Author Topic: Why are lenses do expensive? Where to get cheap ones? (Read 1549 times)

hellodarren1 · « **on:** January 26, 2011, 06:20:35 AM »

I just bought a refurbished Olympus Pen e-p1 on eBay today for £260 with the big 14-42mm lens. I was really hoping to get a pancake lens so that I can snuggly fit the camera into my pocket (it's a bit too big with the big lens) but was shocked to find that the pancake lens costs more than I paid for the whole camera!

Is there any places to get a cheap pancake lens?

adash · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2011, 09:26:28 AM »

Try second hand.
Moving this to Lenses.

mikmas101 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2011, 03:18:50 PM »

Where you got the camera.....
Olympus 17mm (new) - £165 BIN

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OLYMPUS-M-ZUIKO-17mm-F2-8-PANCAKE-UK-m4-3-NEW-/230577707742?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraLensesFilters_JN&hash=item35af809ade#ht_500wt_1156

russell · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2011, 10:34:45 PM »

I suppose to answer your question "why are lenses so expensive" more broadly, Olympus bodies have improved a lot since the E-P1 and also got cheaper at the same time, whilst no new prime lenses have come out since then. So it stands to reason that the old bodies have dropped in value but the lenses haven't.

traveler_101 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2011, 11:16:10 PM »

Well first of all congratulations on your new camera and best of luck with it! The E-P1 is really a very nice camera and I think you made a great choice.

As to your questions: lenses have always been very expensive relative to camera bodies. I believe this is at least in part a reflection of the greater costs in constructing good lenses which are very intricate devices. At the same time marketing is involved. Companies give you a break with the "kit" lens, the one they provide you with when you buy the camera, and then recoup their costs by charging quite a bit for additional lenses.

To answer your question where to get inexpensive lenses: move to the USA! Sorry, couldn't resist: pricing over here on the European side of the pond is always higher. Follow up on Mikmas's advice: get the 17mm/2.8 but you could also try to get it used (on ebay.uk?). One bit of additional advice. See if you can get the VF-1 snap on ocular viewfinder made specifically to go with the 17mm lens. It will add a dimension to your use of the camera. The E-P1 + 17mm + VF-1 is the classic Pen outfit. Way to go!!!

Why are lenses do expensive? Where to get cheap ones?