# How much of a difference can an expensive camera lens make? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 27, 2014, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-difference-can-an-expensive-camera-lens-make/691770 "2014-06-27T11:03:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-difference-can-an-expensive-camera-lens-make/691770/61 "2014-07-03T13:31:48Z")
I’ve had photography as a hobby on/off for over 30 years, and almost entirely using Canon equipment; I just got my first two Canon “L” lenses (100mm macro and 100-400mm zoom), and there IS a difference in contrast and bokeh. Whether that difference is worth the extra $500-1000 is probably an individual determination. I may have over-reached on the 100-400; it is a great lens, and I read hundreds of glowing reviews before buying that included the word “heavy”, but I ignored that bit, and now having second thoughts. I might try to trade it out for a 70-300 L. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-difference-can-an-expensive-camera-lens-make/691770/62 "2014-07-03T13:40:21Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > It’s a $800 lens, so naturally it’s lots better. And there’s free shipping, so I don’t know what you’re complaining about. > > I have a framed 8 by 10 landscape photo on my office wall taken with a cellphone camera (Nokia Lumia 1020). It looks good to me but obviously I don’t know what I’m talking about. The Nokia Lumia is one of the best camera phones on the market. Get your wife a [nifty fifty.](http://www.adorama.com/CA5018AFU.html) This is an inexpensive fixed focus lens. (it’s not a telephoto or ‘zoom’ lens) It’s very fast, it will open up to 1.8. It’s inexpensive. It really gives you a lot of bang for the buck. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-difference-can-an-expensive-camera-lens-make/691770/63 "2014-07-03T14:57:23Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Get your wife a [nifty fifty.](http://www.adorama.com/CA5018AFU.html) > > This is an inexpensive fixed focus lens. (it’s not a telephoto or ‘zoom’ lens) It’s very fast, it will open up to 1.8. It’s inexpensive. It really gives you a lot of bang for the buck. Not fixed _focus_, fixed _focal length_ (or “prime”). Not a bad lens if you have nothing but not sure I’d spend $110 on it if I already had an 18-55 3.5-5.6. Good if you shoot in lower light or need really tight depth of field. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-difference-can-an-expensive-camera-lens-make/691770/64 "2014-07-03T18:06:47Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > All lenses are advertised and labeled with their absolute focal length. A 30mm lens is a 30mm lens, no matter what camera it is designed to go on. So far, no one has started advertising lenses using their crop focal length. I know, but a 30mm lens intended for a 35mm camera has an 35mm effective focal length of 46-48mm on a APS-C DSLR so in terms of the field of view at least, it’s more or less the same. My point was that if you want something similar to a 50mm prime on a APS-C lens, about the only option these days is around a 30mm focal length, and there aren’t many of those, with the Sigma being one of the best. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-difference-can-an-expensive-camera-lens-make/691770/65 "2014-07-03T20:03:57Z")
A local camera shop here rents lenses (Seattle area). If going on a trip or having some other rare photo needs, it lets you cheaply rent a niche professional lens that otherwise would be a ridiculous amateur purchase. It can be a great $50 well-spent for a week of fun shooting. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-difference-can-an-expensive-camera-lens-make/691770/66 "2014-07-04T01:10:24Z")
FWIW to your wife, under advice I got on here I picked up this lens from BH Photo: [http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/740781-REF/Canon\_0345B005AA\_EF\_70\_300mm\_f\_4\_5\_6\_IS.html](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/740781-REF/Canon_0345B005AA_EF_70_300mm_f_4_5_6_IS.html) refurbished for $600. ZOMG. The zoom on it is excellent excellent (and I do a lot of wildlife photography) and the photos are gorgeous. Easy to use, fantastic lens and I thought the price was great. I have access to my boyfriends $2000+ super zoom lens and I never use it, I only use the one I bought from BH. Love love love. They have a great return policy too if she gets something and it isn’t exactly what she was looking for. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-difference-can-an-expensive-camera-lens-make/691770.md?page=3)