Increased R3A price

[hoppinghippos]

Just got news on CVUG that cameraquest has increased the price of R3A and R2A to $599 from $499! 🙁 And Stephen said the reason was due to the US dollar not doing well currently. 😕 Well I checked www.xe.com and the US dollar dropped by peanuts to the yen compared to the increase from 499 to 599. :bang: 😡

Qn here is, what's going on? obviously it ain't the whole truth. Is it increased pricing due to perceived large demand from all the forum talk prior to the R3A and R2A's release? Or is the camera genetically linked to crude oil and hence follows the oil's jump?

I think once the price was pegged, they really shouldn't just change it like that, and by such a large margin too. Doesn't feel right. In any case I am seriously reconsidering getting a R3A.

Sorry just had to air my frustrations! Guess this is yet another justification on why I should edge towards that elusive Red Dot! 😛

 

[jpmccormac]

I suspect the increase is due to demand - real or perceived. Early adopters will pucker up and pay the going rate.

I like the idea of the R2a/R3a and the new 40mm lens, but I am willing to wait six months or so until the reviews are in. Besides it will be six months before I finish off the roll of film in my Canonet QL III 17 (which has a nice 40mm lens also.)

 

[sfaust]

I'm more than happy to ante up an extra $100 to add AE to my R2. But also in the process, I get a 1:1 finder. I was actually surprised that they would offer more features than the R2 for the same price. I had expected a $100-150 price increase. Luckily, I put a deposit on the R3a at the $499 price, and that price will be honored 🙂

But, I would have ordered one at $599 anyway. Sure beats an M7 at $2,500+! I could buy two R3a's which would be more reliable, and have enough left over for a couple nice Leica lenses.

 

[JohnM]

According to Stephen Gandy, if you buy it today, you get the $499 price.

 

[Taipei-metro]

Do not pre-order the R2A, R3A (I am blank why people are doing that, I have my kids' piano lessons to be paid and also there are tons of cameras to be explored),then the price will come down.
Just remember, no Japanese camera increase their price before or after their issue date, All Japanese cameras drop prices after issue date. One example, Nikon S3 (2000 reissue),$6,000, now? $2,500 in US, $2,000 or less in Asia.
In the history of Cosina products never had one camera or lens hold its price after street date.

 

[Taipei-metro]

Just on the news, Japan was hit by a 6.2 earthquake AGAIN, hope no Cosina factory or worker injured which may truely have a price increase.

 

[Rich Silfver]

I hope no one was injured - regardless of where they work.

 

[rover]

I hope no one was injured - regardless of where they work.

You beat me to it Richard.

Let's hope all are well.

 

[Natron]

I went to cameraquest.com today fully ready to preorder an R2A and saw the $100 increase. Needless to say, increasing the price because of demand seems shady to me and his site will not be receiving my business.

 

[sfaust]

Navtron, Go back and pre-order. From what I heard you will still get the $499 price.

For what its worth, I undersand that Cosina sets the prices for the dealers. Cosina raised the price and the dealers have to follow suit or loose money selling the product. CameraQuest, or any other Cosina/Bessa dealer can't just increase the price on their own by agreement. At least thats my understanding of how it works. If thats the case, holding CameraQuest accountable for the manufacturers issues is a disservice to the dealer. If its not the case, I'm with you.

 

[Huck Finn]

I received an e-mail reply from Stephen Gandy at Cameraquest yesterday, saying that he will continue to take deposits for the R2A & R3A at the original price of $499 for a few days. PhotoVillage has not announced a price increase & is continuing to take names for sales at $499.

What's going on, you ask, Darrel? Among other things, Leica announced a price increase effective January, just as they did last year. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess.

 

[hoppinghippos]

Huck Finn, is this confirmed? so if you pay the deposit now the $499 is 100% confirmed? cuz if later you realise its 599 and not 499 and your deposit is paid... :bang:

but if its really true then it is most strange isn't it? It contradicts the "dealer price is fixed by cosina and not dealer" theory? Cuz now the $599 price has been fixed and yet cameraquest can choose to still offer 499 for a few more days? but if its true, then I may be interested in getting it. sigh.. dodgy dodgy stuff here.

And anyone have any idea on when the camera prices will start to fall? 6 months later? 1 year? Anyone rem R2's prices in the past and when they changed?

 

[peter_n]

Stephen probably has a quota of bodies at the old price, so he honors that until they run out then he charges the new price 'cos he's paying CV the increased price for the body.

 

[sfaust]

Thats my understanding. He already had an order for a specific number of bodies, and will honor the price on those bodies. But once they are gone, the new price will prevail. Stephen Gandy is active in a couple other lists, and that the info that is being kicked around. I have no reason to believe otherwise, as he has a good reputation as a fair and equitable dealer.

 

[hoppinghippos]

I have emailed him and he says 499 only applies to orders ALREADY placed so even if you deposit now it doesn't count. so hey it's back to 599.

 

[sfaust]

The first order must be sold out 🙁 Not surprized at $499 (or even $599) compared to $2500 for a M7 with equivalent features.

Any idea on when they might be shipping? I'd like to put my R2 up for sale, but don't want to be without the R2 for too long while waiting for the R3a to arrive.

 

[Peter]

Keep your R2 Stephen as according to Gandy, only about 8000 R2 were produced. Own a piece of RF history!

 

[peter_n]

Any idea on when they might be shipping?

Stephen, the estimated availability is mid-November for the R3A, mid-January for the R2A.

 

[rover]

I am hoping that we will get a little peak from the Japanese photography press in the form of reviews of the cameras and/or lenses soon.

 

[hjfischer]

No one likes price increases, but for us R2 owners our cameras will hold their value awhile longer with the increased prices for the R2a's and R3a's!