Interesting comment at the rumors site.

So after making some moves myself to get positioned properly with lenses and now a FF, I have been watching the lens prices going up lately.
I actually commented on that a month or so back.
But the canon rumors site made an interesting comment that I just saw.

http://www.canonrumors​.com/2011/03/the-bad-news-cr2/

I usually don't put a lot of stock in rumors,
But the comment...

"I was told every executive within Canon is being told to “prepare for the worst”. Sales reps are being told not to say anything."

...is very interesting in lieu of recent events in Japan.

He goes on to say...

"As a lot of you have probably noticed, camera equipment is getting more expensive and disappearing from shelves. There’s lots of out of stock items around various stores."

Hard to argue with that.
I noticed that the 85 1.8 and 15-85 have risen to crazy pricey levels since I got them recently.

Not to mention the ridiculous fiscal policy of printing money ad infinitum and you have a recipe for higher prices on Everything!

Certainly interesting times we are living in.

Regards,

Karl

Lenses will become a better investment then gold

keyframe14 wrote in post #12141433
Lenses will become a better investment then gold

Then I can buy my gold using lenses?

I think, in this case, this is due to an immanent shortage of Canon gear due to the problems in Japan. The last time I looked, more than one Canon facility is closed. Japan's infrastructure has been severely damaged. The problems with the nuclear power site have not even been properly assessed. Canon entire network has been disrupted. I think we're in for a major, but temporary shortage of everything made in Japan. Retailers are thinking about that too and raising their prices.

I just hope that Japan recovers from this swiftly. Not for my sake--not for my photographic obsession or even the Honda that I drive. For the people of Japan.

This is just my humble opinion.

Well, cannon announced that their prices were going to increase in February mainly due to the yen to US exchange rate... this was well before the devastation in Japan. There were comments made by canon reps that their facilities did not sustain any damage from the disaster but their plants were going to be closed for a short period as are Nikon and Sony. Production will depend on the status of their suppliers and I wouldn't be surprised if it runs at say 50% capacity initially. If that's the case obviously supply will run low and I wouldnt be surprised to see retailers start marking up the prices, just simple economics. Once the production ramps up to full capacity, supply will build and prices will come back down. Luckily I have all the lenses I need, I have a few on the wish list but have no issues waiting for things to return to normal.

Dillan_K wrote in post #12141464
I think, in this case, this is due to an immanent shortage of Canon gear due to the problems in Japan. The last time I looked, more than one Canon facility is closed. Japan's infrastructure has been severely damaged. The problems with the nuclear power site have not even been properly assessed. Canon entire network has been disrupted. I think we're in for a major, but temporary shortage of everything made in Japan. Retailers are thinking about that too and raising their prices.

I just hope that Japan recovers from this swiftly. Not for my sake--not for my photographic obsession or even the Honda that I drive. For the people of Japan.

This is just my humble opinion.

Well put.

Wow. I just checked the prices for the 15-85... $830 is a pretty penny. I bought mine during the rebates last summer just before they expired, I'm considering my timing extremely lucky at this point.

Well one thing for sure if folks decide to unload some of their well kept lenses they should not have to many problems selling them.

Since the release of the Sony Nex 3 & 5 cameras with DSLR quality the prices of old vintage MF lenses are skyrocketing around the globe.

So investing in these older MF lenses may also prove to be profitable.

Canon, Nikon, & Sigma may as well move a few production plants over here since Toyota & Nissan have been here for years although there just assembly plants and the parts are still actually produced overseas.

I guess i will have to wait another year for the 5D MKIII !

Regards,

Time to sell gear then!
I'm sure there will be lots of lens being out of stock for the next 3 months, which mean used gear will be considered as an option. And the most important is Japan to recovered ASAP.

Dillan_K wrote in post #12141464
I think, in this case, this is due to an immanent shortage of Canon gear due to the problems in Japan. The last time I looked, more than one Canon facility is closed. Japan's infrastructure has been severely damaged. The problems with the nuclear power site have not even been properly assessed. Canon entire network has been disrupted. I think we're in for a major, but temporary shortage of everything made in Japan. Retailers are thinking about that too and raising their prices.

I just hope that Japan recovers from this swiftly. Not for my sake--not for my photographic obsession or even the Honda that I drive. For the people of Japan.

This is just my humble opinion.

KY707 wrote in post #12142346
Time to sell gear then!
I'm sure there will be lots of lens being out of stock for the next 3 months, which mean used gear will be considered as an option. And the most important is Japan to recovered ASAP.

Well put both of you...

I ponder if this is going to affect future products any...As Canon may have to concentrate tooling up to build copies of existing lenses that will be out of stock rather than tooling up to produce anything they want to announce...

Of course perhaps the opposite could happen and Canon could announce replacements of a few lenses since stocks will be sold out....and of course a replacement lens could be sold at a higher price point, possibly sell more copies(From people upgrading from a Mk1 to a Mk2 for instance) and thus help the company be slightly better off financially

Canon may have also to put priority to the new MkII big Superteles as they'll want to get them out in the hands of shooters in time for the London Olympics...

I expect we may see stock shortages until September at the earliest, And probubly no product announcements until then either..if there are any at all this year

Now definately MIGHT be a good time to sell..but i also anticipate the prices will not fall until very late in the year...Although i do anticipate once stock builds up that Canon is going to do one heck of a rebate program around christmas to try to drive sales...

I've been monitoring the 17-40mm L on ebay, they have gone up about $150 for a new one.

lannes wrote in post #12142759
I've been monitoring the 17-40mm L on ebay, they have gone up about $150 for a new one.

I did such a great deal in january on this lens...$720(free shipping+no tax) from newegg.com.A week after was out of stock, after that over $800.

Kind of surprised but prices have been rising on BH website, but not on my local dealers sight. Im looking at buying a 24L II and the before where the lens was cheaper in the States is now the same price as here. I hope Aden doesn't change their prices alot.

Your local store may have older stock units that they got before the price increase and that's why they haven't been raised in price. I got my EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM at the begining of January with the rebate for $2,069, now there is no rebate and the price increased to $2,499 (was $2,269 before the rebate) :-0 Glad I pulled the trigger when I did!

keyframe14 wrote in post #12143474
I did such a great deal in january on this lens...$720(free shipping+no tax) from newegg.com.A week after was out of stock, after that over $800.

I was looking at getting a used one for about $500, but those prices have gone up as well. Where they were selling for $475-$525 used, now they sell for $600+...o well my kit lens will have to do for now