Sunday, December 16, 2012

Camera Pricing

It seems to me that most of the camera prices are dropping.  Is it just me, or camera manufacturers are facing some real tough times that people are not willing to spend too much on cameras?  I don't know about others, I was very excited to see camera makers introduce new lenses, and then the unbelievably high prices that immediately damp that excitement.  Most of Canon's new lens prices are way out to lunch.  Every time they have a replacement for an existing lens, the price sometimes doubles that of what the current lens sells.  I am sure there are improvements, but does that warrant such price increases?  For me, I will just use my existing lenses, or get alternative third party equivalents.

One exception is Sigma.  Sigma produces some very good, but reasonably priced lenses.  One example is the new 35mm f1.4 lens.  If I had a need for a fast 35mm lens, I would not think twice buying the Sigma 35mm f1.4, which is in many ways better than the equivalent lenses from the big guns, at half the price.  

To some degree, the camera are facing similar market pressure.  With ever shorter product cycles, most of the cameras produced in the last few years are not that much different in terms of image quality.  They are still excellent today.  Shelling out a thousand bucks or more to replace one that still works perfectly is a tough choice.

For me personally, I will buy a new camera at the end of the year, but that's probably going to last me at least two to three years, unless something revolutionary happens.  I have my eye set on the Sony NEX-6, but if the price comes down on the OM-D EM-5, or the Fuji XE-1, I will have a tougher time deciding.

Ornaments - Panasonic G1 & Canon nFD 50mm f1.2 @ f1.2. Click for larger.

7 comments:

  1. Some of the run out mirror-less prices are crazy cheap - $300-$350 will get you a Nikon V1, Pentax K-01, Pentax Q, Olympus EPM-1 - all with a lens.

    I agree with your thoughts on the Sigma 35mm f1.4 - I will probably get one to replace my Nikon 35mm f1.4 Ai-s.

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    1. We now witness the failed marketing for these products, especially the Q. It was like $800 at introduction, way too much for a camera like this. Same as the V1. Perhaps they think people will plunk down the cash because it's unique or from a famous brand. I think people are smarter than that. But the K-01? That's a nice camera at this price point.

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  2. Yes! Why not have an affair with the despised K-01? An "in-between love" will spice live! I have to mention: this applies in fact exclusively to cameras! Wise Yu-Lin has not has to be reminded of anyway! 320$ incl. 40mm pancake lens .... you have a lot of K-mount glass.

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    1. scarlatti: I happen to LOVE the K-01, especially the yellow model, but I can't bring myself to another format. Already have the Canon EF, NEX and M4/3. It would be crazy to start the K-mount now, as much as I live Pentax. All the K-mount lenses can be used on the NEX/M4/3/EOS.

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  3. I'm looking to buy a NEX-6 too but every time I think about it I realize I don't really NEED it. I've had a NEX-5 for the past two and a half years and it's still perfectly good. In fact it's become pretty much the only digital camera I use now except for when I need to use external flashes. It's a tough choice... :|

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    1. The NEX-5 is still a great camera, though the image quality of the later model is quite a bit better, especially in low ISO, but if you are happy with it, there really is no reason to upgrade. I would have been happy with my 5N, except my son now has it.

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  4. I think we're seeing it across a number of areas. Cars for instance too are not going up with inflation

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