Lens Prices - Reported Versus Street

Jim Royal · 01-08-2010, 09:51 AM

I've been thinking of buying the SMC 40mm Limited lens for my wife's birthday. She's been using manual focus lenses (with a Katz Eye screen) since she got her DSLR a little over a year ago, and has done quite well with it as we've travelled. Now I'd like to get her first autofocus lens.

When I look at the lens review database, the average price paid for the 40mm lens is $278. Yet when I look at various sources online, the price is double this. Is everyone buying these lenses secondhand? Or are there deals that I'm simply unaware of?

Any direction would be warmly appreciated.

netuser · 01-08-2010, 10:05 AM

Last May/July Pentax prices just increase a lot .....

wallyb · 01-08-2010, 10:40 AM

Average used price is 260-300
Average new price used to be 299
Now it's 500

Pentax recently increased MSRP, and many people acquire lenses used.

Igilligan · 01-08-2010, 10:43 AM

Jim, Adorama & B&H have it for 339 that is the best priced lense in the entire Hoya catalog right now

Shopping Cart

+ free shipping

Happy Birthday to your Wife!

stevebrot · 01-08-2010, 11:35 AM

Originally posted by wallyb

Average used price is 260-300
Average new price used to be 299
Now it's 500

Pentax recently increased MSRP, and many people acquire lenses used.

Wally and the others above make the very good point that prices are variable and that Pentax pricing took a recent jump and that the prices in the lens review database reflect both new and used items.

The huge variability of lens and camera pricing is nothing new. It is sort of a tradition. Right now, the Pentax-DA 40/2.8 Limited pricing:

MSRP: $499.95
Regular price at B&H: $499.95
In cart price at B&H: $339.95

That last is an excellent price...Adorama matches with free shipping.

Steve

Marc Sabatella · 01-08-2010, 01:01 PM

Yeah, don't be suckered by the list prices that often show up first when you do a search. Follow through on on the links, and usually the actual price will be different. Not sure about Canadian dealers, but B&H, Adorama, and other major US dealers have been selling this lens for $340 for some time. Yes, this is a bit of an increase over the $275 or so it used to go for (and every once in a while a rebate or special sale would enable you to get it even cheaper) - as countless threads have discussed, prices have gone up (mostly, it appears, in response to the US dollars slide against the yen over the last year or two).

Jim Royal · 01-10-2010, 09:06 PM

Thanks for the info, guys. I will check out both Adorama and B&H. Much appreciated.

01-08-2010, 09:51 AM	#1
Jim Royal Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery Posts: 179	Lens Prices - Reported Versus Street I've been thinking of buying the SMC 40mm Limited lens for my wife's birthday. She's been using manual focus lenses (with a Katz Eye screen) since she got her DSLR a little over a year ago, and has done quite well with it as we've travelled. Now I'd like to get her first autofocus lens. When I look at the lens review database, the average price paid for the 40mm lens is $278. Yet when I look at various sources online, the price is double this. Is everyone buying these lenses secondhand? Or are there deals that I'm simply unaware of? Any direction would be warmly appreciated.

01-08-2010, 10:43 AM	#4
Igilligan Guest	Adorama $339!!!!!!! Jim, Adorama & B&H have it for 339 that is the best priced lense in the entire Hoya catalog right now Shopping Cart + free shipping Happy Birthday to your Wife!

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01-08-2010, 10:05 AM	#2
netuser Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Azores Islands, Portugal Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,236	Last May/July Pentax prices just increase a lot .....

01-08-2010, 10:40 AM	#3
wallyb Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Untied States Photos: Albums Posts: 1,881	Average used price is 260-300 Average new price used to be 299 Now it's 500 Pentax recently increased MSRP, and many people acquire lenses used.

01-08-2010, 11:35 AM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by wallyb Average used price is 260-300 Average new price used to be 299 Now it's 500 Pentax recently increased MSRP, and many people acquire lenses used. Wally and the others above make the very good point that prices are variable and that Pentax pricing took a recent jump and that the prices in the lens review database reflect both new and used items. The huge variability of lens and camera pricing is nothing new. It is sort of a tradition. Right now, the Pentax-DA 40/2.8 Limited pricing: MSRP: $499.95 Regular price at B&H: $499.95 In cart price at B&H: $339.95 That last is an excellent price...Adorama matches with free shipping. Steve

01-08-2010, 01:01 PM	#6
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Yeah, don't be suckered by the list prices that often show up first when you do a search. Follow through on on the links, and usually the actual price will be different. Not sure about Canadian dealers, but B&H, Adorama, and other major US dealers have been selling this lens for $340 for some time. Yes, this is a bit of an increase over the $275 or so it used to go for (and every once in a while a rebate or special sale would enable you to get it even cheaper) - as countless threads have discussed, prices have gone up (mostly, it appears, in response to the US dollars slide against the yen over the last year or two).

01-10-2010, 09:06 PM	#7
Jim Royal Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery Posts: 179 Original Poster	Thanks for the info, guys. I will check out both Adorama and B&H. Much appreciated.

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