As Preston will tell you, it's all because of the tsunami in Japan and the floods in Thailand . But, keep in mind these lenses are aimed at a professional, sports-photography market and those guys -- or the publications that hire them -- can afford to pay those prices. For casual shooters or folks that shoot wildlife because we love to do it, it would be very difficult to cost-justify those lenses. And, from what I've seen, they really are great glass. Whether or not they are worth it to you is a matter of need/want and bank account balance .

Jim