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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
BH Posts prices for new Canon 300 and 400 2.8 IS II
Peyton Williams, Photographer
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Chapel Hill | NC | USA | Posted: 5:02 PM on 02.15.11 |
->> I was taken aback by the prices on BH Photo for the new Canon 300 and 400 2.8 lenses that were announced some time ago.
Currently, BH has the following:
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II: $6,599.00 (current model is $4,635)
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II: $10,499.00 (current model is $7,400)
I realize there is a difference between "MSRP" and "street price", but I had assumed BH would only be posting street prices. I also hope I'm wrong. |
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PJ Heller, Photographer
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Santa Barbara | CA | USA | Posted: 5:08 PM on 02.15.11 |
->> You could always shoot Nikon:
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II $5,799.00
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 400mm f/2.8G ED VR $8,899.95 |
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Michael Chang, Photographer
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Robertsdale | AL | USA | Posted: 5:17 PM on 02.15.11 |
| ->> I imagine these prices are for early adopters that buy the newest equipment regardless of the price. They probably put the price high to capitalize on this... I'd bet the price will drop after a little bit. |
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Mitch Stringer, Photographer
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Baltimore | MD | USA | Posted: 7:05 PM on 02.15.11 |
| ->> I held the new Canon 400 at Photo Expo in NYC in October. It weighs about the same as a 70-200mm. It's unreal how light it is but is it worth the price? It will be interesting to see the spike in sales of the soon to be former 400s. They will seem cheap. |
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David Seelig, Photographer
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Hailey | ID | USA | Posted: 7:35 PM on 02.15.11 |
| ->> My dealer quoted me the same prices this is it I am afraid. |
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Randy Sartin, Photographer, Assistant
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Knoxville | TN | USA | Posted: 8:39 PM on 02.15.11 |
| ->> Yep, looks like another reason to go back to Nikon... |
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Clark Brooks, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Urbana | IL | USA | Posted: 8:52 PM on 02.15.11 |
->> Being the half full kind of guy I am (and yeah, definitely, certifiably full of it, with a 'sh' at the beginning) that this is incredibly wonderful news!!! Honestly, I only wish the prices could have been another $500 to $800 higher :-(
Why am I elated?
1. The new price point raises value of used 300mm. In the current economy at that price, buying used just makes good business sense. Good news for any one who currently owns one and planning on making the switch to Nikon in the near future.
2. Canon is really doing established pros a big favor. The new price point acts as a barrier of entry for the PWC, weekender and those who decide they want to be a part of this super glam industry. $6,600 is nearly half the price of new sub-compact vehicle or decent used car. Let's see buy a lens that you might use for a patch.com assignment for $50 a day or buy something you can deliver pizza in, go to the package liquor store and park with Suzie Jean out on Mulholland Road for a romantic Saturday night.
3. The new prices actually will help the industry as new people entering the business, hacks/undercutters and the I'll shoot for free crowd will have to actually charge fees for services and/or prints appropriate enough to pay for a new 300mm or 400mm. Even if the buyer resorts to financing the gear, just think how many $5 4x6 prints they are going to have to move to make the note payment on a two instrument. That is a lot of $500 weddings over two years just to pay for one piece of gear. Can you say, "you go, Canon"?
4. Still better, those already established will be able to pick up the same lens in next to new condition six to eight months after those in section 3 who started out with bad business plans and prices to low to recover their cost from the purchase at a 10 to 15% discount of the new price making the used price close to the price prior to the increase.
In summary, the new prices should help stabilize competitive pricing in the industry, provide a financial barrier to help declutter sidelines of competition for established shooter and improve pricing on used gear.
Canon, on the other hand, will expect to sell and will produce fewer of both lens each year thus maintaining a lower inventory of unsold lenses, lowering production and fatten their bottom line in the big lens department.
It's win/win. No need to panic. After so many years of flooding the planet with cameras that even Joe Plumber can use to make decent photos, the folks at Canon are finally giving us a break. Yes, it is time for celebration! |
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Dave Collyer, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 9:41 PM on 02.15.11 |
| ->> Warning shameless plug...I am selling my Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II on this very website in the Classfieds :) |
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Michael Ip, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 9:58 PM on 02.15.11 |
->> Clark,
Your argument is nice except....
A) As someone who would actually want to buy these lens, I just can't put out that kind of money. You forget the type of GWC that buys this gear has outside jobs that pay A LOT more than what most of us make doing photo.
B) The crazy high prices of these new lens will predictably increase the demand for used lens, thus making even used lens much more expensive. |
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Jason Joseph, Photographer
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Peyton Williams, Photographer
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Chapel Hill | NC | USA | Posted: 11:28 PM on 02.15.11 |
| ->> I have to agree with Michael with his first observation observation. I see parents buying big 400 2.8 lenses as their first introduction to photography so that they can take photos of their kid, and in the process, give free photos to everyone on the team. It is quite disheartening. This price increase makes it harder for me to replace my 15 year-old 300 2.8. At least though, the parent beside me will have the new one. Maybe he'll let me borrow his? |
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