Canon Lens Price Drop

[Mike Farley]

It seems as though the price drops announced in the US are also in effect in the UK. It is stated that this is a permanent change for the US, so presumably is not temporary here, either. I imagine that this is one way in which Canon is trying to boost flagging DSLR sales.

http://www.wexphotographic.com/brand/?c ... rop-banner

[davidc]

Down one day and up the next

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1146

[Mike Farley]

I did wonder if anyone would spot that.

Maybe it is not a contradiction. At its conclusion, the article suggests that bargains are to be had as companies dispose of older inventory, which might be what Canon is doing. Perhaps the company is preparing for its big push into mirrorless? That said, some of the bigger price reductions appear to be for newer lenses. In this part of the world at least, newly introduced products are invariably premium priced as companies seek to maximise profits from early adopters and this looks like the sort of downward adjustment typically seen after a few months.

I cannot help think that this is Canon's response to a declining market which has reached saturation point. Whether it does really presage a major switch into mirrorless is another matter, but it is a move Canon which will have to make sooner or later if its camera business is to survive in the long term.

[davidc]

Canon & Nikon still make far too much money from SLR stock to be selling everything off in anticipation of going mirrorless. Professionals and those wanting better image quality, , guarantee of stability/support, a 2nd hand market, proven array of lenses etc. will still be buying kit. The simple fact of needing to reinvest in a whole load of new kit will put people off switching too, especially when camera magazines and bloggers make people think they won't be able to sell their kit because "the end is nigh" and everyone has gone mirrorless.

They do the same thing before releasing new lenses too, lower prices. Maybe it could even be in response to the economic fall currently hitting Asia too.

I am not convinced the sky is falling in for SLRs just yet

[davidc]

Funny Fuji image

[Mike Farley]

I don't really think that Canon and Nikon are currently at the point of a switch into mirrorless, either. Both have dipped their toes in the water, but have not done anything to undermine DSLR sales where the volumes remain higher than mirrorless. For my money, none of the mirrorless systems has yet reached the point where it can fully replace the more comprehensive DSLR offerings, which have been built up over many years. That said, most needs are being met by mirrorless, with both Sony and Fuji publishing roadmaps for future lens releases to show their commitment. Both Canon and Nikon need to be careful, as timing of a switch could be crucial, but I am sure that they know that and have plans in place, despite what the Internet pundits say.

[Mike Farley]

Funny Fuji image

[Mike Farley]

Funny Fuji image

You have to laugh. Fuji has just announced its 50-140 f/2.8 lens, which comes in at just under 1kg, and already on DPReview people are complaining that it is too big and heavy. If you compare it with the equivalent Canon lens, that weighs around 50% more and has a bigger filter size. Still, when you start acquiring Fuji's fast, premium glass, the average user will look more like the guy in the middle than on the right.

https://www.fujifilm.eu/uk/products/dig ... fications/

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product ... IS_II_USM/

[davidc]

And the guy on the right has decided tripods are not needed for REAL PHOTOGRAPHY.

[Mike Farley]

And it looks as though the chap on the left has so much gear that he has also chosen not to add a tripod.

Maybe tripods are an evolutionary quirk, an experiment the introduction of which did not quite work out? Well, according to Fuji, at least.