GH2 Where are the cheap primes?

[roxics]

By comparison you can get a Nikon 35mm f1.8 for $200, same with a 50mm f1.8 or an older style for half that price. You can pick up a Canon EF 50mm f1.8 for $94. These are all first party native lenses. The cheapest first party prime I've been able to find is the Oly 17mm f2.8 for $240.

So what is stopping Oly and Panny from making a $100 25mm F1.8 lens?

 

[stoneinapond]

So what is stopping Oly and Panny from making a $100 25mm F1.8 lens?

Well the cynical amongst us will say because they want to gouge the end user.

:happy:

At a guess, I would say that while micro 4/3 has brought us smaller and lighter cameras, when it comes to the correspondingly lighter optics, they are harder to produce given you want to retain good IQ.

 

[TheDingo]

So what is stopping Oly and Panny from making a $100 25mm F1.8 lens?

Sales.

You have to sell millions of cameras with the standard lens to be able to sell a standard lens this cheap.

Just be happy that Leica is not the ONLY lens supplier for m4/3, otherwise we would be paying $2K for the standard lens.

 

[J.F.R.]

Also be Lucky you can use practically any lens with the GH2 as long as you have an adapter.....

 

[roxics]

Also be Lucky you can use practically any lens with the GH2 as long as you have an adapter.....

I'm very happy about that fact and I did it all the time on my GH1. Now with my GH2 I'm doing it again. But it is nice to have AF IS glass, especially on the wide end where 135 lenses come up a little short (or rather "long" lol).

 

[J.F.R.]

I'm very happy about that fact and I did it all the time on my GH1. Now with my GH2 I'm doing it again. But it is nice to have AF IS glass, especially on the wide end where 135 lenses come up a little short (or rather "long" lol).

Yes, native glass for GH2 cost more, but that's just because of sales and stuff. I would rather buy this lens (olympus 45mm) for $399
http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Zuiko...8&qid=1350614325&sr=8-1&keywords=olympus+45mm

Than any plastic 50mm Canon or Nikon makes....

 

[ChipThome]

The OP mentions the Nikon 50mm f1.8 and how the new G version is at least double the price of the far older D version. R&D for both is paid for in sales. The earlier D version, R&D costs have been forgotten about, it was designed so long ago. The current G version, well those current R&D costs are being paid off now, which along with other improvements, reflects it's much higher price.

But as another poster already mentioned, market share, the number of potential customers, is far greater for Nikon or Canon. Here on this forum we get a distorted impression about how great and widely accepted Panny and m4/3 is. When you go onto a stills board, you get a really rude awakening about how little of the camera market Panny and m4/3 actually have. If you go onto a stills m4/3 board, you will find that there are far more Oly fanboys, than Panny lovers out there too. Lastly, if you then go on photobucket, flickr or one of the still sharing sites and take a peek at the number of images from a iphone, you start to get a feeling where Panny and m4/3 stacks up with the competition.

So, IMO, Panny has done a real god job so far at bringing good lens products to market, and most likely at a somewhat fair price. As these products age and R&D is recouped, prices will drop. I expect the 4mm and 20 mm to be the ones leading the way.