lens prices

[calladine]

hi everyone
have you noticed how the price of lenses have rocketed lately,i was thinking about buying a new lens but i think ill postpone the idea for quite a while .ok there might be a slump in high street sales with the recession, but are the lens manufacturers or retailers not shooting themselves in the foot by doing this.
tezza

[Gaza]

Hi Calladine

These price increases, are to do with the economy
The value of the pound, sterling is now nearly a third down on the euro, compared to a year or two ago.
So you may well see lens's that come from abroad, costing as much as a third more than a year ago

I purchased (locally) a lens from a high street photography shop, a couple of weeks ago, slightly more expensive, than i could have on line
Now i see, that the same lens would cost me slightly more on the same on line site
The prices will start to go up as the old priced stock is sold and the newly imported stock comes into the country

[glsammy]

One advantage to all this is if your selling. I'm currently selling my 300mm. It's almost new but the point is I stand a good chance of getting back more than I paid for it, or at least as much as it cost. This is only a real advantage if your not re-buying of course.

[Keith Talbot]

i know what you mean tezza,ive been saving for a new lens,each time i get to the target i find its gone up again so have to save again

Originally Posted by glsammy

I'm currently selling my 300mm.

selling it already graham not happy with it?

[Veracocha]

I recently sold a used Sigma 10-20 for £350 on e-bay, I paid £230 for it just under a year ago. Madness.

[bob b]

Hi Calladine,
Ive bought quite a few items from Warehouse Express, where you can have the item now and pay for it in 12 months time. It doesnt cost you anymore, as long as you pay within the year. Go over the 12 months and it becomes an expensive credit agreement. This is an excellent cushion against rising prices, which with the way the pound is going, is going to happen again. Good luck, bob

[DavyG]

I think the rise in lens prices is shocking, they are well above the drop in value of sterling in relation to the Dollar or Euro.

I'd been looking at the Sigma 300-800, which at £4500.00 would have been a carefully thought out purchase.

I'm beginning to wish I'd bought it a few weeks ago, the price now is around £7300.00, that's an increase of over 60% and makes buying the lens, for me, totally out of the question.

I guess I'll just have to improve my stalking skills!

Dave