Prices rising on Canon EF lenses?

Canon's EF mount may be dead as far as new camera manufacturing goes, but it appears prices on at least some EF lenses are rising.

One curious example I've discovered:

Canon's EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM formerly cost about $900 new. You could get it refurbished with a one-year warranty for about $100 less from Canon, and used copies were selling for as low as $500-600 at outlets like LensAuthority.com.

That lens now is priced new at $1,299 on the B&H website and it's out of stock, more expected in 2-4 weeks.

Canon refurbished website has it listed at $1,040.

LensAuthority.com (the used-gear sell-off site operated by LensRentals.com) has what's described as a clean used copy listed for $1,010.)

Is there some supply and demand at work here?

(If someone has taken note of this in another thread, sorry. I searched and found nothing similar.)

I see the price of all canon equipment as being higher. might be the exchange rate or supply issues due to covid. try buying an RV, dumb bells or yeast

Yeah, I get it that the pandemic has put certain things in high demand because of lifestyle changes.

But it's a bit surprising to see the dramatic uptick in prices for lenses that many of us have been told belong to a technologically dead camera design.

So if you're considering selling your old EF lenses, don't settle for giveaway prices.

Besides, with the EF-RF adapter, they work great on RF camera bodies.

From what I have seen this is standard practice with Canon and maybe others as well. A lens comes out with a retail price of $1,000. It goes on sale for $950. Two years later retail is $1,150. It goes on sale for $1,000. They wait a couple of years and rinse / repeat.

In 2013 I bought the 70-300 L on sale for $1,350 cad with full list about $1,500 cad
In 2020, current full retail is about $1,800 cad ( I have seen it at $1,900 ) for a now 8 year old design.

This practice doesn't leave a good taste in my mouth. As a result I currently only buy what I really need/want and even then I wait for a good sale.

Rod

With a mirrorless adapter rings being sold the new and used EF lens demand may be higher than before.
I purchased a new Canon 70-200mm iii recently. It wasn't cheap.
I refuse to pay 1/2 retail for any used lens or camera body from anyone.
I personally believe digital cameras and lenses take a heavy beating compared to the 35mm film days when there were no AF motors.
All electronic devices have an MTBF rating. “Mean Time Before Failure” This varies depending on conditions that stress the circuitry, (Temperature, Capacity)

I've noticed price increases as well. I suspect since they are concentrating on RF lenses, then the EF are getting tight in inventory so they rack the prices up - supply vs. demand - and this drives people to the RF mount where they want you to go.

RodS57 wrote in post #19146006
From what I have seen this is standard practice with Canon and maybe others as well. A lens comes out with a retail price of $1,000. It goes on sale for $950. Two years later retail is $1,150. It goes on sale for $1,000. They wait a couple of years and rinse / repeat.

In 2013 I bought the 70-300 L on sale for $1,350 cad with full list about $1,500 cad
In 2020, current full retail is about $1,800 cad ( I have seen it at $1,900 ) for a now 8 year old design.

This practice doesn't leave a good taste in my mouth. As a result I currently only buy what I really need/want and even then I wait for a good sale.

Rod

That observation merely seems to be reflecting the fact that inflation strikes Canon's manufacturing costs (both materials and labor) and periodically they adjust prices upward to maintain margins to remain a profitable venture.
In 40 years in Product Management in a variety of industries and technological areas, that is the pattern I have seen in every company I have been a part of, as a middle or upper level manager.

Prices are rising on a lot of lenses. Canon, or 3rd party, or brands that can be adapted.

I'm selling a Zeiss 135mm Apo Sonnar and used like at KEH the copies jumped from $900 to over $1500 in just over a year.

Old vintage Zeiss Flektogon, which I adapted, has also risen maybe 25%.

My lens collection is complete.
Tamrons discounts on lenses has been good this year.
I read many reviews and comparisons then purchased a couple nice lenses.
Getting $200 off the Tamron 45mm F1.8 lens was good enough for me.
My much older lens AF motor squealed like a pig but not as loud.

This is happening in Australia too, I assumed due to our fairly weak dollar so it's interesting to read that we're not the only ones copping higher prices. It's probably due to a steadily strengthening yen, against both USD and AUD. This is the yen against USD for the last 5 years:

I'm also wondering if the fact that there are still no RF versions of some special-use lenses like the 100mm 2.8 IS macro is contributing to the rising prices on EF lenses. I know they are saying the 35 and 85 have some macro capability, but I think a true RF macro in the 100mm range is supposed to be in the pipeline. for 2021. RF tilt-shift wide-angles and fast-aperture super telephotos also need to be added to the lineup.

Have you all seen the prices on the RF glass ? Crazy expensive

I see EF L lens maintaining a great value

example would be 100-400 version 2 lens. They play well on mirrorless and play really well with TC's on mirrorless. With RF 100-500's starting at $2700....a good clean 100-400 version 2 at $1500 is a smart move

f8andBeThere wrote in post #19145801
Canon's EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM formerly cost about $900 new. You could get it refurbished with a one-year warranty for about $100 less from Canon, and used copies were selling for as low as $500-600 at outlets like LensAuthority.com.

That lens now is priced new at $1,299 on the B&H website and it's out of stock, more expected in 2-4 weeks.

Are we looking at the same lens? B&H has it in stock and it's priced at $599 new:

https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …-THMPm-QgXFMaAoFSEALw_wcB

No, you're looking at the older, non-stabilized version. A fine lens, but the newer one is stabilized and some say gives better results with higher-resolution cameras.

Here's the newer one, at $1,299:

https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …F_100mm_f_2_8L_​Macro.html

I totally agree with that statement. I just got the 100-400 MK2 and a 1.4x TC MK III used for about $1550 total to use on my new R5. The combination is fantastic. In my experience, the EF lenses that were great on my 5D MK III just got even better with the R5.