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.
