Initial costs of cameras

Have always wondered what the actual cost of a digital camera is. Yes, very few people probably know but the thought has always intrigued me. RD is relative, but knowing what I know about "mark up" and "profit margins" it makes me wonder what a digital camera manufacture has in COSTS for a DSLR. I wouldn't think they would have more than 2 or 3 hundred dollars in a camera like the 5d mark III. Pure speculation on my part....any thoughts?

There was a thread a while back where someone picked up a 5DMkIII at Canon cost and I believe it was somewhere around $500US. I'll look around for the thread.

Don't forget to include marketing costs. I wouldn't know the precise margins, but I believe it's a volume business with thinner margins than your estimate, especially with the inevitable built-in technological obsolescence of the digital age.

The business model has changed dramatically in the shift from SLRs to DSLRs. When you adjust for inflation, consumer grade DSLRs are more affordable than the film SLRs of the past, but back then an SLR could easily be a one-time purchase for a hobbyist. Now with image sensors we're practically obligated to upgrade on a periodic basis.

iPhone parts costs are generally estimated to be between 210 and 250, i'm guessing a modern high end DSLR is at least 2-3 times that cost.

but as mentioned, just looking at physical parts cost misses a huge part of marketing, distribution and generally promotional cost.