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In a perfect inflationary world people would be satisfied paying more next year for used lenses than new ones cost today. However if you broaden your perspective and look at Canon or Nikon then maybe not. Looking constantly at ALL lenses from ALL manufacturer's prices made me add Canon instead of buying more Pentax lenses last year. Well and my desire to have a big viewfinder and full frame platform. One of the first two eos lenses I bought last year was the full frame 16-35mm 2.8L for $1,309. Lets say the crop format 12-24mm f4 goes to $1300? For me its a no brainer to continue to buy Canon. Pentax dramactically raising prices will have a reverse effect and likely cause people to leave the system. Heck even I may sell off the Pentax goodies I kept when I added both Canon and Nikon to my bag of Pentax tools.
Shake reduction body is a cool feature but what good is it when you want to use a tripod? Like Macro, Panoramas, Long Exposures, ... I really enjoy SEEING the image stabilize in the viewfinder. Image stabilized glass provides this function and Shake Reduced bodies do not.
And its sad but true, I'd have to drive 60 miles now to touch a new Pentax item whereas there are easily a dozen stores nearby I can put my hands on Canon and Nikon gear. Home Depot selling Pentax online, WalMart selling Pentax online doesn't put gear in my hands to consider and test since these stores do not carry one pentax item locally. If Pentax wants to loose the "value" leader niche then they need to be on display with the big two everywhere cameras are sold. That won't happen, so I think they fancy themselves like leica brand and would like to get closer to Leica prices for their lenses. Problem is both Nikon & Canon make good gear and their head to head competetion keeps the glass prices competetive, which is good for consumer.
Originally posted by ryan s Forgive me if this has been mentioned already, as I (uncharacteristically) read only the first and last pages
Has anyone else noticed a "slowdown" in the Marketplace of currently-produced lenses? Imagine buying, say, a 12-24 for...oh...$850, using it for a year then selling it for a "bargain price" of $950...if the price hikes figures are correct.
Makes me glad and sad. I don't have money to spend and I like older stuff. But...I reallllllly want a DA 16-50 before summer but can't get one now
At least film prices won't go up? Let's hope...