The "myth" of Canon price drops?

I've read a few posts here lately about how people should wait a while before buying the 24-105L because they'd be paying a premium for a new lens, but I'm wondering if people have some examples where the price of a Canon lens has dropped significantly after time. I've been wanting to get a 70-300 DO since it came out but have waited for it to no longer be a "new" lens. However, at least here in Australia, the price hasn't budged an inch. Started at around $2000 AUD, and is still $2000 AUD!

The Canon EF 17-40 and EF-S 10-22 are prime examples of the price drop.

Well in the US the price droped on the 70-300 DO IS. It was L IS priced for quite some time before dropping several hundred dollars. Last time I checked it was ~$1000 US range.

I would expect the 24-105 f4L IS to drop a few hundred in a year or so as well but nothing drastic to say sub $900, that may be a bit much.

Yeah I paid $750 import for my 10-22mm in the summer, but I don't regret the purchase I've had a full summer of shots with this lens.

Don't tell me this. I need to NOT buy anything for a whole year! Price drops. The new temptation.

SuzyView - needing to get the 580 EX for my new 20D which needs a 17-40L lens which would then need the 135L for balance which would feel better with a new grip . . . .

Yeah it's a problem. there is nowhere near the competition in australia to drive price cutting to the extent they see in the USA
Self importing is an option but can turn into a saga if you need to make a warrantee claim or return the lens because it's not up to par.

careful with the DO version of the 70-300 IS. i've seen examples and complaints of it being "soft" at 300. of course i've also seen some contradictory reports that it is sharp at 300.

do some research before plunging.

I bought the XT when it first came out for $999. You can now pick it up for under $700.

GOod point. The XT is the best selling SLR in the history of Digital SLRs.

The few that I have tracked were camera models and they kept going down graudually (keep actually) - not a sudden correction....

Really? It wasn't the original Rebel 300D.

My buddy picked up his Rebel-D the month they hit store shelves BestBuy kept selling out of them he finally got his hands on one. Every place had them for $999 and he had a 10% coupon for BestBuy that I gave him.

I picked my copy up about 18mo. later for $750 (plus rebate off this yet). Now look, those that still have them left will part with one for $650. And BHphoto had used copies for $499.

But bodies drop much faster then lenses, but it would appear BHphoto sells new lenses for very close to MSRP, you need wait at least a 6mo. to a year for a significant drop after that.

Price drops there allways droping for me,I look at the uk price then send to HK for it .70-200f2.8Lis price drop of £400 right away lol.

I know this is probably obvious but shopping around can also reap great rewards. I found out the other day that I could have picked up my 17-40mm £60 cheaper at a local camera store just down the road... that would have been a 10% saving for me!!! grrrrrr.

We Brits really have it hard. Coffee, chocolate, wine and CAMERAS are all cheaper in Europe....which we technically are apart of but price wise are not! Example, Canon EF 17-40 f4 L - Uk Best Price £543, German best price 729 Euros which is £500 (where goods tax is about the same).....and then there is always Ebay......

I wonder if prices will ever drop if Britain takes the Euro, as we will then have not to convert prices??

As for bodies, the 5D has already started to loose a couple of hundred pounds!

Just buy with the rebate, if you buy new and you'll get good savings with the 3 items you listed.

However, you won't see much of a drop in any of the stuff you listed. Nothing signifcantly different.

Theres a new 70-300 IS out though, which is not DO.

I think what has made the DO popular is the size and weight for things like hikes, more than image quality, and that's where it gainned more of its popularity because of that.