Canon Lens Price Increase

I own the Canon 5d, and have been eyeing the 50mm f/1.4 prime lens for a while

now. I just noticed today that B&H raised the lens price from $309 to $325.

Ordinarily, I wouldn't think twice about this price increase. But then I thought

perhaps Canon is raising the price of its accessory lenses in anticipation of a new

camera announcement (i.e., the 5d Mk II)? Maybe I'm reading too much into the

price increase, but I was curious if anyone noticed such increases for other

Canon lenses or accessory products in the last couple days, and whether such

increases have preceded other new camera announcements.

Right you are Danny lens prices have increased, more than this in relation to your other thought is The 5D has been out of stock for weeks now.

But then a price increase could be the exchange rate too.

Discussions about the coming 5D update are not tolerated here at least that is my impression.

There has been so much speculation about he 5D Mk II, the moderators (and many others) are sick of the drivel. No one that is allowed to talk about it knows anything, and we aren't likely to know anything until August when Canon usually makes such announcements.

 

There were several speculative threads about Canon raising lens prices in May though, so this is right on time. As far as I know, Canon hasn't said why they are raising lens prices, but the dismal condition of the US dollar is the most likely culprit.

Canon announced they're raising their prices at wholesale levels, so retail prices went up. Anyway, the 50mm f1.4 is a very nice lens, maybe stop the eying and start the buying ;)

I'm sorry if my 5d speculation isn't tolerated. I just joined photo.net tonight, so I'm learning the rules as we speak! I actually just bought the 5d this week, knowing that Canon might announce its successor any day now, just because the current 5d meets all my needs. Sure, a few more megapixels wouldn't hurt, but I mostly do landscapes and street photography, so a new camera that shoots off 7 frames per second instead of 3 isn't useful to me. I will be buying the 50mm f1.4 soon, because it looks like a great lens and is much easier to carry than the 24-105 kit lens.

The dollar has weakened against the yen, simple as that.

>>The dollar has weakened against the yen, simple as that.<<

 

Don't forget that shipping costs have doubled as well...

Canon have raised lens prices to US dealers by 3-5%. They have not raised prices on camera bodies. Canon Canada are following suit.

 

See http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/Canon_price_increase_2008.html

 

Unlike some other forums, this forum discourages wild speculation and unsubstantiated rumors. We prefer to deal in facts, or at least rumors which appear to have (in the opinion of the forum moderators) some factual basis.

I'm pretty sure it is a combination of the plunging value of the US dollar and the

skyrocketing prices of fuel to ship their products halfway around the world.

 

It would not surprise me if Nikon and others do the same thing.

Actually, there seem some sales going on for lower end Nikon D40 and D60 Kit (w/ 2 VR lens for ~850), which will certainly increase N's market share.

The Yen advanced 7% over the dollar in 2008, I believe. Canon is responding primarily to that, althogh they were sufficiently cognozant of the competitive situation to not change body prices. They'll only hit you AFTER you get the camera.

A 50mm prime *is* a nice standard lens on fullframe, still, I look on mine as just one option. I much prefer a (relatively) fast normal zoom. The 50's nice for interior, low light, candids, anytime you want a compact camera. If we go out for a walk and I just take the 50, sometimes it works out, sometimes I"m kicking myself: it is limitting.

ON other sites of note regarding the economy impact -

However a few people have pointed out that these cameras have already been produced probably over a month ago when the exchange rates weren't a factor. And actually the price of transportation right now is probably at a serious low given the cheaper gas prices.

 

- One person mentioned the confusion in why the Kit package didn't increase more than just the body. One would assume that if increased costs are to blame that this percentage would be spread throughout all products. Yet the $850 24-105L Kit lens didn't see the same 10% increase that the camera bodies did.

 

http://stoppriceincrease.blogspot.com

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Is Canon Breaking the law? Americans would be picketing right now…

 

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Maybe if everyone held off for a month on buying Canon, Canon Canada might feel the financial message.

 

Canon recently announced the end of the month release of a new camera model, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II kit (with EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens) to be pre-sold (pre-ordered) at $3649 through licensed distributers. Many Canadian citizens ordered the camera, including myself, with a required deposit to secure delivery of that camera on the release date for that price.

 

Yesterday, Canon officially renegged on their agreement, citing market ecomony and exchange issues. They announced they would increase the prices $300 (roughly ten percent on the camera alone) to $3949.

 

Not only did they advertise the deal, but they also allowed their authrozied sales reps to take deposits.

 

I feel they have broken laws in the areas of false advertising, contractual obligation, they also incorporated a sort of bait and switch technique, incited interest and committment and then after the sale was deposited, demanded an extra unagreed upon amount.

 

I think there is a large class action here for anyone who pre-ordered.

 

I do wedding photography, I book years in advance, I do not find it wise to call clients up a few weeks prior to their wedding and tell them that their deposited contract with me is no longer valid at my sole discretion without their agreement…..and I think if I did my clients would flip and bad reputation would ensue.

 

The authorzed resellers are not the culprits here, as far as I know….it was Canon who promised the sub $3k Full Frame Camera for media buzz…again problem - they allowed authorized reseller to take deposits.

 

So canon is responsible for supplying these cameras and Vistek or Henry’s should not be held accountable, except that they are not defending their clients (if their is a possibility).

 

Yesterday I spoke to an executive in Canon Canada who returned my call, he explained among other things that “Canon Stands on it’s past reputation…” and is not as concerned with Canadian’s input in the design process, that their is no reason for a Canadian version of the explorer’s of light, first because the level is not their, then correcting himself saying it was a duplication…..” Overall I got the impression that Canadian’s Don’t really count to Canon world wide….

 

With that against Canadians and the prejudice that we are nice compliant peaceful individuals, it is not wonder that Canon could announce sticking it to Canadians.

 

Let’s see, their notification included “This is unfortunate and something that Canon couldn’t have predicted.”

 

My Argument - they did predict it, and they took deposits on it…Sales Orders are better than word of mouth contracts…

 

Canon should honour their marketing hype and not take the 12th hour bailout on the price they promised to deliver.

 

THe letter I received:

 

“Dear Valued Vistek Customer,

 

XXXX Ltd. has received official notification from Canon Canada that the pricing on the

5D MkII will be increasing prior to any cameras being shipped in Canada due to the increase

in the Canadian exchange rate. This is unfortunate and something that Canon couldn’t have predicted.

The new prices are:

 

Canon EOS 5D Mark II body only Was $2799. It has been increased to $3099.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II kit (with EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens) Was $3649. Now $3949.

 

As your imaging supplier, we have the unfortunate task of notifying you that the Canon prices

on your XXXX sales order dated prior to Nov. 5, 2008 are no longer valid.

 

We very sincerely apologise for this increase. It is driven by the economy and in response to

our supplier’s increase.

 

Please contact me if you have any questions. Your revised sales order is attached.

 

Best regards, ….”

 

My reply

 

“That is very unfortunate for Canon, but not for me, as far as I can tell legally, the prices on my deposited order are still valid. If they could not have predicted it, then they shouldn’t have predicted it - but they did, and they agreed to allow authorized resellers to take deposits.

 

I wish to still buy my 5D mk II with 24-105 L series lens for the agreed upon price that Canon authorized it’s own authorized dealers to advertise. This order is already deposited, and thus an agreement has begun.

 

I refuse Canon’s request to opt out of this contract (supplying the authorized retailer with product at the advertised price) at this time: the contractual obligation and steps to terminating a contract are well explained on the Consumer and Corporate Affairs website for Canada – so even American driven price increases could have received their due diligence prior to commencing.

 

I will contact Canon tomorrow, and depending on their response, I will file complaints with 3 agencies and hand the summary to a few legal teams to evaluate the potential claim. I would like to also fund the publication of a website outlining this event and Canon’s position.

 

It would appear that if 500 bodies sold in Canada for $300 more, that would only be $150,000.00…and while to many that much money is not a lot, the principle that as consumers we should not accept profit as an excuse to break laws.”

 

PS when are they gonna put actual dedicated buttons back on the pro flash to efficiently control the Master - Slave function - what loonacy….multiple lighting set-ups on different channels, couples wedding dance, hit none dedicated button and hold for a few seconds sometimes twice to make it work -