Very well put, Joe. I also was considering purchasing this new body and was a bit disappointed to hear it might be $4500. I am a freelance photojournalist and my 20D has served me well. $4000 is a lot of published photos and articles for my local paper and the extra $500 puts me out of the running for now. My film camera is an EOS3 which I just loved and had hoped this would be that camera for me. Will be looking forward to actual reviews once everyone has this in their hands.
Interesting conversation but I add one additional thought
Its not just about the body its about the system
In the TV example I could buy a Sony today then in a year or two buy an RCA or any other brand there is no need to worry that my Cable or Satellite or DVD player needs to be replaced just because I switched TV brands.
Now in the Camera world this changes and the amount this changes depending at what level you are at.
If you are at the Entry level maybe XT with the kit lens and switch to Nikon The kit lens is about $50 bucks maybe you have a 50 1.8 for $60 bucks, no big dial changing brands. This level of performance is competitive and important to attract customers and brand awareness. Move up the line a little and you may still have customer with 30D or D200 with smaller investments in lens, flash but they tend to increase their brand assories value making it harder to change. Now at the top 1D, 1DX the investments in lens/flash often exceed the investments in body ,. Now when would you change brands I think only is there is a significant advantage of one system over the other or you become completely upset with your current brand. I do not think this is the same type of completeness within the body/price as it is in the lower level lines.
I think the best we can hope for in a brand is one that continues to provide a leading edge product so that our investment does not become obsolete and allow us to be more productive in our photography (and not gouge us in the process because they know they have us).
I think Canon has shown reduction in price/performance by migrating some of the technology from their pro lines into their consumer/prosumer lines example auto focus, ISO performance, higher resolutions.
To put it this way I dont think a commercial equipment like semis trucks or professional tractors have the same, lower price competitive points as consumer trucks and your lawn tractors, I paid $2,500 for a small lawn tractor John Dear But I know a John Dear made for a golf can cost $50,000-$100,000.
I spoke with Bob @ Hunt Photo regarding their $3999 online price. He indicated that it was an estimate pre-order price that is likely subject to change. He indicated that he is expecting to find out about the selling price sometime in early April. Shipment is estimated in May.
jhom wrote:
I spoke with Bob @ Hunt Photo regarding their $3999 online price. He indicated that it was an estimate pre-order price that is likely subject to change. He indicated that he is expecting to find out about the selling price sometime in early April. Shipment is estimated in May.
fwiw, i haven't found a single dealer who will match hunt's price of $3999. everyone's expecting $4499. i'll bet that hunt's will change their price before they ship.
even in the unlikely chance that they could still make a profit at $3999, i see no reason why they'd leave $500 on the table with every sale. i sure wouldn't.
hahr wrote:
fwiw, i haven't found a single dealer who will match hunt's price of $3999. everyone's expecting $4499. i'll bet that hunt's will change their price before they ship.
even in the unlikely chance that they could still make a profit at $3999, i see no reason why they'd leave $500 on the table with every sale. i sure wouldn't.
-erik
They are also asking for a $500 deposit to put you on the first served list or you can take your chances with no deposit on the secondary list. This kind of speculation doesn't indicate they will leave anything on the table and will charge whatever the market bears.
I have cancelled all of my orders and will wait until they are actually available to determine if I need it enough to pay whatever the going price is or wait until it drops.
I understand it is a major improvement compared to the 1D to 1DMKII update and the 1DMKII went for $4500 new but I'm a little turned off with all of the "leave a deposit" to get on a list thing.
I also spoke with Bob at Hunts and he informed me that I would not have the Mark until sometime in June. Also, price not yet actually determined. He indicated that the Website was BS.
Haven't read everything here, but since price is a topic. I just received an email from my dealer the price he received from Canon will be $4499 also. A little disappointing considering the white paper. 580EX II $499, and wireless transmitter right near 1k. He has always been very accurate. He expected shipment 3rd or 4th week of April, with all items available then.
Jim Victory wrote: hahr wrote: jhom wrote:
They are also asking for a $500 deposit to put you on the first served list or you can take your chances with no deposit on the secondary list. This kind of speculation doesn't indicate they will leave anything on the table and will charge whatever the market bears.
I have cancelled all of my orders and will wait until they are actually available to determine if I need it enough to pay whatever the going price is or wait until it drops.
I understand it is a major improvement compared to the 1D to 1DMKII update and the 1DMKII went for $4500 new but I'm a little turned off with all of the "leave a deposit" to get on a list thing. ...Show more →
I agree... I wouldn't leave a deposit either not knowing. I am two lists in Canada... no deposit needed here.
Jim Victory wrote:
They are also asking for a $500 deposit to put you on the first served list or you can take your chances with no deposit on the secondary list. This kind of speculation doesn't indicate they will leave anything on the table and will charge whatever the market bears.
I understand it is a major improvement compared to the 1D to 1DMKII update and the 1DMKII went for $4500 new but I'm a little turned off with all of the "leave a deposit" to get on a list thing.
That policy sounds perfectly reasonable to me. You might be in the minority of people who don't put their name on as many lists as they can, but the majority do just that. From your text above, they didn't tell to "leave a deposit to get on a list", they told you that if you wanted a commitment from them to put you high on the list, they wanted a commitment from you, and if not they'd still put you on a list, but not to expect to be placed ahead of those who made a commitment. My local shop has recanted to me the nightmares of what lists with no deposits means to them. One body a few years ago they had to go through 117 names for the first case they got in because people had gotten on every list they could think of, and the shop had to call and leave messages, wait for call-backs, wait for tire kickers to finally say no, etc. No deposit lists are a fiasco for the shops.
When I first saw the price as printed on the white paper, I was excited. Even though it is expensive, I want this camera, and I think the price point is reasonable for what we're getting for the price.
However, the price of this camera is now beginning to reach a point where I can no longer afford to own one, well, at least not for the time being. A $ 500 increase may not be that much in US$, but in my local currency, that translates to RM 1,750 more (US$ 1 = RM 3.5) which is almost my half month's salary!
At $ 4,499, that's RM 15,746 to me, which is almost equivalent to my 4 month's gross salary!!!
Seriously - it's an extra $500 RRP - I'll say it again... an extra $500 RRP... That means street price will be higher - yes... but this is a pro tool - the original pricing of the 1D Mk II was heaps higher, and the 1D before that even higher! For the features, and comparitive upgrades to the previous generation... it's a bargain at $4500.... but hey - thats just my take on it...
Spoke with one of the better dealers in our area at an affair last night and he was told $4500 by Canon on Friday. He said is share of the "extra" $500 is $40 (which works out to 8%), the rest goes to Canon. Do I believe him? Yes, give or take a couple of dollars what he is saying is within line.
Why is he really ticked off? Because Canon said $3999 in the white paper and the assumption by his clients will be that he is the one benefiting the most from the price gouging; oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say price increase.
What really pisses him off is that he has a PO for a very large order from a governmental client who is switching from Nikon because of the 1DMkIII. That PO is now on hold and may be cancelled because it represents enough of an increase that it now exceeds the budgeted amount. This is a scenerio that I had suggested earlier could occur but I missed the biggest element. When it is a brand switch of any size, the real sale is in lenses and accessory items.
Hrow wrote:
Spoke with one of the better dealers in our area at an affair last night and he was told $4500 by Canon on Friday. He said is share of the "extra" $500 is $40 (which works out to 8%), the rest goes to Canon. Do I believe him? Yes, give or take a couple of dollars what he is saying is within line.
Why is he really ticked off? Because Canon said $3999 in the white paper and the assumption by his clients will be that he is the one benefiting the most from the price gouging; oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say price increase.
What really pisses him off is that he has a PO for a very large order from a governmental client who is switching from Nikon because of the 1DMkIII. That PO is now on hold and may be cancelled because it represents enough of an increase that it now exceeds the budgeted amount. This is a scenerio that I had suggested earlier could occur but I missed the biggest element. When it is a brand switch of any size, the real sale is in lenses and accessory items.
Have a look to this E-Mail received by one colleague from Japan, sent to him about his order:
The shop says the Canon distributor notified yesterday to say the "defect item was found with the first medium production manufacturing stock." and then "Both the manufacturer and the distributor deeply apologize that the first payment date (delivery date) is now COMPLETELY undecided."
Steve Beck wrote:
if he promised the Government this price without official pricing from Canon then shame shame.
I doubt he promised them anything. I think that they just priced it based on their info and got a PO cut. Working in local government it wouldn't surprise me in the least.
