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68wSteve · 08-13-2009, 09:26 PM

Was looking at a different lense on Amazon, when at the bottom it showed the 50mm F1.4 selling for $699. I don't get it when it shows two new for $349 and 1 used for $599. This is ridicoulus. Maybe amazon is having problems like Bestbuy did with the $9.99 LCD TV

Amazon.com: Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 Lens: Camera & Photo

opiedog · 08-14-2009, 05:16 AM

far out prices.
it's not from amazon though, it's from one of their 3rd party vendors
$9.99 LCD TV ? do you have a link ?

kenyee · 08-14-2009, 06:16 AM

Apparently some nut on craigslist saw that and put up a $400 listing on my local craigslist

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4

eva2000 · 08-14-2009, 06:18 AM

dam and i thought our Aussie FA50 1.4 price was high at AUD$659 (US$547)!

Peter Zack · 08-14-2009, 06:27 AM

Makes the DA*55mm look like a bargain.

Some of these lens prices lately......... (each dot is a word I can't use in public).

jeffrey r · 08-14-2009, 06:48 AM

3rd parties can (and will) charge exorbitant prices on Amazon--it generally has no bearing on the going market rate for a lens or other item. The FA 50 is in stock right now at B&H for $250, and backordered right now at Adorama for under $250. That is more indicative of the current pricing on that lens.

LeDave · 08-14-2009, 07:48 AM

Some third party dealers will take advantage of the fact that other dealers are out of stock with the same lens.

They'll also take advantage of the fact that some people don't know Amazon has third party dealers too and Amazon is just not the only dealer on their own website. Very scandalous, I know...

I bought my FA50/1.4 from Amazon just a week and a half ago for 249 bucks and looks like they're already out of stock.

K-9 · 08-14-2009, 08:38 AM

Are you sure it's not gokevincameras charging this? They seem to sell on ebay for like 3 times the value of anything they have.

GLXLR · 08-14-2009, 09:11 AM

Amazon just doesn't have any in stock. If you go to BH they still list it for $250... although the guy that listed a used 50mm for $400 is funny...

Quicksand · 08-14-2009, 09:56 AM

I'll sell mine for $390. Free shipping!

(Not really.)

brecklundin · 08-14-2009, 10:14 AM

less real world retailers means HoyaTax can attempt enforce their MAP policies with greater ease (you know less retailers means not only less need to compete on price with other sellers because nobody is allowed to advertise prices below the HoyaTax liarese, errr, I mean lawyerese, but also makes anyone with lower than MAP prices easy to find and punish).

But in this case it is someone who is betting that there exists a person out there who can't find Pentax lenses anywhere locally and knows how to find Amazon and that is about it...

Either way the consumers, as in us out here, end up paying higher prices due to the manipulation of "competition" by HoyaTax.

Biro · 08-14-2009, 11:46 AM

The prices of Pentax lenses lately are a particular problem for me given that my decision to go with Pentax was based heavily on the fact that Pentax's quality lenses were markedly and consistently less expensive than similar glass from Canon and Nikon. I can only hope that part of the problem is reduced production during the economic downtourn. But if this is part of an overall plan, it's a major disappointment.

Damn Brit · 08-14-2009, 12:00 PM

If you look at any lens on Amazon, you'll usually see one seller with an exorbitant price.

PentaJP · 08-14-2009, 12:05 PM

Bel Air Camera (one of the largest and trusted camera stores in West Los Angeles) still lists FA50 f1.4 at $199 for online purchase. Although they charge $10-20 for shipping, it is still a better deal than BH photo or Adorama. Please note that their in-store price is usually more expensive than the online one.

jogiba · 08-14-2009, 05:31 PM

Originally posted by PentaJP

Bel Air Camera (one of the largest and trusted camera stores in West Los Angeles) still lists FA50 f1.4 at $199 for online purchase. Although they charge $10-20 for shipping, it is still a better deal than BH photo or Adorama. Please note that their in-store price is usually more expensive than the online one.

Bel Air Camera - Pentax smc P-FA 50mm f/1.4

08-13-2009, 09:26 PM	#1
68wSteve Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Hurst, Texas 76053 Posts: 474	FA 50mm F1.4 $699 on Amazon..What the Crud?? Was looking at a different lense on Amazon, when at the bottom it showed the 50mm F1.4 selling for $699. I don't get it when it shows two new for $349 and 1 used for $599. This is ridicoulus. Maybe amazon is having problems like Bestbuy did with the $9.99 LCD TV Amazon.com: Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 Lens: Camera & Photo

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08-14-2009, 05:16 AM	#2
opiedog Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NC Posts: 787	far out prices. it's not from amazon though, it's from one of their 3rd party vendors $9.99 LCD TV ? do you have a link ?

08-14-2009, 06:16 AM	#3
kenyee Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, PRofMA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,026	Apparently some nut on craigslist saw that and put up a $400 listing on my local craigslist Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4

08-14-2009, 06:18 AM	#4
eva2000 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 239	dam and i thought our Aussie FA50 1.4 price was high at AUD$659 (US$547)!

08-14-2009, 06:27 AM	#5
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Makes the DA*55mm look like a bargain. Some of these lens prices lately......... (each dot is a word I can't use in public).

08-14-2009, 06:48 AM	#6
jeffrey r Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 337	3rd parties can (and will) charge exorbitant prices on Amazon--it generally has no bearing on the going market rate for a lens or other item. The FA 50 is in stock right now at B&H for $250, and backordered right now at Adorama for under $250. That is more indicative of the current pricing on that lens.

08-14-2009, 07:48 AM	#7
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Some third party dealers will take advantage of the fact that other dealers are out of stock with the same lens. They'll also take advantage of the fact that some people don't know Amazon has third party dealers too and Amazon is just not the only dealer on their own website. Very scandalous, I know... I bought my FA50/1.4 from Amazon just a week and a half ago for 249 bucks and looks like they're already out of stock.

08-14-2009, 08:38 AM	#8
K-9 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,971	Are you sure it's not gokevincameras charging this? They seem to sell on ebay for like 3 times the value of anything they have.

08-14-2009, 09:11 AM	#9
GLXLR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sugar Land, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 684	Amazon just doesn't have any in stock. If you go to BH they still list it for $250... although the guy that listed a used 50mm for $400 is funny...

08-14-2009, 09:56 AM	#10
Quicksand Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Ohio (formerly SF Bay Area) Posts: 1,519	I'll sell mine for $390. Free shipping! (Not really.)

08-14-2009, 10:14 AM	#11
brecklundin Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,674	less real world retailers means HoyaTax can attempt enforce their MAP policies with greater ease (you know less retailers means not only less need to compete on price with other sellers because nobody is allowed to advertise prices below the HoyaTax liarese, errr, I mean lawyerese, but also makes anyone with lower than MAP prices easy to find and punish). But in this case it is someone who is betting that there exists a person out there who can't find Pentax lenses anywhere locally and knows how to find Amazon and that is about it... Either way the consumers, as in us out here, end up paying higher prices due to the manipulation of "competition" by HoyaTax.

08-14-2009, 11:46 AM	#12
Biro Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,200	The prices of Pentax lenses lately are a particular problem for me given that my decision to go with Pentax was based heavily on the fact that Pentax's quality lenses were markedly and consistently less expensive than similar glass from Canon and Nikon. I can only hope that part of the problem is reduced production during the economic downtourn. But if this is part of an overall plan, it's a major disappointment.

08-14-2009, 12:00 PM	#13
Damn Brit Guest	If you look at any lens on Amazon, you'll usually see one seller with an exorbitant price.

08-14-2009, 12:05 PM	#14
PentaJP Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 83	Bel Air Camera (one of the largest and trusted camera stores in West Los Angeles) still lists FA50 f1.4 at $199 for online purchase. Although they charge $10-20 for shipping, it is still a better deal than BH photo or Adorama. Please note that their in-store price is usually more expensive than the online one.

08-14-2009, 05:31 PM	#15
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	Originally posted by PentaJP Bel Air Camera (one of the largest and trusted camera stores in West Los Angeles) still lists FA50 f1.4 at $199 for online purchase. Although they charge $10-20 for shipping, it is still a better deal than BH photo or Adorama. Please note that their in-store price is usually more expensive than the online one. Bel Air Camera - Pentax smc P-FA 50mm f/1.4

FA 50mm F1.4 $699 on Amazon..What the Crud??

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!