I have used my Canon 200mm f1.8L for my son football game but it does not have enough reach so I have been on the fence for the Canon 300mm f2.8 IS for a couple months now.
Guess what? B&H and Adorama raise price from $4100 to to $4300 yesterday (Sep 1st) and today (Sep 2nd) $4400. What is going on?

I end up bought it from Beach Camera through Ebay to get the $200 Bing cash back.
BTW, Beach Camera price is still at $4100. Thank you BC

Ken

Nikon raised theirs, so thats it.

Yeah, it's been noted here as well: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/810143 and it's not just the 300 2.8. Also the 400/500/600 and a number of other lenses.

Shit. Prices jumping on so many things lately.

Did you ever pop a 1.4x teleconverter on your 200/1.8, which would give you 280mm at f/2.5? Almost as much reach and 1/3 stop faster. Of course, in good light you can pop the 1.4x on the 300 and have 420/f.4, which also is pretty nice. Congratulations on your new lens. It's a beauty.

Russ Isabella wrote:
Did you ever pop a 1.4x teleconverter on your 200/1.8, which would give you 280mm at f/2.5? Almost as much reach and 1/3 stop faster. Of course, in good light you can pop the 1.4x on the 300 and have 420/f.4, which also is pretty nice. Congratulations on your new lens. It's a beauty.
Yes, I did. I can get on the fields at most of his games but on few stadiums I have to shoot from the fence or from the bleacher since they only allow the school official photogs on the field. I also tried the Canon 100-400mm but not on the night games. I'm planning to use the 1.4X on the new 300 2.8 as well. I also planning to buy the 2X tc if I need to.
Then maybe move up to the 400mm down the road once I save enough doughs for it.

Russ Isabella wrote:
Did you ever pop a 1.4x teleconverter on your 200/1.8, which would give you 280mm at f/2.5? Almost as much reach and 1/3 stop faster. Of course, in good light you can pop the 1.4x on the 300 and have 420/f.4, which also is pretty nice. Congratulations on your new lens. It's a beauty.


plus 1 to adding a 1.4x to the 200/1.8. works great!

Unreal, ive spent about at least 30k grand in the last 3 years at BH photo(At least). I just bought a new 70-200 F4 IS to hold me over until next year and I will get another 200mm F2.0 IS but I will not be purchasing from them. Im over it I called and asked them to match Dells and a couple others where they were all at least $150 less than BH and they would not do it.. I mean do they even look at your account history? Not sure if 30K is much to some big time photographers but to me ive been as loyal as they come to that place.I just got my last purchase today in the mail from them(70-200 F4IS) I will be searching for someone that is willing to talk to you on the phone and try to make a decent deal in this poor economic times.
Im happy you went to BC ill have to look into them.

knov87 wrote:
I have used my Canon 200mm f1.8L for my son football game but it does not have enough reach so I have been on the fence for the Canon 300mm f2.8 IS for a couple months now.
Guess what? B&H and Adorama raise price from $4100 to to $4300 yesterday (Sep 1st) and today (Sep 2nd) $4400. What is going on?

I end up bought it from Beach Camera through Ebay to get the $200 Bing cash back.
BTW, Beach Camera price is still at $4100. Thank you BC

Ken

yeah, nasty. Raised on the lens increase pricing thread.

glad i got mine a couple ago for 'only' $3800!

$4400 is so rough it might have scared me off for good.

I picked a lightly used 300mm IS UV date code for $3000, good deal

Cliftonyte wrote:
I picked a lightly used 300mm IS UV date code for $3000, good deal

Come on Clifton, you know it's a smokin' deal

This is the best deal I've seen here in a while. $3500 w/Sidekick and plate from a highly rated seller.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/829969

Back in the mid-90s the 300/2.8 non-IS was $4600+ at B&H. So no whining allowed.

Best bet is right here on B&S!!!! Canon "refurbs" at $3300!!

Strong yen.

Yep.. an unfortunate circumstance of the dollar's declining value. Nothing you can do.

jdben622 wrote:
Cliftonyte wrote:
I picked a lightly used 300mm IS UV date code for $3000, good deal

Come on Clifton, you know it's a smokin' deal

This is the best deal I've seen here in a while. $3500 w/Sidekick and plate from a highly rated seller.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/829969

Will Patterson wrote:
Yep.. an unfortunate circumstance of the dollar's declining value. Nothing you can do.


It has less to do with the declining dollar/stronger yen and more to do with corporate greed... depressed economy = declining sales = raise prices to make more profit per sale.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0910/09103001canonq3profitsrise.asp

I've been tracking this in late August, early Sept. I left for Asia for a month and figured I'd buy this lens upon my return. When I came back, it was at $4,599. I had to suck it up and ended up with a used one. Mine was vacillating and all the other factors mentioned above.

There's a beat up non-IS model on the b&s section for $2k right now, haha.

molson wrote:
Will Patterson wrote:
Yep.. an unfortunate circumstance of the dollar's declining value. Nothing you can do.


It has less to do with the declining dollar/stronger yen and more to do with corporate greed... depressed economy = declining sales = raise prices to make more profit per sale.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0910/09103001canonq3profitsrise.asp

First time I've ever seen a dpreview thread quoted here as an authority! The problem is the continual decline of the dollar. Look at the trend over just the last six months and it is clear why prices are going up.
http://www.exchange-rates.org/history/JPY/USD/G/180

Corporate necessity, not corporate greed. And a big volume retailer like BH turns over their stock quickly, so their prices will reflect this more quickly than a store that has a few lenses sitting on the shelf for months.

We still have a good deal compared to prices outside the US. However, the dollar will probably continue to decline, eating away at that advantage.