Canadian Prices up already! Holy crap!

vizjerei · 03-20-2009, 06:39 AM

I know.. i still remember the days where we get our FA35 for around 250 new.. and FA50 for just 150...
The price for the 12-24 is just crazy...
I guess they are good old days now...

**David Whiteley** · 03-20-2009, 06:50 AM

Holy Mary Mother of God!

Well, if nothing else this makes me feel much better about my insane streak of lens purchases lately. I took to reassuring my better half that I was "moving money from my chequeing account to my lens account" and that value would largely be retained. Yesterday I reported that my lens account was making good interest!

Caving yet again to LBA (sound familiar), I used Aden's old $599 for the 77 Ltd (being cheaper than almost all used prices!) to decide it might be time, in fact not buying from there but leveraging some freebies from a Craigslist seller in a convoluted deal that involves emailing money to a friend in Vancouver for an in-person pick-up. I'm feeling very happy about that one right now, since the Aden deal is gone and I don't expect to see a similar price, new or used, for a long long time.

But now, after pretty much sating myself on the lenses I've been lusting for, do I move any more money into my "lens account" before all the stores have implemented the increases? I know Galaxy Camera has an FA35 on the shelf. And clearly I will now never own a 31 Ltd, so I might as well opt for the poor man's 31 while I can. Right? Maybe a DA40?

vizjerei · 03-20-2009, 06:59 AM

David: Get the FA35 while you still can!

vinzer · 03-20-2009, 07:19 AM

Originally posted by Samsungian

I thought for sure Pentax would be immune to the Yen problem being since much of their equiptment is already outsourced to Philippines and Vietnam instead of being made in Japan like Canon and Nikon still does.

Like RawheaD has said, this may not only be due to fluctuations in currency values, but also part of Hoya's intent to make the Pentax division profitable. I believe they made a statement on this quite some time ago, about a short time after completing the buyout of Pentax.

That said, those prices are just about the same prices shoved down our throats here in the Philippines since time immemorial, so you Canadians have got it good before the price increase. I shudder to think how much more expensive those lenses will be here when the price increase also hits my neck of the woods.

All along I've been touting Pentax as the value brand to my friends and colleagues. It's a harder sell now, I guess.

k100d · 03-20-2009, 07:20 AM

i would never consider the FA35 a poor man's FA31.

augustmoon · 03-20-2009, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by k100d

i would never consider the FA35 a poor man's FA31.

True, and by next week, then as well, what will then be the poor man's FA35?

vizjerei · 03-20-2009, 07:31 AM

Originally posted by k100d

i would never consider the FA35 a poor man's FA31.

Hahaha Yea.. after I compare the two shots from last time, I no longer lust for FA 31

( especially with its price )

RBellavance · 03-20-2009, 07:37 AM

Originally posted by David Whiteley

Well, if nothing else this makes me feel much better about my insane streak of lens purchases lately. I took to reassuring my better half that I was "moving money from my chequeing account to my lens account" and that value would largely be retained. Yesterday I reported that my lens account was making good interest!

I try to tell myself the same thing, but remember that this "interest" is only theorical, it is worth nothing until you actually get to sell the lenses :ugh:

cyg · 03-20-2009, 07:56 AM

Originally posted by k100d

i would never consider the FA35 a poor man's FA31.

Well with these new prices, the poor man has nothing to do in the Pentax lens lineup anyway...

Maybe that's the idea -- Pentax getting sick of being seen as a "discount brand".

Kei · 03-20-2009, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by cyg

Well with these new prices, the poor man has nothing to do in the Pentax lens lineup anyway...

Maybe that's the idea -- Pentax getting sick of being seen as a "discount brand".

Then Pentax's next DSLRs better have the improved AF and marketing to justify the new price.

Clicker · 03-20-2009, 08:14 AM

So does this categorize Pentax users as "frugal" still? LOL This price hike *somehow* now justifies my Nikon 700 purchase

(waits for the Pentax fanboys to bash me now)

vizjerei · 03-20-2009, 08:32 AM

Originally posted by Kei

Then Pentax's next DSLRs better have the improved AF and marketing to justify the new price.

+1

totally agree...

Alfisti · 03-20-2009, 08:38 AM

Sweet jesus!!!!!!

6 months ago I grabbed the 77 and 12-24 for $600 each at Aden brand spanking new! I also picked up the 35/2 for $260 used.

For once I lucked out.

Alfisti · 03-20-2009, 08:40 AM

Originally posted by vizjerei

Hahaha Yea.. after I compare the two shots from last time, I no longer lust for FA 31

( especially with its price )

Whatchootalkinaboutwillis?

vizjerei · 03-20-2009, 08:46 AM

Originally posted by Alfisti

Whatchootalkinaboutwillis?

well just saying I don't really see much difference from the FA35 and FA31 shots, or big enough difference to make me pay 1k extra to get it..

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03-20-2009, 06:39 AM	#31
vizjerei Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,418	I know.. i still remember the days where we get our FA35 for around 250 new.. and FA50 for just 150... The price for the 12-24 is just crazy... I guess they are good old days now...

03-20-2009, 06:50 AM	#32
David Whiteley Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 372	Holy Mary Mother of God! Well, if nothing else this makes me feel much better about my insane streak of lens purchases lately. I took to reassuring my better half that I was "moving money from my chequeing account to my lens account" and that value would largely be retained. Yesterday I reported that my lens account was making good interest! Caving yet again to LBA (sound familiar), I used Aden's old $599 for the 77 Ltd (being cheaper than almost all used prices!) to decide it might be time, in fact not buying from there but leveraging some freebies from a Craigslist seller in a convoluted deal that involves emailing money to a friend in Vancouver for an in-person pick-up. I'm feeling very happy about that one right now, since the Aden deal is gone and I don't expect to see a similar price, new or used, for a long long time. But now, after pretty much sating myself on the lenses I've been lusting for, do I move any more money into my "lens account" before all the stores have implemented the increases? I know Galaxy Camera has an FA35 on the shelf. And clearly I will now never own a 31 Ltd, so I might as well opt for the poor man's 31 while I can. Right? Maybe a DA40?

03-20-2009, 06:59 AM	#33
vizjerei Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,418	David: Get the FA35 while you still can!

03-20-2009, 07:19 AM	#34
vinzer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philippines Posts: 1,399	Originally posted by Samsungian I thought for sure Pentax would be immune to the Yen problem being since much of their equiptment is already outsourced to Philippines and Vietnam instead of being made in Japan like Canon and Nikon still does. Like RawheaD has said, this may not only be due to fluctuations in currency values, but also part of Hoya's intent to make the Pentax division profitable. I believe they made a statement on this quite some time ago, about a short time after completing the buyout of Pentax. That said, those prices are just about the same prices shoved down our throats here in the Philippines since time immemorial, so you Canadians have got it good before the price increase. I shudder to think how much more expensive those lenses will be here when the price increase also hits my neck of the woods. All along I've been touting Pentax as the value brand to my friends and colleagues. It's a harder sell now, I guess.

03-20-2009, 07:20 AM	#35
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	i would never consider the FA35 a poor man's FA31.

03-20-2009, 07:25 AM	#36
augustmoon Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Toronto, San Diego, Seattle Posts: 455	Originally posted by k100d i would never consider the FA35 a poor man's FA31. True, and by next week, then as well, what will then be the poor man's FA35?

03-20-2009, 07:31 AM	#37
vizjerei Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,418	Originally posted by k100d i would never consider the FA35 a poor man's FA31. Hahaha Yea.. after I compare the two shots from last time, I no longer lust for FA 31 ( especially with its price )

03-20-2009, 07:37 AM	#38
RBellavance Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Montréal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,716	Originally posted by David Whiteley Well, if nothing else this makes me feel much better about my insane streak of lens purchases lately. I took to reassuring my better half that I was "moving money from my chequeing account to my lens account" and that value would largely be retained. Yesterday I reported that my lens account was making good interest! I try to tell myself the same thing, but remember that this "interest" is only theorical, it is worth nothing until you actually get to sell the lenses :ugh:

03-20-2009, 07:56 AM	#39
cyg Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 134	Originally posted by k100d i would never consider the FA35 a poor man's FA31. Well with these new prices, the poor man has nothing to do in the Pentax lens lineup anyway... Maybe that's the idea -- Pentax getting sick of being seen as a "discount brand".

03-20-2009, 08:07 AM	#40
Kei Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 207	Originally posted by cyg Well with these new prices, the poor man has nothing to do in the Pentax lens lineup anyway... Maybe that's the idea -- Pentax getting sick of being seen as a "discount brand". Then Pentax's next DSLRs better have the improved AF and marketing to justify the new price.

03-20-2009, 08:14 AM	#41
Clicker Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,241	So does this categorize Pentax users as "frugal" still? LOL This price hike somehow now justifies my Nikon 700 purchase (waits for the Pentax fanboys to bash me now)

03-20-2009, 08:32 AM	#42
vizjerei Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,418	Originally posted by Kei Then Pentax's next DSLRs better have the improved AF and marketing to justify the new price. +1 totally agree...

03-20-2009, 08:38 AM	#43
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	Sweet jesus!!!!!! 6 months ago I grabbed the 77 and 12-24 for $600 each at Aden brand spanking new! I also picked up the 35/2 for $260 used. For once I lucked out.

03-20-2009, 08:40 AM	#44
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	Originally posted by vizjerei Hahaha Yea.. after I compare the two shots from last time, I no longer lust for FA 31 ( especially with its price ) Whatchootalkinaboutwillis?

03-20-2009, 08:46 AM	#45
vizjerei Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,418	Originally posted by Alfisti Whatchootalkinaboutwillis? well just saying I don't really see much difference from the FA35 and FA31 shots, or big enough difference to make me pay 1k extra to get it..