1Ds III Price Increase (UK)

[Andy M]

In line with most Canon products, I've noticed that the price of the 1Ds 3 has recently risen, and quite markedly so.

Just a few weeks ago they were available for approx £4,400, and now the cheapest price I can find is £4,999 (the next cheapest being £5,290) .

The 1Ds' price fluctuations:


Also see: http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod580.html

Then, today I was reading the UK magazine 'Professional Photographer' and written in it is that Canon have actually increased the RRP by £1,730 from £5,999 to £7,729(!!). The reason being the Yen's strength against the Euro and the GBP.

I'm already the happy owner of a 1Ds 3 so it won't affect me, but I certainly wouldn't have paid anything near £7,729 for the camera.

The price of the Nikon D3X seemed utterly absurd when it was released, but even that is available for £5,199 now. It was rumoured than Canon ran the 1Ds 2 at a HUGE profit for a number of years due to a relative lack of competition from Nikon, but that is no longer the situation.

Have Canon dropped the ball here? Should the 1Ds 3 be run as a loss leader to dampen Nikon's flames?

Would you buy a 1Ds 3 @ £7,729 (or $11,000 USD)?! Am I the only person to think that this is utterly bonkers?

[DiaAzul]

Have Canon dropped the ball here? Should the 1Ds 3 be run as a loss leader to dampen Nikon's flames?

This is not a Canon problem this is an economics problem. The value of the GBP has dropped massively in recent months and as a consequence all imports will get more expensive and the pound in your pocket is now worth less than it was a year ago - in effect you have taken a pay cut, the value of your house has dropped in value (relative to other international markets) and you won't be able to travel beyond these shores and afford much more than a glass of water and dry crusty bread.

The upside is that 'in a free market economy' and assuming that other markets don't employ proctectionism then UK exports should be more competitive, so if you have international clients you should be able to price yourself keenly and grab more work.. However, the German, French and US markets are throwing up barriers to entry - so even if you strive to compete you will probably be buggered anyway.

Jeremy Clarkson managed to eloquently state the obvious, so I don't need to.