Lenses make an unbelievable difference in the quality of your photos and you never want to purchase lower quality glass. Using these tips will help you achieve the best quality results for a more affordable price, without losing the quality needed for professional looking results.

Let’s face it, lenses can be very expensive. A basic 3 lens setup to cover a popular range of focal lengths could cost you in excess of $6000 without trying. And while I can probably find a single 18-200mm lens to cover the entire range for under $500, the difference in quality can be astounding. Fortunately there are some lenses that offer professional quality at ‘kit lens’ prices though not without sacrifices. However, by learning how to deal with some shortcomings, excellent results may still be achieved without breaking the bank.

Primes

Primes are often overlooked by the casual photographer. They are inconvenient, small in size, and often lack features such as image stabilization. Yet every pro photographer understands their value goes well beyond the obvious by offering great contrast, sharp clarity, and large maximum apertures. Primes may also be purchased for as little as $99 and while the build quality may be lacking and sealed metal barrels will be substituted with plastic components, most will yield indistinguishable results in your photographs. Stepping up to the $300-$500 range typically buys you better construction, faster focusing motors, and crystal clear glass for the same price as a typical low quality zoom lens.

3^rd Party Lenses

Many lens companies make great lenses for the big camera manufactures. Sigma, Tokina, Tamron, and many others often offer high quality lenses at 30-50% savings. This is especially true for the cropped APS-C sensors (such as the Canon 7D or Nikon D7000) where the camera only uses the center (and normally the best) part of the lens. While most Canon and Nikon lenses still offer superior quality and better resale, the discounted prices of other manufactures may allow you to purchase a better assortment of lenses. For example, the Canon 70-200 f/4L IS lens sells for roughly the same price as the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 OS giving you an extra stop of light and greater ability to isolate your subject from the background. You may consider the Sigma a better option if you are frequently shooting in low light situations. When you begin move into full frame cameras like the Canon 5D Mark II or the Nikon D700, choosing a lens will be a more costly process. Full frame cameras will use the entire diameter of the lens when taking a photograph, and using less expensive lenses will yield soft edges and extreme vignetting around the corners of your image leading to poor results.

Used/Rentals

A great way to save money on lenses is to buy the used or rent. Lenses hold their values very well even for long periods of time. As a result, purchasing a $400 lens used for $325 should sell 2 years later for about $300. Lenses also have a shelf life of minimum 5-10 years and many professionals use 25 year old lenses to compliment their camera. Another benefit to their great resale value is rental prices. Because rental companies can often rent a particular lens for nearly a decade, they are able to rent at unbelievable prices. 4 day rentals for $1000 lenses will often cost between $25 and $50. Often a couple of primes may suffice for your everyday photography and wait for that special occasion or paid job to rent top quality zooms.

Lenses make an unbelievable difference in the quality of your photos and you never want to purchase lower quality glass. You should always purchase the best you can afford when it comes to lenses, even if you need to take a step back or hold off on a new camera purchase. Using these tips will help you achieve the best quality results for a more affordable price, without losing the quality needed for professional looking results.