@RowlandShaw I think thats generally the case because the primary reason for bigger front optics means wider aperture...and the widest apertures are usually only found on the professional grade lenses (i.e EF 85mm f/1.2)

I now have all my photos backed up by Time Machine

hooray for first steps

man, nikon lens prices have jumped on Amazon recently

the 35 f/1.8 dx is now $429, which is about twice what it used to be, I think

ah, limited supply caused by the tsunami, perhaps

B+H has it listed for $279, but it's temporarily unavailable

@jrista You get fashions with things -- sometimes bigger is seen as better, and then sometimes miniaturisation is seen as better - you only have to look at the small size of the primes to appreciate how small a front element you need for a lens (of course, with the lens arrangements in zooms has all sorts of effects that need to be counteracted

Even then, on a 24-70 lens that is 135mm long, theoretically, the front element wouldn't need to be larger than the image circle

@EvanKrall I understand that wholesale prices haven't changed - just the profit margin has increased to match the expectation that prices would increase

@RowlandShaw probably, or at least the resellers are jacking up their prices because everyone else is out of stock and they can get away with it