Zeiss ZM Price Drop

[John Friar]

I just checked the B&H website, looking for the ZM 21 f4.5, and noticed that most, if not all, ZM lenses have been reduced by over $100. For example, the 50 Sonnar is now going for $923. I think I paid $1063 a month or so ago.

Anyone know if this is just a B&H offer or something Zeiss has done? Good news either way.

 

[FrankS]

These price reductions are coming from Zeiss.

Zeiss Ikon has dropped their prices to fight Gray market products

In an email from Richard the North American rep from Zeiss Ikon: there will be a price change starting June 1.

In part....

"Despite our best efforts, there still remained a persistent gray market problem, requiring a new and aggressive solution.
Therefore, effective June 1, 2007, we are instituting a major price reduction on most of our serialized Zeiss Ikon and ZF lens products.
The reductions range from 6% to 21% and represents an unprecedented step on our part to ensure you remain competitive in the face of international competition."

 

[mervynyan]

This is just PR thing.

I don't understand what is grey market price. They are the only producer for these lenses, which means they can set the whole sales price but not the retail. If some retailers want to make less margin, I have no problem with that. I hope this will trigger down to all resellers so the grey market price can go even lower.

cheers,

 

[Huck Finn]

Coupled with the establishment of a Zeiss USA service center, this is significant. For many, it may be worth the now smaller margin to have the additional warranty protection (2-years from Zeiss USA vs 1-year from many grey market dealers). In addition, for many on the East Coast, obtaining service means dropping your camera or lens off for service without shipping - or at least shorter distance shipping with less cost & less opportunity for shipping damage since you don't have to ship overseas or even 3000 miles to California.

Not to mention the fact that you can now get your manual in english instead of Japanese. 😉 (Just kidding although this did happen to some buying grey market.)

 

[sirius]

Can someone explain what is the grey market and what pros/cons there are to using it?

 

[rich815]

Can someone explain what is the grey market and what pros/cons there are to using it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_market

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=001x8M

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist.jsp&A=getpage&Q=GreyMarketStatic.jsp

 

[photogdave]

Grey market items are not imported through the country's official importer. They will not have a manufacturers warranty.

 

[sirius]

Thanks, very informative reading....

 

[mervynyan]

Grey market items are not imported through the country's official importer. They will not have a manufacturers warranty.

Generally this is true. However, you can send the purchases back to the reputable selllers (i.e. B&H, Popflash, etc), they should be able to help exchange or repair the unit. For example, the import price of films at B&H is always lower than the USA listing price, even B&H sales staff taking them from the same rack. In case of ZM lens, if you don't have problems in the first year, it is unlikely you will experience problems afterward.

 

[Terao]

Things are slightly different within the EU, part of the reason why Nikon offer warranty on all their lenses no matter where you buy them.

 

[rich815]

In the rare instances I buy new I only buy grey market if the price is significantly better, the more complicated the item (electronic body vs. manual focus lens for example) the deeper the discount I need.

Last grey market item I bought was a Contax G 21mm Biogon lens purchased in person from a shop in Hong Kong. Grey market was less than $600 USD vs. over $1100 USD for official back in the states.

That said I have my eye on a 35/2 Biogon for M-mount one day. I'd buy that grey.

 

[kbug]

Wow, i just checked the prices of ZF lenses on BH. They are even slightly cheaper than the prices on popflash now. For example, for Zeiss ZF 35mm f/2, BH's price is $787 and popflash sells it for $797.

 

[Huck Finn]

Grey market items are not imported through the country's official importer. They will not have a manufacturers warranty.

Sometimes they do have a manufacturers' warranty, but it may be an "international warranty" - meaning that it will be honored by the manufactureer but not necessarily by the distributor in the country where you live. Therefore, you may have to send it back to the dealer from whom you purchased it or directly to the manufacturer. Nikon USA, for example, will not service grey market Nikon equipment unless it comes with a Nikon USA warranty, not a Nikon international warranty.

 

[Platinum RF]

Popflash need to do better in price, otherwise, BH will get the business.

 

[john_s]

Popflash need to do better in price, otherwise, BH will get the business.

I have bought from B&H and Popflash and have been happy with both. If their prices were close, I for one would rather support Popflash since it's the little guys that have caused the price drop. Also, for those of us at the end of the Earth, Popflash has more economical postage, and in my experience Tony has been flexible in a way that B&H could not be.

 

[photogdave]

Popflash need to do better in price, otherwise, BH will get the business.

For $10 you wouldn't support the little guy who will undoubtably provide more knowledgable, personalized service? Shame. 🙁

 

[rich815]

For $10 you wouldn't support the little guy who will undoubtably provide more knowledgable, personalized service? Shame. 🙁

Of course! Everyone would!

.........wouldn't they?

 

[Rhoyle]

Nope, sorry, but that USA warrantee is pretty important to me when I'm buying a $1000.00 lens. I can't afford to throw away that kind of money for something nobody wants to fix.

 

[rich815]

Nope, sorry, but that USA warrantee is pretty important to me when I'm buying a $1000.00 lens. I can't afford to throw away that kind of money for something nobody wants to fix.

I'm SURE someone can fix it, it's a matter of wanting to pay for the fix. That said I've NEVER had any Contax G lens, Zeiss or Nikon lens I ever bought need fixing within the first 2 years of ownership (which is usually the time of the warranties, no?)

So, it's more of a gamble that something will go wrong in the first year or so and your gamble is you have to pay for it. If the difference in price is something like $300 or more I'll take that gamble. However, from what many have seem to report here and elsewhere on the VC lenses and bodies in terms of loosening aperture and focus rings, VF adjustment issues, etc. I'd think twice before buying grey on those unless the savings was huge.

 

[LightWave]

Nikon USA offers 5 years warranty for their lens. If you bought it oversea, Nikon USA won't honor the international 2 year warranty.