, without features like 'ED' glass which requires all these extra manual processes and firings.

wtallis 9y ago
There's a lot that separates a cheap 18-55mm kit lens from the super-expensive telephotos. But probably the single biggest factor is that the 600mm f/4 requires much more glass and in much larger pieces, so even with the same target for optical quality you would expect to have much lower yield and higher manufacturing costs for the massive telephoto than the pocket sized kit lens. It's probably more interesting to compare the differences between two lenses of similar focal length and aperture. With that kind of comparison, the kind of differences that you'll find are that the more expensive lenses tend to have metal instead of plastic frames, may have optical stabilization in the lens, fancier or faster autofocus systems, better sealing against water and dust, and more advanced coatings on the optical elements. In terms of the glass itself, you will also generally find that the more expensive lenses use more optical elements with potentially more complex shapes (eg. aspherical elements) to reduce distortion, so they tend to have more glass than the cheaper lenses. Given how many other factors contribute to the price differences, I doubt that you actually find order of magnitude differences in the price of unground lens blanks of similar size destined for cheap vs high-end camera lenses.
davidgay 9y ago
FWIW: the 18-105 has an ED element for "only" $400: http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/zoom/normalzoom/af-s_dx_18-105mmf_35-56g_ed_vr/index.htm http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/zoom/normalzoom/af-s_dx... [The 55-200 also has an ED element for $150, but that looks like a sale effect, with an original price of $350]
rangibaby 9y ago
Nikon seems to have moved a lot of their high-end manufacturing to Thailand. The D810 body is the first "pro spec" Nikon body with the circular viewfinder to be built overseas AFAIK. They still have two plants in Japan where high-spec lenses and bodies are built. I think the criteria is "how hard is it for us to build", not ED (etc.) glass: The new 105mm f/1.4 and 200-500mm f/5.6 both have a lot of ED glass but are made in China. There is still enough demand and value attached to "made in Japan" for Cosina to make vintage throwback "Voigtlander" lenses in Japan, and for Converse to make high-quality Chuck Taylor sneakers there.

wtallis 9y ago

There's a lot that separates a cheap 18-55mm kit lens from the super-expensive telephotos. But probably the single biggest factor is that the 600mm f/4 requires much more glass and in much larger pieces, so even with the same target for optical quality you would expect to have much lower yield and higher manufacturing costs for the massive telephoto than the pocket sized kit lens. It's probably more interesting to compare the differences between two lenses of similar focal length and aperture. With that kind of comparison, the kind of differences that you'll find are that the more expensive lenses tend to have metal instead of plastic frames, may have optical stabilization in the lens, fancier or faster autofocus systems, better sealing against water and dust, and more advanced coatings on the optical elements. In terms of the glass itself, you will also generally find that the more expensive lenses use more optical elements with potentially more complex shapes (eg. aspherical elements) to reduce distortion, so they tend to have more glass than the cheaper lenses. Given how many other factors contribute to the price differences, I doubt that you actually find order of magnitude differences in the price of unground lens blanks of similar size destined for cheap vs high-end camera lenses.

davidgay 9y ago

FWIW: the 18-105 has an ED element for "only" $400: http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/zoom/normalzoom/af-s_dx_18-105mmf_35-56g_ed_vr/index.htm http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/zoom/normalzoom/af-s_dx... [The 55-200 also has an ED element for $150, but that looks like a sale effect, with an original price of $350]

rangibaby 9y ago

Nikon seems to have moved a lot of their high-end manufacturing to Thailand. The D810 body is the first "pro spec" Nikon body with the circular viewfinder to be built overseas AFAIK. They still have two plants in Japan where high-spec lenses and bodies are built. I think the criteria is "how hard is it for us to build", not ED (etc.) glass: The new 105mm f/1.4 and 200-500mm f/5.6 both have a lot of ED glass but are made in China. There is still enough demand and value attached to "made in Japan" for Cosina to make vintage throwback "Voigtlander" lenses in Japan, and for Converse to make high-quality Chuck Taylor sneakers there.