Lens price-fixing scandal to come?

m8o · 01-21-2010, 07:04 PM

You know, when everyone started raising the price of glass in lock-step, I immediately thought "price fixing cartel". ...so how many are like me and think there's a chance we'll find Pentax swooped-up with Canon, Nikon, Sigma and Tamron in a price-fixing scandal in months or years to come?

**davidreilly3207** · 01-21-2010, 08:30 PM

Lens prices went up because of currency exchange rates. They are made in countries whose rates became more favorable than ours. The lens price in the countries of origin remained relatively stable.

JohnBee · 01-22-2010, 01:11 AM

Originally posted by mdave13

Lens prices went up because of currency exchange rates. They are made in countries whose rates became more favorable than ours. The lens price in the countries of origin remained relatively stable.

I also think other aspects such as DSLR video is playing a part in the cartel.
Oh and this forum too.

ll_coffee_lP · 01-22-2010, 04:50 AM

To be honest...I couldn't care any less. It is what it is and I'm certainly not going to loose any sleep or get worked up about it.

c[_]

**Rondec** · 01-22-2010, 05:18 AM

I don't think so for an instant, but anyone can look on Amazon and see what lenses are going for. Nikon and the other companies usually make an announcement ahead of time that they are going to raise prices as well, so it's not like they're operating in a vaccum. At the same time, prices for most things go up over time, it's called inflation. If you would compare the relative cost of a high quality lens in 1980 to now, you would find that the cost was actually more in 1980.

Wheatfield · 01-22-2010, 06:36 AM

The OP has got to be kidding.

**Lowell Goudge** · 01-22-2010, 07:04 AM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

The OP has got to be kidding.

maybe he still thinks the CIA was responsible for the JFK assination

In all honesty, when I compare inflation to today, I would agree with others who say it has not changed much.

It would be interesting to do a study, since I have all the prices from when I got my first camera and lenses in 1981 and also with my PZ-1 in 1991, to comparable models today (relitive to top of the line models) and see where we are.

If I had to guess, I would say that only the *istD is out of line with reality. It was expensive. More expensive than either my K10D or K7D, all bought concurrent with release in Canada

m8o · 01-22-2010, 07:21 AM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

The OP has got to be kidding.

No, just terribly ignorant I guess.

Otherwise, in general, the increases seemed more excessive than could be attributed to/by currency rates, but I stand corrected.

Wheatfield · 01-22-2010, 08:08 AM

Originally posted by m8o

No, just terribly ignorant I guess.

Otherwise, in general, the increases seemed more excessive than could be attributed to/by currency rates, but I stand corrected.

In Pentax's case, some lenses were very undervalued and Hoya increased the price a lot.
The FA50/1.4 is an example.
Companies will tend to charge what the market will bear, but consider that similar products from different manufacturers will have similar cost structures associated with them.

juu · 01-22-2010, 08:33 AM

Originally posted by m8o

You know, when everyone started raising the price of glass in lock-step, I immediately thought "price fixing cartel". ...so how many are like me and think there's a chance we'll find Pentax swooped-up with Canon, Nikon, Sigma and Tamron in a price-fixing scandal in months or years to come?

When you say 'everyone', who do you mean? I only know of Pentax price hikes, did everyone else do the same to a larger degree than can be explained by currency fluctuations?

Companies acting individually can price their products as they want. If somebody doesn't like the price of the FA50/1.4 or, say, the 12-24 in the UK they can always switch systems.

With that said, the Hoya MAP agreements which enforce prices that resellers can sell their products at seem at the very least unethical and hurting competition, and at most illegal in some jurisdictions:
http://www.2filter.com/hoya/HoyaHDpricemarketing.html

I thought that was what this thread was referring to when I saw the title.

01-21-2010, 07:04 PM	#1
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092	Lens price-fixing scandal to come? You know, when everyone started raising the price of glass in lock-step, I immediately thought "price fixing cartel". ...so how many are like me and think there's a chance we'll find Pentax swooped-up with Canon, Nikon, Sigma and Tamron in a price-fixing scandal in months or years to come?

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01-21-2010, 08:30 PM	#2
davidreilly3207 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: South Jersey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 720	Lens prices went up because of currency exchange rates. They are made in countries whose rates became more favorable than ours. The lens price in the countries of origin remained relatively stable.

01-22-2010, 01:11 AM	#3
JohnBee Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newrfoundland Photos: Albums Posts: 4,667	Originally posted by mdave13 Lens prices went up because of currency exchange rates. They are made in countries whose rates became more favorable than ours. The lens price in the countries of origin remained relatively stable. I also think other aspects such as DSLR video is playing a part in the cartel. Oh and this forum too.

01-22-2010, 04:50 AM	#4
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	To be honest...I couldn't care any less. It is what it is and I'm certainly not going to loose any sleep or get worked up about it. c[_]

01-22-2010, 05:18 AM	#5
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,652	I don't think so for an instant, but anyone can look on Amazon and see what lenses are going for. Nikon and the other companies usually make an announcement ahead of time that they are going to raise prices as well, so it's not like they're operating in a vaccum. At the same time, prices for most things go up over time, it's called inflation. If you would compare the relative cost of a high quality lens in 1980 to now, you would find that the cost was actually more in 1980.

01-22-2010, 06:36 AM	#6
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	The OP has got to be kidding.

01-22-2010, 07:04 AM	#7
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	Originally posted by Wheatfield The OP has got to be kidding. maybe he still thinks the CIA was responsible for the JFK assination In all honesty, when I compare inflation to today, I would agree with others who say it has not changed much. It would be interesting to do a study, since I have all the prices from when I got my first camera and lenses in 1981 and also with my PZ-1 in 1991, to comparable models today (relitive to top of the line models) and see where we are. If I had to guess, I would say that only the *istD is out of line with reality. It was expensive. More expensive than either my K10D or K7D, all bought concurrent with release in Canada

01-22-2010, 07:21 AM	#8
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wheatfield The OP has got to be kidding. No, just terribly ignorant I guess. Otherwise, in general, the increases seemed more excessive than could be attributed to/by currency rates, but I stand corrected.

01-22-2010, 08:08 AM	#9
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by m8o No, just terribly ignorant I guess. Otherwise, in general, the increases seemed more excessive than could be attributed to/by currency rates, but I stand corrected. In Pentax's case, some lenses were very undervalued and Hoya increased the price a lot. The FA50/1.4 is an example. Companies will tend to charge what the market will bear, but consider that similar products from different manufacturers will have similar cost structures associated with them.

01-22-2010, 08:33 AM	#10
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680	Originally posted by m8o You know, when everyone started raising the price of glass in lock-step, I immediately thought "price fixing cartel". ...so how many are like me and think there's a chance we'll find Pentax swooped-up with Canon, Nikon, Sigma and Tamron in a price-fixing scandal in months or years to come? When you say 'everyone', who do you mean? I only know of Pentax price hikes, did everyone else do the same to a larger degree than can be explained by currency fluctuations? Companies acting individually can price their products as they want. If somebody doesn't like the price of the FA50/1.4 or, say, the 12-24 in the UK they can always switch systems. With that said, the Hoya MAP agreements which enforce prices that resellers can sell their products at seem at the very least unethical and hurting competition, and at most illegal in some jurisdictions: http://www.2filter.com/hoya/HoyaHDpricemarketing.html I thought that was what this thread was referring to when I saw the title.