Huck Finn
Well-known
I saw on the Cameraquest Website today that the R2A and the R3A are now listed at $599. 
I e-mailed Stephen Gandy to see if this is an error. As always, he replied right away, saying that the prices went up today. He said that he is still taking deposits for the old price of $499 for a few days. Everyone who has already signed up will get the camera for the previously advertised price of $499.
So, if you were on the fence about this purchase, these are the days of decision. :bang:
I e-mailed Stephen Gandy to see if this is an error. As always, he replied right away, saying that the prices went up today. He said that he is still taking deposits for the old price of $499 for a few days. Everyone who has already signed up will get the camera for the previously advertised price of $499.
So, if you were on the fence about this purchase, these are the days of decision. :bang:
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Designer
Keven
back alley
IMAGES
the prices went up today?
the cameras have not been released yet and the prices went up today?
how do things like this happen?
joe
the cameras have not been released yet and the prices went up today?
how do things like this happen?
joe
I am glad that I have one on order at the $499 price. I hope they come through $100 better now.
peter_n
Veteran
That's amazing. There was a certain amount of surprise when the price was originally announced to be the same as the current R2 - I guess CV decided that the market would bear the increase.
I wonder if the new Nokton 40 will go up too...
I wonder if the new Nokton 40 will go up too...
Huck Finn
Well-known
I don't know, Joe, but I have a hunch. My hunch is that Stephen Gandy has received deposits for almost all of the new cameras that have been allocated to him & that he knows or has been informed that the price to him will increase for any future orders, so he is simply posting that price increase now.
Photo Village has not posted a price increase, so they may not yet have exhausted their initial supply. If this is the case, then they would still be taking deposits for new cameras at the opening price of $499. However, once their initial supply is committed, I suspect that their prices will go up as well. Let me quickly add that I have no knowledge of this one way or another. Just a guess.
The question is whether this was a Cosina strategy all along, i.e. to stimulate demand by holding down the opening price, but then raising the price once the cameras catch on. Or might the price increase have come from other factors, for example fluctuations in the currency exchange rate? Factor into all of this that Leica has announced a price increase effective January, 2005. All boats rise with the same tide.
It was pretty amazing that Cosina announced these cameras at the same price as the R2 despite the new features that had been added to them. Was the new electronic shutter cheaper, thereby allowing them to add AE, exposure compensation, new rewind crank, & increased VF magnification on the R3A at no additional cost? Or was the initial low price simply a way to get publicity & a positive reception for the new product offerings?
Remember that even the Bessa R opened at $650 street price when it hit the market. It is not surprising that low production cameras like the Bessas will be going for $600. What's amazing is that their predecessor went for as little as $470 at one point.
Last thought on this . . . Cosina is also setting aside production facilities for the new Zeiss Ikon. These are scheduled to be shipped out of Hasselblad, Sweden in April for sale at retailers in May. Just work backward from that date for a production schedule to determine when Cosina's capabilities of producing new R2A & R3A's will be curtailed. Supply & demand. If they are not going to be able to meet demand anyway, why not raise the price? In fact, four of the 5 new Zeiss lenses being made by Cosina are scheduled to be shipped out of Sweden in November, so some production facilities have already been committed. Manufacture of the camera bodies themselves & the fifth lens will only add to the crunch.
Even with modest inflation, the Bessa have been due for an increase anyway. If demand falls too much, they can always offer rebates or "cut prices" or below the new $600 asking price.
All pure speculation, but that's my take on it. The message to prospective buyers, though, is get 'em while they last. We may not be seeing these prices again for some time if at all.
Photo Village has not posted a price increase, so they may not yet have exhausted their initial supply. If this is the case, then they would still be taking deposits for new cameras at the opening price of $499. However, once their initial supply is committed, I suspect that their prices will go up as well. Let me quickly add that I have no knowledge of this one way or another. Just a guess.
The question is whether this was a Cosina strategy all along, i.e. to stimulate demand by holding down the opening price, but then raising the price once the cameras catch on. Or might the price increase have come from other factors, for example fluctuations in the currency exchange rate? Factor into all of this that Leica has announced a price increase effective January, 2005. All boats rise with the same tide.
It was pretty amazing that Cosina announced these cameras at the same price as the R2 despite the new features that had been added to them. Was the new electronic shutter cheaper, thereby allowing them to add AE, exposure compensation, new rewind crank, & increased VF magnification on the R3A at no additional cost? Or was the initial low price simply a way to get publicity & a positive reception for the new product offerings?
Remember that even the Bessa R opened at $650 street price when it hit the market. It is not surprising that low production cameras like the Bessas will be going for $600. What's amazing is that their predecessor went for as little as $470 at one point.
Last thought on this . . . Cosina is also setting aside production facilities for the new Zeiss Ikon. These are scheduled to be shipped out of Hasselblad, Sweden in April for sale at retailers in May. Just work backward from that date for a production schedule to determine when Cosina's capabilities of producing new R2A & R3A's will be curtailed. Supply & demand. If they are not going to be able to meet demand anyway, why not raise the price? In fact, four of the 5 new Zeiss lenses being made by Cosina are scheduled to be shipped out of Sweden in November, so some production facilities have already been committed. Manufacture of the camera bodies themselves & the fifth lens will only add to the crunch.
Even with modest inflation, the Bessa have been due for an increase anyway. If demand falls too much, they can always offer rebates or "cut prices" or below the new $600 asking price.
All pure speculation, but that's my take on it. The message to prospective buyers, though, is get 'em while they last. We may not be seeing these prices again for some time if at all.
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I just checked Photo Village. They have not changed their price on the R2/3a cameras, but they are not taking deposits. They are taking names and will sell off that list when the cameras arrive.
Note too that Photo Village lagged a couple weeks behind Cameraquest in July or August when the Bessa R2 prices were increased from $460 to $499.
Note too that Photo Village lagged a couple weeks behind Cameraquest in July or August when the Bessa R2 prices were increased from $460 to $499.
Taipei-metro
Veteran
No need to panic! price gauging! R2A won't be out on street until May,2005.
Bessa R was $650, is now $199 brand new!
Street price,Tokyo street price,first year, for Nikon 35ti was $1,200.
Bessa R was $650, is now $199 brand new!
Street price,Tokyo street price,first year, for Nikon 35ti was $1,200.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
Rover, congrats to your Holga
back alley
IMAGES
from the cvuf list today---in answer to the price increase
Stephen Gandy <leicanikon@earthlink.net> to CVUG
yes, several factors including the world wide marketplace and the falling dollar had their effect.
deposits for the old price will be honored
Stephen Gandy <leicanikon@earthlink.net> to CVUG
yes, several factors including the world wide marketplace and the falling dollar had their effect.
deposits for the old price will be honored
Huck Finn
Well-known
I guess the huge deficits our govenment has been running have caught up with us. Still, pretty amazing to have prices jump 20% just a month or so after they were announced. Must be more to it than just exchange rates. Not that I'm complaining. CV has been a bargain - especially in the states. Kudos to Stephen Gandy & Rich Pinto for having kept their prices low for so long. It will be interesting to see what the B&H prices are when they finally get into the act.
Pherdinand said:Rover, congrats to your Holga
Thanks, I already have a project picked out for it. I can't wait for it to arrive.
Taipei-metro
Veteran
No need to scare yourself ! there is nothing to do w US deficits, I hate to see posters work as cameraquest sales reps.
R2A is not that pretty (handsome?) anyway,get a used Konica RF for the smae price, the Voigtlander Bessa R4 is still not going to reach Konica RF quality.
Calm down!
R2A is not that pretty (handsome?) anyway,get a used Konica RF for the smae price, the Voigtlander Bessa R4 is still not going to reach Konica RF quality.
Calm down!
Huck Finn
Well-known
Actually . . . I agree with you, Taipei, about it not being about the deficits. I just couldn't resist taking a poke at our government. It has gotten almost comical every year when Leica announces its annual raise in prices & then blames it on the currency exchange rate - regardless of what it is.
Cameraquest sales reps? You may need to become more discerning of nuance. I don't see how announcing & discussing this does anything good for Cameraquest or any other Cosina dealer who follows suit.
Hexar RF? Great camera. Love it. Excellent build quality. Performance quality? Excellent, too. But each piece of equipment has its own strengths & weaknesses. These new entries offer some features that may have it beat in some respects. We'll be able to tell better when photographers are actually able to put them to use. Until then, anything else is just speculation. It's still possible to find a new one around here or there for less than $1000 USD if you look hard enough. Great buy. Frankly, the good news about the new cameras is not the bodies. It's all about the lenses. Zeiss has announced 7 new lenses. If they are as good as advertised, they will be a great addition to the market. Konica did not do a good job of supporting its camera with a substantial lens line - only 3 focal lengths that were readily available world-wide. I would have loved to have gotten the 35/2. Just couldn't be found here. 50/1.2? Limited edition. Otherwise, just a dual range. No primes wider than 28. Again, pros & cons for each new camera. I just hope they'll stay around as Cosina seems to have. I was disappointed when Konica walked away from the Hexar RF.
Cameraquest sales reps? You may need to become more discerning of nuance. I don't see how announcing & discussing this does anything good for Cameraquest or any other Cosina dealer who follows suit.
Hexar RF? Great camera. Love it. Excellent build quality. Performance quality? Excellent, too. But each piece of equipment has its own strengths & weaknesses. These new entries offer some features that may have it beat in some respects. We'll be able to tell better when photographers are actually able to put them to use. Until then, anything else is just speculation. It's still possible to find a new one around here or there for less than $1000 USD if you look hard enough. Great buy. Frankly, the good news about the new cameras is not the bodies. It's all about the lenses. Zeiss has announced 7 new lenses. If they are as good as advertised, they will be a great addition to the market. Konica did not do a good job of supporting its camera with a substantial lens line - only 3 focal lengths that were readily available world-wide. I would have loved to have gotten the 35/2. Just couldn't be found here. 50/1.2? Limited edition. Otherwise, just a dual range. No primes wider than 28. Again, pros & cons for each new camera. I just hope they'll stay around as Cosina seems to have. I was disappointed when Konica walked away from the Hexar RF.
fraley
Beware of Claws
Re: Cosina Surprise!
Thanks for the info, Huck! I was a fence-sitter, decided to get the R2 olive green while it was still available. Now the R3A with a 40mm looks awfully good too But my wife would commit me to the funny farm if I blew the dough..
Huck Finn said:I saw on the Cameraquest Website today that the R2A and the R3A are now listed at $599.
So, if you were on the fence about this purchase, these are the days of decision. :bang:
Thanks for the info, Huck! I was a fence-sitter, decided to get the R2 olive green while it was still available. Now the R3A with a 40mm looks awfully good too
But my wife would commit me to the funny farm if I blew the dough..Huck Finn
Well-known
Michael, just be sure you bring tnat new R3A with you when you are sent to the farm.