Hi just wondering where i could buy a 18-200 vr, it seems to be out of stock or else prices skyrocketed to 52k....any ideas where i could get one?:Dum: Or any alternatives...:Dum:

Hi Jake,

The 18-200 AFS-VR lens is really hard to find nowadays. It is available at Columbia Photo Main Office for Php 43k. The price should not go up because the dollar exchange rate is now only Php 51.35 to 1 US Dollar. It is more on the law of supply and demand. Another alternative is the Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 lens which is available at Mayer Photo Supply for Php 48.5k. It's a better option, being a faster and prime lens. Happy Lens Hunting.

you'll need to be liquid, you'll need to have timing and you'll need a lot of luck to snag this lens at a good price. I got mine for less than 42K at mayer's last month. It was his last unit and he pulled me close, and whispered in my ears.. xxthousand lang daw. soooooo.... i withdrew cash, borrowed 10K from my girlfriend and exchanged my 200$ in my wallet for that lens.

btw, not meaning to be OC but i don't think the 80-200mm f/2.8 can be considered as a prime lens. Aren't prime lenses fixed focal lenght lenses, unless i'm wrong, of course.

cheers!

Hi Chewy,

You're right in saying that prime lens are the ones with fixed focal length but lens with fixed aperture opening are also considered as prime lens. :-).

cool, that's something new I to learn today. first time i heard of a zoom-prime though :)

anyhoo jake, my friend was lucky enough to snag one from a seller in a forum a month ago for 45K, it's the japan made model. dunno what's the diff though.

Personally, I know that prime lenses have fixed focal lenses, although sometimes it happens that what we think we know are not necessarily accurate so I tried to do a little research and according to Wikepedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_lens), it is indeed a lens with a fixed focal length, and most of the time, they have wide apertures. Unless somebody can show evidence otherwise, then I think it's the correct meaning. Cheers.

:) Cool. New knowledge for me. Although I learned before that prime lenses are the ones with fixed focal lengths.

Regards to all.

:) Cool. New knowledge for me. Although I learned before that prime lenses are the ones with fixed focal lengths.

Regards to all.
It still is. Nowhere in the definition did it say that lenses with wide apertures are considered prime lenses, nor zooms to be prime lenses. It's either a prime lens or a zoom lens. :)

Medyo mahirap nga humanap ng 18-200 VR. Called up Columbia a few days ago... if their information is any good, they said that they will be having stocks next month... or so they say. :D

Regarding the 18-200 VR. I don't have one. I'm still saving up for one, but I'm not 100% decided on it.

I've heard that it's a very good all around lens. On the downside, I've also heard that it's sharpness is not as good approaching the 200mm focal length. Depends on what's your planned setup. If you want an all around lens, this is a very good one.

I'm thinking if I'll just get a 70-300 and save some money (since I already have the 50mm 1.8D and the 18-70 dx-- I use these a lot. I don't use my 28-200 as much.).

Happy hunting. :)

Thanks everybody for the info....

@eric
I'll think about the 80-200, you gave me a really good alternative, actually i also had that lens in mind...thanks for the suggestion.

80-200mm f/2.8 sounds dreamy... but a bit more expensive than the 18-200mm VR. from the sample shots i've seen around. it's sharp, has nice bokeh and.. (dang... thinking about it makes me salivate!) heheheh

jake - here's a set i created on my flickr featuring my shots from the 18-200mm VR. http://www.flickr.com/photos/chewychua/sets/72157594183444956/ I've tried to use it for a lot of circumstances, like portraits, food, whale watching, handheld night shots etc...

@ chewy...

nice gallery... as in super nice!!!


re: 18-200... it's a good all-around lens... jack of all trades type... master of none... the 80-200/2.8 on the other hand is just amazing (bokeh, sharp, etc.)... it just makes the 18-200's 200 end look so soft...

downside with the 80-200 is its weight but hey, for those sharper images, i wouldn't mind the extra load... *VA anyone...*

How much is the 18-200? That's on my wishlist. Who cares about the weight...It's ma porma naman, Joke. hehehe!

But seriously Dindin, how much is that legendary lense?

Chewy, Nice gallery! your colors are so rich. What white balance do you use? I find the WB of the D70s so sensitive.

thanks edwin!

i can't remember which WB i used for the shots, but usually i have it on Auto -3 or at Flash +2 or +3. Oh yeah, a bit of additional saturation from PS helps! About +3 to +5 makes the image pop! Some level adjustments are needed because the D70s underexposes a wee bit.

hi guys, just thought you would like to know. i bougth my 18-200 in thailand in february and in june it got sick and is now poised to be sent to hk or singapore. it suddenly developed a case of 4 thuds whenever I power up with the lens in AF mode. somehow, im getting used to it but its really a nuisance.

food for thought.

whoa. whaddayamean four thuds?

Hi Nap,

First of all, I don't only reply with a comment but it is based on actual facts and experience. I don't have to prove anything to you. I'm a professional photographer and ask any pro and they will tell you that the definition of a prime lens is not only confined to those with fixed focal lengths. It is a prime-zoom lens. This was verified last year during the Photo Congress by WPPP Members and Guest Speakers. Now, if your reference is only from a dictionary or website, you don't have sufficient data to make a comparative analysis and make a valid conclusion.

hey paul! by anychance your 18-200 is made in Thailand? if it is so, then you're not alone in davao coz my friend arjay also had problems with his 18-200 (though i think it's fixed na)... i read in some forum that it may be from the first batch of new gen 18-200 which were reported to have problems.

:D

@Eric and @ Nap,

Peace please... I don't think any of you mean bad... let's not even discuss this anymore... might lead into a fight... anti-fight ang DPP... I'm nervous lang... :-)

Love, love, love...

Hi Nap,

First of all, I don't only reply with a comment but it is based on actual facts and experience. I don't have to prove anything to you. I'm a professional photographer and ask any pro and they will tell you that the definition of a prime lens is not only confined to those with fixed focal lengths. It is a prime-zoom lens. This was verified last year during the Photo Congress by WPPP Members and Guest Speakers. Now, if your reference is only from a dictionary or website, you don't have sufficient data to make a comparative analysis and make a valid conclusion.

Thanks for enlightening me Eric and sorry if I slighted you in any way. As I said, sometimes what we think is right might be wrong. Anyway, enough of this.

Don't worry Din, fights are not in my vocabulary. As they say, I am a lover, not a fighter.

Nap

@nap

doctor ka nga...

sige... peace-peace na lahat...

thanks edwin!

i can't remember which WB i used for the shots, but usually i have it on Auto -3 or at Flash +2 or +3. Oh yeah, a bit of additional saturation from PS helps! About +3 to +5 makes the image pop! Some level adjustments are needed because the D70s underexposes a wee bit.

Thanks again for the tip. will take that into consideration...:)

four thuds.

yup its here. whenever I power up with the afs on, there are four thuds on the lens and the viewfinder shakes too. im not so sure if this is made in thailand but nevertheless its disturbing. after the initial power up, and a lull in the shots, the thuds come back. ill be sending it once columbia manages to verify my warranty (a scanned copy from thailand) but for the moment, its power up.... dont look through the viewfinder and then shoot. para hindi ma pansin.

some say its not common to have a lens problem this early and believe me, ive been very careful with it. so its back to the shop and hoping that in the coming week (kadayawan festival) it does not freeze up on me.

just a heads up guys. its a good lens and with chewys tip of -3 in auto, ill try it out. ive actually upped the saturation on the d200 to pop up some colors. ill try to do the auto -3.

thanks guys.

all the best,

Paul

i'll probably see you around during the parades :D btw, you took portraits of my friend vida, a hiyas contestant, she showed em to me, and said that among the pics all the photogs took, she liked yours the best. :D

glad to hear that dex. i was just on the side lines without the ir for the studio lights pumping at 1250 iso. he he. my my i had a time in PS on those shots. he he. you would have probably done a better job sir.

ill show you the 4 thuds. niko saw it first hand when it happened. we were at the wild sprints drag and it showed up then. weird.

see you around bai.

Just cant help it. How do individual qualify as a "PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER" now in the Philippines. Been in this industry for more than a decade but still i'm an artist.:D

That's easy... if you get paid for the pictures you make, then you are a PRO.

That's easy... if you get paid for the pictures you make, then you are a PRO.

Thanks for the reply,

whoo. that was the reason why.:D :D But... thinking about it? Still i would prefer to be called an artist.:Grin:

Thanks Dave.

kudos to you nap :)

going back to the lens, i recall the 28-200mm ed g lens as being "colder" compared to the warmer tones of the 18-200mm VR. i can't really tell the difference between shots taken with the 18-70mm d70 kit lens and this at the same focal lengths.

Hi Dindin,

Thanks for your concern. I normally don't engage in fights but when someone accuses me of being wrong without having sufficient data to prove it, then that person needs to be corrected. I also don't like the idea of some hobbyists feeling superior over professionals. You see in the real world, the beautiful photos are the ones that sell. I for one believe that some images have attained world class standards but when it comes to the taste and preference of some clients, they prefer what is beautiful to them, probably the ones that are not technically correct, well composed and aesthetically beautiful but one that is sentimental and catches their emotions and feelings. That's why I just give the raw files to the clients and they are the ones who choose which photos to print. Unlike some photographers, my photos sometimes don't undergo post-production editing anymore and clients love it and consider it great photos. That's the advantage of coming from the film-based era and learning digital like Joe Buissink who still uses film and combine it with digital. He has two (2) Nikon F6 and two (2) Nikon D2x and he uses them all on his wedding shoots. One camera is for black and white, the other is for sepia, the other one is for macro shots and the other is for zoom or wide-angle.

With regard to the lens, due to the recent developments, there are terms that are not yet published in the books or seem to be contradictory from what other people learn from old school. A good example of this is the new Sigma 70-200mm APO HSM Aspherical Macro lens. In reality it is a zoom lens but it also has macro capability. I tried shooting it and can't believe that it is also a prime lens having a fixed aperture opening of f2.8 and can shoot macro. Perfect glass for weddings except for the color rendition which is pinkish. I still prefer the legendary 80-200mm f2.8 D lens by Nikkor which delivers razor sharp samurai images. That's all what I want to point out, not all things you find in the book is applicable to the real world. There is a big difference from Theory and someone who has experience shooting for an average of ten (10) years. That's all. Peace be with you all.

Hi Arnel,

If you are getting paid for your images and consider yourself an artist by heart, then you can call yourself a professional artist. In my case, I love Photography and it came to the point that it is already making more money than my day job so I gave up my old job and concentrating full time now in Photography and Video Production.

Nap,

No damage done. I thought you were one of those people who look down on professionals who do a decent living to support their family. I work hard even on weekends and only have a few hours of sleep. Sometimes, we spend more time in the computer than shooting. I believe that professionals in whatever field they are in should be treated with utmost respect whether they are rich or poor. Until then. Best Regards and God Bless.

Ayan Arnel,

You're a professional... but an artist by heart. :-)

Din2

Primes has and always be lenses with fixed focal lengths, this is no matter how much new lenses with newer technology rolls out. BUT, it seems that manufacturers are inventing new terms (for marketing purpose) such as "prime zooms" because their zooms produces images that rivals primes.

Many also use the term prime zoom lenses, even if they are reffering to fixed focal length lenses like a 300mm F2.8, just because they have associated zoom as anything telephoto.

I too own a Nikon 80-200 AF-S, probably Nikon's sharpest zoom lens, though it will produce images as sharp as my primes, it can never be a prime for its changes focal length with a twist of a ring.

It's similar to car accesories manufacturers calling products like "Turbo Jet" but its not really a turbo, but since people equate turbo with fast, it sells and people may even start telling their friends that their vehicle is turbocharged :)

Master Jedi Ken,

Thanks for your continued guidance and for shedding light on this misconceived marketing term by some manufacturers. May the Force be with you always Sir. Best Regards.

Nikon Jedi Knight Eric

Ayos, fixed na!!!

Thanks, Ken!!!

I also don't like the idea of some hobbyists feeling superior over professionals.....
Hello, pardon me as I'm new to this forum. I haven't read the terms and conditions in full. Is there a rule that says that the "professional" is always right?

Just asking...

Hello, pardon me as I'm new to this forum. I haven't read the terms and conditions in full. Is there a rule that says that the "professional" is always right?

Just asking...

nope it doesnt. ive never heard of a pro that made such a bold claim

I'm looking for an 18-200 too as an everyday, walkaround lens. Any one thinking about selling theirs, please PM me.

Hi Guys,

There is no rule that says "Professionals are always right". We are also humans and commit mistakes. However, there is this thing called Professional Etiquette or Ethics wherein we don't say bad things about other photographers. If someone commits a mistake, that person should be corrected in private and not infront of everyone or humiliated in a forum. That's all. Hope we respect each other whether we are pros or hobbyists because we all love the same thing. Let us learn from each other and not try to prove that someone is superior or inferior over others just because they are more affluent or less blessed.

Bold Statements are sometimes necessary to maintain your dignity as a person when you are under attack. It's more of a defense mechanism from hostile elements.

can i use 18-200 vr with extension tube for macro shooting?
meantime, i'm only using +4 close-up filter to get nearer to my subject.
105mm vr still damn expensive!

http://static.flickr.com/105/259525648_98687c15f7.jpg

dying orchids shot using the 18-200mm VR... is it just me or is the bokeh acceptable here?

http://static.flickr.com/105/259525648_98687c15f7.jpg

dying orchids shot using the 18-200mm VR... is it just me or is the bokeh acceptable here?

Wow Chewy! The bokeh is really creamy and yummy! :):Grin:

Wow Chewy! The bokeh is really creamy and yummy! :):Grin:

i would have to agree

I don't know how good the bokeh of the 18-200mm VR. But this looks pretty good to me, Chewy! :)

i gave it's macro capabilities a try as well the day after i got it.

[removed pic]

i was thinking the same thing as floyd, is it possible to use an extension tube?

i would have to agree

i tried running a sharpening script on this and still the bokeh looked good. :)

I was pretty near the orchid then.. perhaps you'd have to be close to the minimum focusing distance to get good bokeh?

i tried running a sharpening script on this and still the bokeh looked good. :)

I was pretty near the orchid then.. perhaps you'd have to be close to the minimum focusing distance to get good bokeh?

Yup, close and using the telephoto end... :Grin: Tama ba Chewy?

The 18-200's bokeh is much maligned... I find it not bad at all....

http://static.flickr.com/53/157800888_56f8ccccea.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/45/139014313_c4ca1957e8.jpg

The 18-200's bokeh is much maligned... I find it not bad at all....

http://static.flickr.com/53/157800888_56f8ccccea.jpg



first pic is amazing.

first pic is amazing.

Thanks Carlo. Shot with the 18-200, 200mm at 1/30s. VRII is a miracle really :)

If I may ask

Is your 18-200VR a little bit soft on extreme ends of its focal length Say at 18mm and at 200mm?

i gave it's macro capabilities a try as well the day after i got it.

i was thinking the same thing as floyd, is it possible to use an extension tube?

john,
according to the instruction manual which comes with this lens:
Incompatible accesories
*Teleconverters (all models)*Auto Ring BR-4 and all models of Auto Extension Ring PK,K Ring and Bellows focusing attachment.

hi guys! just reviving this thread. so, did the stocks of 18-200 VR improve? or mahirap pa din hanapin? im planning to get one kasi first week of december.

sobrang hirap pa rin hanapin ang lens na ito, spent almost 2 months looking for it here. Then someone offered to get it for me from singapore. Just got mine a month ago. Swerte ko lang, kasi last stock na yun akin... :Grin:

If anyone is having difficulty finding one, PM me.

If anyone is having difficulty finding one, PM me.

sent you pm jerry! :)

woohoo! just got mine from sir jerry. salamat po sir jerry! sana may paggamitan ako agad. hehehe...

Armil, post na po! :)

:Grin:www.pinoyphoto.com (http://www.pinoyphoto.com) also sells camera stuff. and they have the 18-200mm vr.

sadly eto pa lang po ang test shot ko using this lens. sana makalabas ako this weekend para makapagshoot. hehehe..

100% crop, no other modification done.

Shot handheld, taken at 200mm.

Shutter : 1/200 seconds
FNumber : 5.6
ISO : 400

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/syuter/moon.jpg


VR really works! :Grin:

This pic was taken last night at Ross Capili's OWG. No adjustment done, just cropped. I know it's not the best shot there is but I just wanna show how amazing this lens is. I never thought that we'll be using just continous lights that's why I didn't bring my 50mm 1.8. Thanks for the VR, I still was able to shoot sharp photos with my D70. (especially the fact that there were like 20++ photographers shooting at one time, ang sikip! :Grin::Grin::Grin:)

The setting for this shot was:

ExposureTime - 1/30 seconds
FNumber - 4.80
FocalLength - 55.00 mm
ISO Setting - 1000
White Balance - FLUORESCENT


http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/syuter/sample_18_200vr.jpg

Hi Arnel,

If you are getting paid for your images and consider yourself an artist by heart, then you can call yourself a professional artist. In my case, I love Photography and it came to the point that it is already making more money than my day job so I gave up my old job and concentrating full time now in Photography and Video Production.

Nap,

No damage done. I thought you were one of those people who look down on professionals who do a decent living to support their family. I work hard even on weekends and only have a few hours of sleep. Sometimes, we spend more time in the computer than shooting. I believe that professionals in whatever field they are in should be treated with utmost respect whether they are rich or poor. Until then. Best Regards and God Bless.

Really? you are a professional? or trying to be a professional? You don't sound like one nor you take photos like one. Makes me wonder how desperate and pitiful those people are who hire you.:Grin:

I only use 300 dollar camera for taking bird photos and my photos does not seem to be any different than your parrot photo. A small child can also do that.

Professional, hobbyist or whatever. Everybody takes the same photos. I'm also a professional, but I only use a point and shoot camera. :)

Being a professional is not measured on how expensive your camera or lenses are.

Nice shots Armil! I guess the 18-200VR really pays off :)

sadly eto pa lang po ang test shot ko using this lens. sana makalabas ako this weekend para makapagshoot. hehehe..

100% crop, no other modification done.

Shot handheld, taken at 200mm.

Shutter : 1/200 seconds
FNumber : 5.6
ISO : 400

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/syuter/moon.jpg


VR really works! :Grin:

i have seen and made a lot better shot than this with a point and shoot camera.. and this is an 50k peso lens? how pitiful..

i have seen and made a lot better shot than this with a point and shoot camera.. and this is an 50k peso lens? how pitiful..

i gather this was his last post? =b how pitiful! =b wehehehehe! =D

Countdown.....

Nice shots Armil! I guess the 18-200VR really pays off

thanks man. sulit na sulit. :Grin:


i have seen and made a lot better shot than this with a point and shoot camera.. and this is an 50k peso lens? how pitiful..

wow! sorry, about that sir. i guess you're one of the best photographers out there. good luck on your p&s cam. :Grin:

@armil

Galing ah! Lutang na lutang yun subject.

Looks like a great lens from what I've seen here. I wonder how it does when used on a D200/80 or D2x? I have been using my 18-70 from my D70 kit on my D200 for small family parties, (don't really want to lug around the 2.8 lenses for family gatherings) I noticed that although my kit lens perfoms exceptionally on my D70 on the D200 it needs to get stopped down to at least f/5.6 to get sharp images, maybe its because of the extra MP but stopped down to f/8 its still a great lens. I have been looking at this lens for some time now and I might get one with a D80, just hope it performs just a little bit better than the my old kit lens. just my .02 cents :)

@armil

Galing ah! Lutang na lutang yun subject.


salamat sir. ang galing ng VR. :Grin:

ah, another VR addict! welcome to the club, armil! nice shots!

ah, another VR addict! welcome to the club, armil! nice shots!

gabi-gabi kasi akong di makatulog mula nung mahawakan ko ang 18-200vr mo nung nagshoot tayo sa baywalk. hehehe...

Mga sir and ma'am. I just want to ask if anybody here tested the 18-200 VR on events like debut, parties, weddings. Will it suffice rather than getting f2.8 lens? And is there a big difference in image quality and price between the 24-120 VR.

I would like to see some photos of events taken by the 18-200 VR. I'm planning to buy the lens, but a bit hesitant since I would be shooting events. I know that the VR would be of little help to moving subject and I want to see the 18-200 VR in the field rather than in a studio.

Thanks a lot.

debut, parties, weddings....

I think you'll hit a wall everytime you take this lens indoors unless your comfortable shooting at F5.6 and having ISO set to 800. I can live with it since I don't make a living out of photography. I can use up to F4 indoors, but the 18-200 only allows this up 25mm (kinda wide).

Everything outdoors, I can't take this lens off except for the occational fisheye I like to do.

I think you'll be better off looking for a tamron 17-70 F2.8 XR.

Hi to everyone. I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. Re: 18-200 VR, I got mine a few months ago. I'm very happy with it since it replaced my 24-120 VR. The thing is my lens suffers from lens creep. It stays locked at 18mm but if extended just a little bit and pointed down it extends to around 135mm. It makes it quite difficult to take close up shots of flowers and insects. Anyone else having this problem? Mine's made in Thailand. Thanks. : )

Mine does that as well. Checked around the net and it's considered normal for this particular product.

Thanks Dave, thought it was a factory defect, but a little disappointing considering the price. Just my 2 cents. :)

debut, parties, weddings....

I think you'll hit a wall everytime you take this lens indoors unless your comfortable shooting at F5.6 and having ISO set to 800. I can live with it since I don't make a living out of photography. I can use up to F4 indoors, but the 18-200 only allows this up 25mm (kinda wide).

Everything outdoors, I can't take this lens off except for the occational fisheye I like to do.

I think you'll be better off looking for a tamron 17-70 F2.8 XR.

Thanks. I'll consider that.

:)

Mine does that as well. Checked around the net and it's considered normal for this particular product.

Mine had it too... Based on what I've read in different sites, the degree of lens creep is the only thing that differs. Some are worse than others (as in some don't even stay locked at 18mm or 200mm) but another forum member here (Zandy) borrowed one that didn't have any lens creep. :Thinking:

I had mine for 2 weeks now and according to the seller 'most probably' it wil be replaced because of vignetting problems... however the seller has yet to contact me and i am getting a bit frustrated...

I did not have any vignetting problems with any of the Canon lenses before... will just to wait and see if and when my replacement will arrive...

I had mine for 2 weeks now and according to the seller 'most probably' it wil be replaced because of vignetting problems... however the seller has yet to contact me and i am getting a bit frustrated...

I did not have any vignetting problems with any of the Canon lenses before... will just to wait and see if and when my replacement will arrive...
With my 18-200VR there is vignetting when in 18mm and the lens hood is attached. How about the others?

mine starts from 95mm up... showed sample pictures to the seller and he told me chances are that the lens is going to be changed... still waiting for a word from the person

interesting link at ken rockwell's site regarding the 18-200 vr.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200/18200-drop-test.htm

Hello everyone! I just got word from my wife that she picked up my 18-200 VR in Singapore this afternoon (she's on a business trip). She'll be back Friday and I can't wait to get my hands on this lens.
I'm completely wet behind the ears when it comes to DSLR photography. I got a D70s kit about a month or so ago and this lens was one of the more important variables why I decided to go with Nikon.:)

Terence: What did Jo get for herself? haha. Can't wait to see your shots... :D

i like vignetting. in fact, i even create faux vignettes on my photos using Photoshop's lens correction filter. vignetting can be corrected easily in PS, so what's the big deal?

could it be the lens hood blocking the corners? stupid comment but it happened to me. i did not lock it into position and the hood twisted so that the protruding ends covered the corners.

i have had mine replaced care of columbia digital with anderson tan, hand carrying my lens to HK. now thats customer service.

the reason why it was replaced was a faulty VR.

hope this helps Perry.

cheers

Paul,

no the lens hood was perfectly locked in mine. I had a wedding shoot last sunday and so far haven't been able to see the pictures yet.

Actually I also do not mind slight vignetting Ron. On the other hand if the seller told me that it was going to be replaced, why not? I paid 4 grand for it and I should get my money's worth. :)

Dave,

She said she hasn't bought anything for herself and hasn't decided on anything yet... oh boy, that should get me concerned, shouldn't it!?:Scared: :D

I'm hoping to do the lens justice.:)

Hi Jake,

... Another alternative is the Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 lens which is available at Mayer Photo Supply for Php 48.5k. It's a better option, being a faster and prime lens...

This might be an ideal lens for me to check out (I plan to use it for stage/concert performances without flash), any idea on the current price of it now?

Thanks!

the 80-200mm is a good lens (ask Leo Castillo of DPI)... the 70-200 focuses faster and of course you have to shell out more than 20k extra to avail of the lens.