Iv'e haven't been on the photo forums for quite some time, but in the past retailers would always raise prices when rebates were available. Is this not the case now?
You guys may want to check...Amazon just (within the last hour in fact) lowered the price of the 24-70 from $1349 to $1207. Although it's still showing out of stock (has been for the last couple weeks), at least with Amazon you can pre-order and lock in the price (which I just did), and even cancel and re-order should the price drop further before it ships. I don't know if other lens prices have also changed, but it may be worth a look.
PetKal wrote:
Here is something at B&H for them wildlife shooters: 500 f/4 @B&H
It would now be cheaper to shoot Bambi, have him stuffed, and then use your 50 mm for a close up shot. That way you get a great wildlife photo and end up with a hat rack to boot.(and still have money to spend on shipping Canon products back and forth to their service centers). We must be creative in hard economic times like these.
matanuska wrote:
You guys may want to check...Amazon just (within the last hour in fact) lowered the price of the 24-70 from $1349 to $1207. Although it's still showing out of stock (has been for the last couple weeks), at least with Amazon you can pre-order and lock in the price (which I just did), and even cancel and re-order should the price drop further before it ships. I don't know if other lens prices have also changed, but it may be worth a look.
600mm is also at the "old" price. To get the 500mm price you have to "add it to your basket" and I don't have the guts to do that. They might screw up and actually charge me!
PetKal wrote:
Rather than losing my sleep over reasons for a major increase in lens prices, I like to examine my own strategies for gear cost minimization. In the extreme view, hobbyist don't have to buy any equipment at all......it's not like food, transportation and shelter, right ?
Secondly, many of us have already accumulated much more gear than really warrantied photographically. I reckon 90% of my photography objectives can be attained with 20% of my present gear inventory.
For example, why buy 400DO when 400 f/5.6 or 100-400 can do a comparable job ?
Why buy stuff because it is new and improved ?
Or because someone said you need 21 Mp ?
Or because most guys have the "holy trinity" of lenses so you don't wanna fall behind.
Or you believe that having 800 f/5.6 will elevate your standing in the birder community ?
In short, I firmly believe most folks can cut their gear expenses significantly with impunity, if they wish to do so.
Obviously, when it comes to full time professional photographers, the situation there is somewhat different. One would also hope that increases in their equipment costs can passed onto their clients.
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Please Mr Petkal, not so much much logic, it hurts the ego.
John, you ain't seen nothing yet. You wait until H.Posner comes along with his "dearth of supply" explanations for the price increase. Incidentally, has anyone seen him lately ? I hope he is OK.
I bought a 200mm f/2.8L a few months ago and they were going for $699 new........ then $749 a month ago ... today $799. I bought mine thankfully from a fellow FMer at B+S .......for the best price....Rich
Sam tran wrote:
Got to be a computer glitch at B&H again, or more possibility that a Canon's marketing "virus" has been infected all major vendors...
That's the advantage of a written forum over a spoken one. You can easily type with your tongue in your cheek. I'm curious to see if you're right. The track record is there....
Amusingly, my local camera store (who was always 20% higher than EVERYONE else) now has better prices than B&H:
70-200/2.8IS: $1950 at B&H, $1825 at my local shop
85/1.2 II: $1980 at B&H, $1870 at my local shop
Guess where I'll be shopping in the future?
FWIW, Badger Graphic hasn't increased their prices, either. They're a top-notch reseller if you need to buy a lens.
Darn, I just sold my MINT 70-200 2.8 IS for $1,300. Guess I could have sold for way more. I was planning to get 70-200 f4 IS, but hate to see it as an even trade now.
