New pricing trend?

Has anyone noticed that as Canon has been releasing new versions of lenses, the price is shooting into the next stratosphere? Some lenses are almost doubling in price. I wonder if this is how they are taking their prices to the "next level". They obviously would have a difficult time raising the prices on existing lenses by such a large amount but if it's a new lens, it goes across smoother. Eventually, the Canon lens line up will be at an all new, much higher price point....kinda makes me want to buy more lenses now while they're cheap (good excuse for the wife )
I'm just pointing out some observations here and I could be way off base. Any thoughts? Do you think the cost of the newer lenses will come down in time?....I personally don't think so, at least not by much.

I think a lot of the Camera prices depend on the Japanese exchange rate. Today 1 dollar = 92 yen. A couple years ago 1 dollar = around 120 yen. That is a big difference that is definitely affecting our prices here in the states. We could only hope that the dollar becomes stronger.

I think the release prices are somewhat consistant adding inflation and the price seems to stabilize after a few months. Canon can not increase too much different than the competition so they increase together. What I do see as a change is they seem to only manufacture what they have orders for today and have minimal stock so in future you could normally wait 3-6 months for a L lens kind of like ordering a new car maybe they will start offering some bling options to ease the pain

Well as long as Canon keeps raising the price and "you people" kept buying them, the circle is complete

440roadrunner wrote in post #9367484
Well as long as Canon keeps raising the price and "you people" kept buying them, the circle is complete

and thats why my past two lenses have been Sigma =P

themadman wrote in post #9367506
and thats why my past two lenses have been Sigma =P

sigma lenses have gone up too because of the dollar/yen conversion.

ed rader

Lens pricing may also take into consideration the lenghty period it will be available for sales, some don't even get replaced with newer model after more than 10 years. So I am guessing that lens manufacturer use the moment of model replacement to adjust prices and make sure it's appropriate (factoring in inflation etc) for many years to come.

Difference in the $ - Yen or in my case the £ - yen or rip off Britian, our prices are always higher.

Rayk wrote in post #9369368
Difference in the $ - Yen or in my case the £ - yen or rip off Britian, our prices are always higher.

that sucks
i've seen 300 dollar raise but euros are even worse now that i see it lol

They also want profit. I've seen may places/articles saying NOT to buy a P&S camera and get into DSLRs. They say the P&S is "out" and the bigger better cameras are "in." Of course the camera companies are seeing this and pushing people into buying lenses. And of course the gear heads are all going to say, well if Joe Schmoe from down the street has a new 5DII and a few Ls then I want better then that and will pay for the mark II Ls that cost double what the old ones cost.