p.1 #1 · Canon prices (mostly in Canada) and 50 f/1.4 question
Most prices of lenses and DSLR cameras (40D in particular) went up in Canada today.
Since the rebate for lenses just expired, some prices went up (combined effect) by more than 20%
I am also wondering what is going on with 50 f/1,.4 lens at B&H. It is not available and the price went up to $325. Some prices of lenses are actually going down though
p.1 #2 · Canon prices (mostly in Canada) and 50 f/1.4 question
Holy crap they went up indeed! I got a 70-200mm f/4L for my brother from Camera Canada three weeks ago for $639. Now it's $730! They have the 50mm f/1.4 in stock for $413. It was $399 before the holidays if my memory serves me right. With the current exchange rate I would buy there instead of B&H Cheers Michael.
p.1 #4 · Canon prices (mostly in Canada) and 50 f/1.4 question
Also interesting is the relative pricing changes between Canadian retailers .. the online stores that were the least expensive 18 months ago are now some of the more expensive. And vice versa.
p.1 #7 · Canon prices (mostly in Canada) and 50 f/1.4 question
ocean7 wrote:
It's surprizing that with the current condition of the economy Canon's strategy is to push prices up.
Yeah, makes so much sense really. Though I guess with our currency so low, they sort of have to do otherwise suddenly US buyers come to Canada because it's so cheap. I donno though. I just bought the 35L on the 31st Dec in anticipation of all this, glad I did.
p.1 #8 · Canon prices (mostly in Canada) and 50 f/1.4 question
Quoting from a Canadian Dealer's webste is see this as an oxymoron
"Starting January 1st 2009, we will experience drastic price increases, due to the economic recession. "
So it appears the best way to fight recession is raise prices? Message to photographic stores/companies raising prices will lower sales especially in a recession.
p.1 #9 · Canon prices (mostly in Canada) and 50 f/1.4 question
We (Canadians) have seen the prices of Canon gear go down last year as the canadian dollar reached par levels with the greenback. Unfortunately (fortunately for Canadian exporters) the loonie has dropped back down, and Canon gear has gone back up. Time to buy across the border again.
p.1 #10 · Canon prices (mostly in Canada) and 50 f/1.4 question
When the proposed and advertised price of the 5D mII jumped up in the beginning of Dec. I had the chance to ask the Canon rep why.
"The economy", he said, whatever that meant.
I don't understand high finance, but always wondered: if the Canadian economy is so much better than the US economy why is the loonie worth so much less than the greenback?
Oh well, retailers can charge whatever they think buyers will pay. I support local business but do not like being gouged when I'm sure it is greed or desperation that drives prices - at times.
Hello B+H again, my old friend!!!
p.1 #12 · Canon prices (mostly in Canada) and 50 f/1.4 question
winman3 wrote:
When the proposed and advertised price of the 5D mII jumped up in the beginning of Dec. I had the chance to ask the Canon rep why.
"The economy", he said, whatever that meant.
What he really meant, was corporate greed.
Canon Canada was losing sales to the USA when the Canadian dollar was near par with the US$, so Canon Canada had to lower prices to compete. They were still making a profit at the lower prices, but now that the Canadian dollar has dropped again in value, they no longer have to worry about losing sales to the US. So, they took advantage of the diminished purchasing power of the Canadian dollar and raised prices again, simply to add another 20% to their bottom line.
At least Canon waited until after the Christmas season to raise their prices; Nikon Canada did this back at the beginning of December, hoping to fleece a few extra dollars out of holiday shoppers.
p.1 #13 · Canon prices (mostly in Canada) and 50 f/1.4 question
Cliff, I think you're right that the return of the Canadian dollar to about 20% below the US enables (or "justifies") the price rise, but Canon Canada probably doesn't worry too much about sales going to the US, because Canon Canada is a wholly owned subsidary of Canon USA. I suspect that Canon USA controls the prices in Canada, as well as in the US, and they know which proportions provide the best return - probably about where the prices are right now.
p.1 #14 · Canon prices (mostly in Canada) and 50 f/1.4 question
At least this makes my New Years resolution easier to live with - spend
more time taking pictures (when the weather warms up) and PPing the
ones I took last year (maybe even post a few) instead of pretending that
a new lens or camera body with make me a better photographer.
p.1 #17 · Canon prices (mostly in Canada) and 50 f/1.4 question
Despite the increase, many prices in Canada are still lower than in the States, owing to our weak $ vis a vis $ US. For example, The Camera Store have increased their 14L II price by about $70....that's the only gear item I am mildly interested in. If I order the lens from B&H it would end up costing me about $300 more....almost 15%.
p.1 #18 · Canon prices (mostly in Canada) and 50 f/1.4 question
bmstudios wrote:
I've been eyeing the 400 2.8 IS and it was going for $7299 CDN a couple of days ago, now it's up up $8499
Camera Canada lists it at about $8,300 CAD, which is almost exactly how much the lens would cost to buy at B&H based on current exchange (but before shipping, and without factoring the few percent more the CC companies/banks charge for exchange vs. the actual exchange rates quoted at various online sources). What's interesting though is that pricing seems to be almost on par to the US for many items, whereas in the past Canadian pricing was usually at a slight premium even after exchange and shipping costs.
If it's any consolation, $8,300 is still less than what I paid for my first 400 2.8 back in 1993. I think it was over $9,000 back then, but even if it was $8,300, once inflation is calculated, it would have been the equivalent to about $12,000 today. So you're still saving $4,000
Cheers Michael.
Message to photographic stores/companies raising prices will lower sales especially in a recession. 
