Has The Canon Lens Factory Blown Up ?

I haven't looked at the price of lens's for a couple of months but was shocked when I had a look tonight, Jessops are asking £1719 for the 70-200 2.8 IS. Even Warehouse Express seem to have put up the price of most of the L range by no small amount, what's happened;what have I missed that's brought about this huge rise in the price of glass.

'parently its summit to do with the Yen.....

I know the pound is weak but for a lens to go from £1249. to £1719 in such a short time, we'll be using wheel barrows to cart our worthless money to the shops soon.

That's terrible. The 70-200 2.8 IS can be had from Amazon US for 1186 pounds.

Don't buy and you'll be alright

exchange rate

Yup, the global economy going into a recession will cause that

yup it blew up, i saw it with my own three eyes

Mick Emmett wrote in post #7421576
I haven't looked at the price of lens's for a couple of months but was shocked when I had a look tonight, Jessops are asking £1719 for the 70-200 2.8 IS. Even Warehouse Express seem to have put up the price of most of the L range by no small amount, what's happened;what have I missed that's brought about this huge rise in the price of glass.

Mick, where the hell have you been the last couple of months Has news of the global monetary crisis not reached those stream driven TV's in deepest Yorkshire yet? Lens prices along with most other things have rocketed in the last few months. Also I'd be very wary of using Jessop's as a reliable guide to prices. Camerapricebuster.co.u​k will give you a much more accurate indication of the prices you can expect to pay but yes, I'd have to agree prices in the UK are now silly to what they where in the latter part of 2008.

I would agree that the current world money markets have no doubt driven the UK price rise in lenses (£1 fallen from $2.00 to around $1.40). However, I have not seen the same level of increase in the price of camera bodies in the UK. 40d and 450d have not changed much in 6 months ago. Seems odd!

Mick Emmett wrote in post #7421576
I haven't looked at the price of lens's for a couple of months but was shocked when I had a look tonight, Jessops are asking £1719 for the 70-200 2.8 IS. Even Warehouse Express seem to have put up the price of most of the L range by no small amount, what's happened;what have I missed that's brought about this huge rise in the price of glass.

Buy it from www.tradecamerasonline​.com

It's a company in the UK. I bought from them. It take sometimes a long time before they deliver, but they're very cheap! with vat it is £1300 . Take a look!

mjm80 wrote in post #7423993
I would agree that the current world money markets have no doubt driven the UK price rise in lenses (£1 fallen from $2.00 to around $1.40). However, I have not seen the same level of increase in the price of camera bodies in the UK. 40d and 450d have not changed much in 6 months ago. Seems odd!

I reckon it's a sprat to catch a mackerel Martin. Canon (and the rest of them for matter) know once you've got the body the chances are it isn't going to be long before you're want additional lenses. It could also be that the mark up on bodies is high so they can afford to hold the prices and still make a workable profit.

JelleVerherstraeten wrote in post #7424235
Buy it from www.tradecamerasonline​.com

It's a company in the UK. I bought from them. It take sometimes a long time before they deliver, but they're very cheap! with vat it is £1300 . Take a look!

True prices are very competitive but the goods are grey imports.

gofer wrote in post #7424510
True prices are very competitive but the goods are grey imports.

Never heard of this company before but apparantely it's not grey imports: -

"Can you guarantee the quality of your equipment?
We only sell genuine top brand products and accessories: our reputation relies on this. We do not sell inferior “grey” imports or reconditioned equipment. All our stock is brand new and the same quality that you would expect from a high street retailer. " (http://tradecamerasonl​ine.com/index.php?main​_page=page&id=2)

pridash wrote in post #7424807
Never heard of this company before but apparantely it's not grey imports: -

"Can you guarantee the quality of your equipment?
We only sell genuine top brand products and accessories: our reputation relies on this. We do not sell inferior “grey” imports or reconditioned equipment. All our stock is brand new and the same quality that you would expect from a high street retailer. " (http://tradecamerasonl​ine.com ….php?main_page=​page&id=2)

Hmmm... maybe it's my suspicious nature (comes from years of bad experiences I suppose) but I'm still not over happy about this company. Apart from the 'if something seems to good to be true, it probably is', I don't understand why the warranty appears to be with them rather than the manufacturer. As for 'we do not sell inferior "grey" imports', perhaps they sell superior "grey" imports