Why this lens is not expensive, if you compare with another stores.... the difference is 300 usd!
148324
no HSM (hyper sonic motor) so it wont work with the d3000 series and d5000 series. if yours has a built in focus motor, then your good
2183426
Hi, Here is a good review from Ken Rockwell. This Nikon 18-300mm VR is a smaller, lighter version of the original 18-300mm VR. The original 18-300 was very good, so good in fact that I sold an image I made with it to McDonald's - and they are using it on a billboard. This new lens is as good, and is smaller, lighter and less expensive, so it's even better! My only real complaint about the original 18-300 was that it weighed a lot more than my camera, and this new 18-300 weighs ten ounces less! This new 18-300mm also offers Vibration Reduction (4 stops) and instant manual-focus override. It's very slightly slower at the 300mm end (f/6.3 versus f/5.6) than the older lens, and for ten ounces off my shoulder, that's nothing. By taking off 10 ounces, I now can carry this new lens everywhere I never bothered with the old 18-300. This new lens do everything, and it even does macro. At 300mm, it focuses to within just inches of the front of the lens.
1041292
I agree with the 35 F1.4 response. It is a very sharp lens and with the sale, it's priced great. WELL worth the $.
1531926
I received mine over the weekend from Amazon, but have done similar research as you did for over a week. I've noticed the same thing as you do on the price increase. IMO I chaulk it up to supply and demand. I shopped around and found the prices to be generally very close amongst online stores, and no more $435's available except at one reputable NY store selling it at $439 just the other day, and is back-ordered. The thing is that with Amazon there aren't even other vendors selling this camera at any price, so it's completely up to Amazon to charge what it thinks is appropriate. Even the used prices (which are mostly by Amazon in this case) have risen by a large margin. However, the camera is fantastic! So it's still a value proposition in my case. Since I sold my M43 gear, this $500 price tag is downright low. Look at it another way, there are no M43 or DSLRs (bodies only) that shoot at 5.5 FPS with autofocus or 12 without that come in at less than a grand. The lens range and aperture are in the same situation, there is nothing in the inter-changeable lens world that come close without costing multiples of this FZ150. Seriously, an Olympus 28-200'ish mm equivalent M43 lens runs at $450; a Nikon 18-200 VR for APS-C sensor is at approx $900; a Nikon 28-300 VR for full frame is about $1k (while non of these open to f 2.8). True, those cameras have larger sensors and the lenses are quality stuff and can do different things (we're not totally comparing apples to apples here), but if this camera is right for you for what you do as it does in my case for what I intend it to do, which is for travel (light) and take photos of my son at baseball games, the price is a steal. Frankly this camera out guns my DSLR by a large margin and does 1080P video with fast accurate auto focus at 60p :) I cannot do manual video focus of sports - at any price! On the other hand, other options may be to wait and see, or buy used. I checked out eBay, no luck there (but Amazon pricing staff already know that).
926486
You are not looking at very expensive optics here, and you can't compare the performance of this lens to one costing thousands of dollars. That being said however, this lens will perform pretty well shooting the moon. You will find it hard to get perfect focus on infinity. If you have the extender, which will double your length, you will get even closer shots. Also, some people can't stand that this lens is all mechanical, just like the old 35 MM lenses. I love shooting with this thing. You can actually hand hold to get some very good bird shots. I hope this answers your question. Good luck. For the price, you should do okay! You are not looking at very expensive optics here, and you can't compare the performance of this lens to one costing thousands of dollars. That being said however, this lens will perform pretty well shooting the moon. You will find it hard to get perfect focus on infinity. If you have the extender, which will double your length, you will get even closer shots. Also, some people can't stand that this lens is all mechanical, just like the old 35 MM lenses. I love shooting with this thing. You can actually hand hold to get some very good bird shots. I hope this answers your question. Good... » Read More You are not looking at very expensive optics here, and you can't compare the performance of this lens to one costing thousands of dollars. That being said however, this lens will perform pretty well shooting the moon. You will find it hard to get perfect focus on infinity. If you have the extender, which will double your length, you will get even closer shots. Also, some people can't stand that this lens is all mechanical, just like the old 35 MM lenses. I love shooting with this thing. You can actually hand hold to get some very good bird shots. I hope this answers your question. Good luck. For the price, you should do okay! « Show Less
1690496
Thanks for your question! I'm sure it's disappointing to see an increase in the price of the lens you were planning to purchase. Because we constantly receive new data from our suppliers, our prices regularly change. The price you saw was the lowest price we were able to offer at the time. More details about our pricing can be found on our Help pages:
1371876
The cheaper lens is a 40-150mm, the more expensive is 14-150, allowing wide angle shots through to approx 10 x zoom. It minimises lens changeovers, there's a better chance of having the "right" lens on the camera at any time.
1794470
One thing that hasn't been addressed by others, is that the APD version won't work with phase detection autofocus, so not only its it "slower" with light gathering, but also slower with focusing. And it's $500 more. Unless you're shooting in a studio, I don't think most will be interested in this lens.
935002
China.....For the price of this lens, you wouldn't be able to buy the "box" if it were made in Japan...This is a nice lens and is a bargain for the money.....You simply have to take TLC (tender loving care) when you remove it from the camera body, and not "yank" it off...You have to keep in mind that these are "consumer" grade lenses (made in China), and when they break, you toss them...But with proper care they will last years, so don't be afraid of the "China" made.PSYou can easily pay a thousand dollars or more for a professional lens of this MM. China.....For the price of this lens, you wouldn't be able to buy the "box" if it were made in Japan...This is a nice lens and is a bargain for the money.....You simply have to take TLC (tender loving care) when you remove it from the camera body, and not "yank" it off...You have to keep in mind that these are "consumer" grade lenses (made in China), and when they break, you toss them...But with proper care they will last years, so don't be afraid of the "China" made.PSYou can easily pay a thousand dollars or more for a professional lens... » Read More China.....For the price of this lens, you wouldn't be able to buy the "box" if it were made in Japan...This is a nice lens and is a bargain for the money.....You simply have to take TLC (tender loving care) when you remove it from the camera body, and not "yank" it off...You have to keep in mind that these are "consumer" grade lenses (made in China), and when they break, you toss them...But with proper care they will last years, so don't be afraid of the "China" made.PSYou can easily pay a thousand dollars or more for a professional lens of this MM. « Show Less
501845
Amazon tends to raise their price autmatically (?) if there is more interests for the item. e.g. more clicks and page views increases the price. I think the price drop for a bit due the rumor that waterpoof version of this lense is going to be out soon. This is not a water-proof lense but a great one indeed.
1749968
No, but you can get an identical third party one for about $5 by searching amazon and/or eBay. You can't beat this lense for the $. Mine was better than expected at 300mm.
1838718
M. Clouse, I have both the 35mm L lens and the 50mm non-L lens. Like you, I love the 50mm lens but it is not sharp wide open. It sharpens up pretty well in the center by f/2.8, but the corners are soft even at f/5.6. The 35mm L lens is not in the same league. It is almost 4 times as expensive, built like a tank, has a completely different lens formula, ring USM focusing system rather than the old design in the 50mm, and is sharp at f/1.4 even out to the edge of the field. Like the 50mm, it gets a little sharper stopped down, but it is so sharp at f/1.4, there is not much room for improvement. You will not be disappointed with the 35mm L. It is a very fine lens optically and mechanically. M. Clouse, I have both the 35mm L lens and the 50mm non-L lens. Like you, I love the 50mm lens but it is not sharp wide open. It sharpens up pretty well in the center by f/2.8, but the corners are soft even at f/5.6. The 35mm L lens is not in the same league. It is almost 4 times as expensive, built like a tank, has a completely different lens formula, ring USM focusing system rather than the old design in the 50mm, and is sharp at f/1.4 even out to the edge of the field. Like the 50mm, it gets a little sharper stopped down, but it is so sharp at f/1.4, there is not much room for... » Read More M. Clouse, I have both the 35mm L lens and the 50mm non-L lens. Like you, I love the 50mm lens but it is not sharp wide open. It sharpens up pretty well in the center by f/2.8, but the corners are soft even at f/5.6. The 35mm L lens is not in the same league. It is almost 4 times as expensive, built like a tank, has a completely different lens formula, ring USM focusing system rather than the old design in the 50mm, and is sharp at f/1.4 even out to the edge of the field. Like the 50mm, it gets a little sharper stopped down, but it is so sharp at f/1.4, there is not much room for improvement. You will not be disappointed with the 35mm L. It is a very fine lens optically and mechanically. « Show Less
1777405
I think they got the picture wrong because the L3 should not cost no $300, they only run around $150-$200. But if you do get it and it is the L3 and not the L7 then you can just send it back.
1371878
The cheaper lens is in 35mm focal length equivalents an 80mm to 300mm zoom. The more expensive lens is in 35mm focal length equivalents a 28mm to 300mm zoom. You pay for the flexibility you get in not having to change lenses to take wider angle shots.
757260
Most prices I have seen for the Canon brand is around $650. If you can get it cheaper than this tameron by all means get it. I bought this for my Nikon it's a great lens I only bought it because it was a nice lens at a cheaper cost.
808791
This is a different lens than the kit lens that comes with the camera at a much lower price. Unfortunately, I don't know the answer as to what makes this lens worth 3 times as much.
501844
Amazon tends to raise their price autmatically (?) if there is more interests for the item. e.g. more clicks and page views increases the price.I think the price drop for a bit due the rumor that waterpoof version of this lense is going to be out soon. This is not a water-proof lense but a great one indeed.