THIS IS WHY LENSES COST SO MUCH

IT’S not fair, is it? New cameras get all the headlines, while lenses are the poor relation – occasionally exciting but mostly rather expensive add-ons for our cameras. However, while cameras come and go, lenses are for life. Many photographers have favourite optics that they’re still using on their second or third cameras, so what seems like an expensive investment at the time can often prove to be a long-term asset.

The fact is that really good lenses are really quite difficult to make. They demand complex design processes, exotic and experimental glass, and sophisticated processes that are