Question about Panasonic pricing

<p>I'm really looking forward to the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 and am tempted to buy one as soon as it's released. However, money does matter for me, and I don't want to throw it away.<br>

Last year, my wife bought a (I think newly released) Nikon lens for $400.00. Great lens and all, but within 6 weeks the price was down to $325, where it remains today.<br>

Is this a common practice? I don't pay close enough attention to the ups a downs of prices, but it does seem that "early adopters" often pay a premium.<br>

So my question is: what's the chance that the price of the 20mm f1.7 will drop within some reasonable time?</p>

 

I think it's likely to eventually drop, perhaps by $50-100 in terms of street price. But even if you're willing to pay full retail, the 20mm is hard to find as a stand-alone item right now unless you're in Japan. To get it in the US, you'd probably have to go the eBay route, and prices there are currently running $100 over US retail.

<p>The G1 is now slightly more expensive than when it was released..</p>

<p>I am speculating meaning crystal balling. Panasonic DSLR lineup seems to be a hot ittem with their micro 4/3 debut. Hot sellers don't have to compete on price. Retailers have to keep a certain margin unless they can buy in unusual lots (perhaps Amazon does that on some Canon products.). Also the dollar had dipped vis a vis the yen. You will note that lately places like Wall St. camera will sell you the attractive Panasonic LX-3 for <strong>more</strong> than the MSRP. (Retailers would rather throw in an SD card than lower the selling price on hot items I notice...).</p>

<p>If it were me and I could manage, I'd go for the lens and pre order. Meaning bite the bullet. Why? Think of the fun and use you will have.( A frivolous thought. Savings may only be the equivalent of maybe six large pizzas with two toppings:-) or a pair of good quality walking shoes. Shoes will wear. Lens will still be useful and like new for a long time.)</p>

<p>Seriously, I wish you well in your decision although price shopping now is not likely to be productive. Nor for a long time. Check with Akira Sakamoto and see what he had to say in a previous thread.<br>

http://www.photo.net/olympus-camera-forum/00UYG3<br>

(Good rationale for splurging once in a while I am thinking, since cameras are usually a splurge item).. Yes, prices do sometimes go <strong>UP</strong> in some markets. aloha,gs</p>

<p>The value of a lens is in what it can do and how much you use it, not how much it costs. A $2000 lens is worthless if you don't use it... </p>

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=4581187">Yoshio Tanaka</a> , Oct 10, 2009; 05:42 a.m.</p>

 

<p>The G1 is now slightly more expensive than when it was released..</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>In Europe, it (the kit) was ~650 Euros on debut. It was at its lowest last month with cash back offers (ranging from 100 to 125 Euros) from Pana that made it ~425 Euros. Now, it is in that ball park without the cash back.</p>

<p>I think part of the reason was Pana did not know how the camera would be received and priced it (by their rates) cheaply.</p>

<p>On the Pana lenses, in general, they are the best, fully compatible lenses for this system, in terms of build quality and optical performance. No doubt about it.</p>

<p>Having said that, I do not like the AF as it is implemented in the m4/3rds at all. I continue to use manual focus lenses which perform to my satisfaction.</p>

<p>I have to agree with Godfrey says. If a lens would not be useful to you, it does not matter how high or low its cash value is.</p>

<p>The best lens is what you have and use the most.</p>

<p>For me it is a 5 Euro Computar-TV 25/1.3 lens (in this focal length range) and it is worth a lot more than the latest Pana lens.</p>

 

<p>If you want it, you want it. Get it.</p>

<p>More than likely, it's going to be in short supply and into and out of stock for some time. It may not go down in price for some time. What's the value of the images you won't get because you are waiting for it to go down? Your decision because no one knows what the price on this lens will be 6 months from now. I have a feeling you are dreaming if you are hoping it's going to go down in price in the next 6 weeks.</p>

<p>The only sure way to tell is to wait. If, in 6~9 months the price has not dropped then buy. That said, prices on photo equipment today seem cheap in inflation adjusted dollars, at least compared to the 1970's. In February 1974 I purchased a 'like new' OM-1 with a 1.8 for $175, (not even the md model). So.....adjusted for inflation, my new but discontinued E-410 w/kit lens for $340 was cheaper than my first Olympus. The Pana 20mm 1.7 is unique and there's not likely to be any competitors soon so I would say that $400 is not unreasonable, esp since Olympus wants $300 for their 1.5 stops slower 17mm f2.8. Of course, as others have pointed out, for those dollars I'd want the lens to be very useful for my typical applications.</p>

<p>Oh, almost forgot, still have that original OM-1 and it still works. The meter is dead but the body is functional. I would never expect the E-410 to last that long, but such is the price of the breakneck pace of digital developments in photography.</p>