Price Justification ????

[donlavange]

I have been very accepting of the prices I see Canon charge for various lenses and accessories based on the belief that those prices were the just combination of the "technology" and "what the market will bear".

However, today, I saw some photos taken by the 600mm IS and noted that the B&H price was around $7000.00. OK, I am alright with that, . . . assuming the technology supports that kind of price and only those that can afford, or need, this level will buy it. But when I see a lens hood at just under $600.00 and another $600.00 or so for a case for the lens, I am really beginnng to wonder!!

[tim]

Accessories are often marked up to unreasonable prices, and lens hoods are among the worst of them. I agree, $600 for a bit of plastic is incredibly expensive, I guess one reason is the design that went into it and the small production runs. Still, that's pretty unreasonable.

[Tom W]

Well, the 600 comes with the hood and lens case, so that is probably a replacement price. I think this hood might be metal, and it is about 7 inches in diameter. Still, that's a bit steep. The case is a hard case, similar to something like a pelican or Haliburton. Probably would sell for $200-300 if it weren't made especially for this lens.

[Bodog]

But when I see a lens hood at just under $600.00 and another $600.00 or so for a case for the lens, I am really beginnng to wonder!!

Hmm, must be military specs... :rolleyes:

[Belmondo]

Man, I feel lucky. I have a lens on order right now, and if I ever have to replace the lens hood, it's only going to cost $380.00. (ET-120)

[swoop1156]

Hmm, must be military specs... :rolleyes:or special 'government only' pricing specials.

[Tom W]

Man, I feel lucky. I have a lens on order right now, and if I ever have to replace the lens hood, it's only going to cost $380.00. (ET-120)

There's only 2 reasons that you'd be using such a hood - 300/2.8L or 400/4 DO. :)

[Belmondo]

The 300.

I'm selling the 300 f/4L and the 28-300 f/3.5-5.6L because they're redundant.

Can't keep any secrets from you, can I? :lol: :lol:

[Tom W]

The 300.

I'm selling the 300 f/4L and the 28-300 f/3.5-5.6L because they're redundant.

Can't keep any secrets from you, can I? :lol: :lol:

Have "lensworks III", will investigate.
That 300/2.8 is going to be a sweet lens, I'd say. I have the 300/4 for some reason (triple rebates) and I really like it. But my lust for aperture never ends.

Let's see.... 28 mm is 36.4 FOV on the 1.3..... versatile, 28-300....

[Belmondo]

It turns out that 300mm is just about the ideal focal length for my train photography. Anything shorter isn't long enough, and anything longer gives me too much heat distortion (shimmer). If I really do need something longer, I can use the 1.4X or 2.0X TC, and only lose 1 or 2 f/stops. 420mm at f/4, and 600mm at f/5.6 sounds pretty good to me, and autofocus will work!!

It will be a brave new world.

[Tom W]

Yes, those are good lens/TC combinations. The 2X might require you to stop down 1-2 stops, but you have plenty of room for that with an f/2.8 lens!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Jealousy kicks in.. it's such a damn great lens,.

I guess it'd be worse If I didn't have my 200mm,. whch with a t-con is a nice little 300mm as well :)

[CoolToolGuy]

Since this hood is always included with the lens, the only time someone would need one is if they lose it or break it. The 600 is not a big seller, so that makes the market for sales really small. For Canon to list, stock, etc. the hood as a spare part involves certain costs, and with the sales volume so small, those costs are higher per unit.

So the moral is don't lose it, and handle with care.

Have Fun,

[KennyG]

The hood is made of flock lined carbon fibre and, as has already been said, you would only need one if you lost or broke the hood that comes with it. You also get the lockable lens case.

Belmondo, you will simply love the 300, even with a 2x TC the images are excellent. The drop-in CPL may be worth considering if you get a lot of sky/foliage in your pictures. It is Canon's best lens, period.

[DaveG]

I have been very accepting of the prices I see Canon charge for various lenses and accessories based on the belief that those prices were the just combination of the "technology" and "what the market will bear".

However, today, I saw some photos taken by the 600mm IS and noted that the B&H price was around $7000.00. OK, I am alright with that, . . . assuming the technology supports that kind of price and only those that can afford, or need, this level will buy it. But when I see a lens hood at just under $600.00 and another $600.00 or so for a case for the lens, I am really beginnng to wonder!!

It always annoys me when someone complains about pricing. There is no gun to your head to buy Canon or anything else, and they are in the game to make as much money as they possibly can. Competition keeps them honest and a $600 lens hood opens the door for someone who will make one - and make a LOT of money - if they sell it for $150.

But stratigically it's quite foolish of Canon to price the lens hood this way. Not because they are ripping their consumer's off, but because the consumer notices it and finds it offensive. I think most people would accept a $7500 price for the lens and then something like $95 for the hood. It all works out to be the same but one is acceptable and the other isn't. Stories of $600 lens hoods for lenses the average consumer will NEVER buy will still send them running into Canon's competitors arms, and the guy at Canon who made THAT pricing decision should get a medal from Nikon.

[gramps]

It turns out that 300mm is just about the ideal focal length for my train photography. Anything shorter isn't long enough, and anything longer gives me too much heat distortion (shimmer). If I really do need something longer, I can use the 1.4X or 2.0X TC, and only lose 1 or 2 f/stops. 420mm at f/4, and 600mm at f/5.6 sounds pretty good to me, and autofocus will work!!

It will be a brave new world.


Is the the new double L version???? "LL"

[pcasciola]

Jealousy kicks in.. it's such a damn great lens,.

I guess it'd be worse If I didn't have my 200mm,. whch with a t-con is a nice little 300mm as well :)Well, my jealousy just kicked into overdrive, because I know that's not a 200 f/2.8L you are talking about. ;)

I hate you both, you have the two lenses that patiently sit at the top of my wish list (I mean dream list). :lol: :lol: :lol:

My dreams of a 200 f/2L IS being announced at PMA have all but vanished. :cry:

[donlavange]

Well, the 600 comes with the hood and lens case, so that is probably a replacement price. I think this hood might be metal, and it is about 7 inches in diameter. Still, that's a bit steep. The case is a hard case, similar to something like a pelican or Haliburton. Probably would sell for $200-300 if it weren't made especially for this lens.

I did miss the fact that the lens comes WITH the hood and the case!!! So I guess that makes the lens with the case and hood a better buy (you are getting $1200 worth of accessories).

Seriously, the hood and case coming with the package moderates everything in my mind. I guess, I LOVE the Canon family again.

[Belmondo]

Okay, here's a wrinkle.
I checked the price of the hood for the EF 300 f/2.8L, and it's $379. The replacement hood for the Nikon 300 f/2.8 is $280. Hmmmmm. :mad:

On the other hand, the Nikon lens costs $800 more. ($4,699 vs. $3,899)

I'll take my savings up front, thank you very much.

[CoolToolGuy]

Okay, here's a wrinkle.
I checked the price of the hood for the EF 300 f/2.8L, and it's $379. The replacement hood for the Nikon 300 f/2.8 is $280. Hmmmmm. :mad:

On the other hand, the Nikon lens costs $800 more. ($4,699 vs. $3,899)

I'll take my savings up front, thank you very much.

See, you buy the Canon, and its like getting two spare lens hoods free compared to the Ni*on! And some think Canon is ripping us off... :rolleyes:

Have Fun,

[WestFalcon]

Why don't the Chinese get to work on these? They are experts on copying everything else....they could make one for $19.95 or less......Maybe Ron Popeil(famous for the Ronco products) could make a cheapie. Must not be enough demand huh?

[defordphoto]

It slices. It dices. It shades.

[Belmondo]

It slices. It dices. It shades.

And if you're one of the first 500 callers, we'll send you a second lens hood at absolutely no additional cost. But call now as quantities are extremely limited, and this offer may never be duplicated again.

[Pyromaniac]

The 300.

I'm selling the 300 f/4L and the 28-300 f/3.5-5.6L because they're redundant.

Can't keep any secrets from you, can I? :lol: :lol:

Have you listed them in the Market palce yet or on ebay? If not how much are you going to sell the 300 f/4L for?

[Belmondo]

Pyro:
The 300 f/4 was sold with a phone call. The 28-300 is listed in our marketplace and on FM.

[Persian-Rice]

Almost all of Canons prices suck, both in the used market and new.

In terms of used market, most guy want $50 less then what they got it for(600-700) item. To me, that is pushing it. However some things are cheaper. The 70-200 2.8 used is about $850, new $1150, that is a saving of $300. The 100-400 is $1400 new, but used is $1300 for a used one. Only $100 in savings. 17-40? $600 Used, $660 new......
The used market in terms of Canon photography, is the most usless thing the world. Some things are worth it, most are not. Why would you cheap out and get a used copy for $50-$100 cheaper? especially when you are spending that much. $300 sure, but $50-$100?

Dont even get me started on lens hoods.

[CyberDyneSystems]

It is amazing how well the Canon gear ,. well the lenses, hold there value. I literlaly just bought the 135mm f/2L with the triple rebate.. and with that rebate,. I am got that lens brand new from B&H with a USA warranty for less than I have ever seen it sell used,. even now while the rebate is on???

Did you check Tom;s price on his 28-300mm? He's offering a "nice price" for a lens you know is practically brand new.

[HKFEVER]

Why don't the Chinese get to work on these? They are experts on copying everything else....they could make one for $19.95 or less......Maybe Ron Popeil(famous for the Ronco products) could make a cheapie. Must not be enough demand huh?

Send me one and I will ask our sample room to copy some for you in carbon fiber or ABS like LEGO.:lol:

[Ikinaa]

Why don't the Chinese get to work on these? They are experts on copying everything else....they could make one for $19.95 or less......Maybe Ron Popeil(famous for the Ronco products) could make a cheapie. Must not be enough demand huh?

As has been said, there is not really a market for this item.
How many of these lenses are sold?
A new one includes the lens hood. 1 in 1000 looses it, or breaks it.
So they market for this hood is about 100 per year (a few more or less... someone with the correct numbers correct me).
Canon produces 10000 per year (along with the lenses) + 100 spare which they sell for $600.
If someone had to produce 100 of these hoods, I guess the price for one wouldn't be $19.95, even if they made it out of lesser quality material.

(As said, the numbers are fictious, but at $7000 a lens, they can't be too far away from reality, or? )

[HKFEVER]

As has been said, there is not really a market for this item.
How many of these lenses are sold?
A new one includes the lens hood. 1 in 1000 looses it, or breaks it.
So they market for this hood is about 100 per year (a few more or less... someone with the correct numbers correct me).
Canon produces 10000 per year (along with the lenses) + 100 spare which they sell for $600.
If someone had to produce 100 of these hoods, I guess the price for one wouldn't be $19.95, even if they made it out of lesser quality material.

(As said, the numbers are fictious, but at $7000 a lens, they can't be too far away from reality, or? )

To make a good plastic 4 cav. injection mould is roughtly USD3,000. Then we can start making it all year round, for the small 100pcs qty in 25 injection less than 1 hr.

To make a AL casting, is even cheaper.:lol:

[donlavange]

Generally, the price is irrelevant since the lens comes with a hood and case. As stated above, the "market" for these items has to be far less than even 100 pieces. But since the only folks even looking for these items are already very good Canon customers ($7000.00 lens)that have had some very bad luck, you would think that Canon would be more sympathetic to them.

On a flight recently, I broke my Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones (my fault). I stopped at a Bose store and they quickly replaced them at NO cost and with a smile. The original cost of the headphones. . . . $379.00.