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Canon 1dmkIII $ 4,495.00 @ B&H

A

Anthony Arkadia

New member
Well B&H has finally listed the price of the 1DMKIII @ $4,495.00, i would be willing to bet that this is the price. A sad day for Canon, it would be different if they said that it was a typo in their original white paper statement about the price being $3,999.00 for the camera, instead they chose to rely on the fact that no one would notice, except for a few people on a few forums.
The arrogance of the way that this company has been conducting business lately really is starting to get under my skin. This is what lack of competition does.
And yes, if they did admit the typo i would be completely satisfied, the trickery and deceit is what crawls up my butt sideways.
 
M

MArk Le

New member
Canon has the right to position the camera at the price level they like of course.

We have the right to start laughing when a huge mistake like this comes out of course.

Both right, Canon and us: but the "image" of Canon went down a little with the rebates handling first and now this "I wanna make more money" policy ... that's true. Too.

eheh
 
A

Anthony Arkadia

New member
I was on a list as #3, called and had them pull me off of it, they said they had no official price from Canon yet, i still told them to free up the spot and remove me.
 
K

Kathy Rappaport

pro member
Suggessted Retail

Suggested retail price is just that - suggested. It doesn't mean that someone can't price it higher.

That being said, I think there are show specials from WPPI since the line was out the door to buy it at every camera vendor there.

I will try putting it in the cart later today and seeing what price comes up with show special codes .
 
J

John_Nevill

New member
I suppose if one wants cutting edge technology then one should expect to pay the price. That's the message Canon seems to be portraying.

Needless to say it's steep, but once production gets into full swing and competitors up the anti, there'll no doubt be a few rebates kicking in.
 
B

Bob Krueger

New member
Kathy Rappaport said:
Suggested retail price is just that - suggested. It doesn't mean that someone can't price it higher.
Click to expand...

Canon hasn't done suggested retail prices for at least several years, I think. These days, especially with the high-end cameras, they do "minimum advertised price" (MAP). As I understand it, an authorized dealer who publicly advertises at a lower price than that risks being pulled from the list of authorized dealers. That's why you see those "put it in your cart to see the real price" things.

Perhaps I understand it incorrectly, but that is how I think Canon does its pricing these days. Of course, someone can always price it higher, but why would anyone do that?

That thought reminds me of when I was shopping for a Rolex 20 years ago and it was common for Rolex corporate to allow its authorized dealers to discount up to 20% off retail for the "sports" watches (they don't do that anymore). One local authorized Rolex dealer was doing just that, but Ben Bridge wasn't. When I asked the salesperson why, she said that their customers preferred not to shop at "discount jewelers." The "discount jeweler" who was discounting was the oldest and most respected jeweler in San Diego at the time. I replied that their highbrow customers may have more money than brains, but that I was going back upstairs to the other guy, thank you. Well, Ben Bridge, I'm still enjoying my 20-year-old el-cheapo GMT Master II today, and I'm sure I found something else to enjoy with the extra 300 bucks too, although I have no idea anymore what it was.
 
N

Nikolai Sklobovsky

New member
I don't think it's Canon. I think it's B&H reasonably assuming that there are plenty enough thick wallets around whose owners would not think twice about extra $500 (which is less than 15% markup) if they had a chance to get their hands on something "cool".
Once the initial hype is gone and every camera store on each coast would have a few boxes in stock I'm absolutely positive that the dust will settle and the price would go down.

I know I'm not paying that premium. I mean, I'm a geek, but not to a degree when I just through away $500 instead of waiting a month or two...
 
J

John_Nevill

New member
I read today from japanese based source that units will start shipping from May 31st for Japan and mid June for the US, with production runs being in the order of 5000 per month.
I suspect grey imports from Hong Kong will be the first to hit the streets in the UK! In fact digitalrev are already taking preorders for £2449.
 
B

Bob Krueger

New member
Nikolai Sklobovsky said:
I know I'm not paying that premium.
Click to expand...

That's me as well...not when there's a perfectly good 1DMkII that isn't one whit less effective than it was the day before the 1DMkIII was introduced sitting in my camera bag. I'm trying to talk my friend into upgrading and selling me his 1DMkII for a second body, though, and the extra 500 bucks just hurt my cause.

The 1DMkIII is very nice, but the older body does everything I need it to do...except shake dust off the sensor (I hate cleaning the sensor, but after a weekend at Laguna Seca it's absolutely necessary). Heck, I'm still running 1.03 firmware and Photoshop CS (with no numbers at the end) and they work fine as well. I guess I'm just a Luddite.
 
H

Harvey Moore

New member
The subject at hand has developed into a "Tempest in a Teapot" on the web

Wait until the camera body actually is shipping and THEN go shopping for prices
 
T

Tom Henkel

New member
B&H & new products....

B&H has a long history of premium-pricing new products. While I'm generally a big fan of B&H, I'm not sure it's the best place to buy products that are new to the market. Their policy of charging your credit card immediately for products not yet in stock is annoying (I understand their reasoning, but it's still annoying). And you can often get a better price on new-to-market gear from other reputable establishments.

In this market segment $500 is a lot of money. If you think of all the things on your wish list for about $500 (or other things for which $500 would be a nice down-payment) it's a big price to pay for the privilege of getting a camera body a few weeks ahead of everyone else. By mid-summer I'll bet you'll be able to get a 1DMk III from a variety of sources (including B&H) for about $4K.

As for Canon, their mistake was waffling on the actual list price after publishing it in a press release. They had a footnote in the white paper basically saying "retail prices might vary." Had they just left it at that, it wouldn't have made them look like greedy morons. But, nooooo.

Tom
 
J

John Craig

New member
Tom Henkel said:
As for Canon, their mistake was waffling on the actual list price after publishing it in a press release. They had a footnote in the white paper basically saying "retail prices might vary." Had they just left it at that, it wouldn't have made them look like greedy morons. But, nooooo.

Tom
Click to expand...

Actually, I didn't think the press release mentioned the price at all except to say "similar to the IdIIn"
 
J

John Craig

New member
the white paper was part of the press material? Its even really hard finding this on Canon's own website... its existence isn't even mentioned in their press release:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=NewsDtlAct#101z10

the point is that the mention was in a white paper, that had limited distribution (RG's site).. most sites eg. DPR or Steve-Digicams didn't get a "white paper" release link even.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/pr/canon_02212007_1dmark3_pr.html
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0702/07022208canoneos1dmarkiii.asp


Unfortunately the power of the internet keyed everyone into this paper's existence, but it was not a part of the press release package.
 
T

Tom Henkel

New member
They call it the World Wide Web for a reason....

John Craig said:
the white paper was part of the press material? Its even really hard finding this on Canon's own website... its existence isn't even mentioned in their press release:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=NewsDtlAct#101z10

the point is that the mention was in a white paper, that had limited distribution (RG's site).. most sites eg. DPR or Steve-Digicams didn't get a "white paper" release link even.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/pr/canon_02212007_1dmark3_pr.html
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0702/07022208canoneos1dmarkiii.asp


Unfortunately the power of the internet keyed everyone into this paper's existence, but it was not a part of the press release package.
Click to expand...

Dude, Canon published the price on the Internet at the time of they announced the 1D MkIII. If Phil Askey or "Steve" couldn't find it, it doesn't mean it wasn't there.

I stopped posting at DPR because of idiots like you. Go back to DPR if you want to engage in mindless debates.
 
R

Ron Morse

New member
I don't want to get in any big debates but I saw the price in the white paper and then it was gone but it sure was their at first.
 
N

Nikolai Sklobovsky

New member
Tom,

Tom Henkel said:
...
Click to expand...
One of the reasons many of us left DPR was the fact it was not moderated properly, and because of that flamewars and "below the belt" expressions were flying with no end.

We're trying to build a friendly professional community here at OPF. Let's act at least professionally...

Cheers!



(From Asher, a comment: Thanks, Nik for keeping your eye open! We are indeed a unique community that has earned respect for civility. Thanks everyone for paying attention to this!)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
M

MArk Le

New member
make up your mind then

not you, I mean Canon
LOL

we do understand that what we're discussing here is not (really) the price to pay in order to get a 1 touch ISO switch instead of two (I'm referring to the cutting edge technology, obviously),

but

the fact that the original white paper said a price and then it changed (even on the independent web sites and review sites .. soooo fast to remove it... )

that's a sign of REALLY REALLY wanting more money (badly) .. like I said before there is nothing wrong with that, but I can laugh a little (can I?)

so there.. I'm laughing a little.
 
R

Ron Morse

New member
I am not happy about the $4500 price but I think that getting the camera as soon as I can and being able to use it will be worth the difference in the white paper price and what it ended being in the end. I usually shoot horse shows every weekend in the summer and was so discouraged with the 20% keeper rate on a very good weekend with the 20D that I only shot 1 horse event last summer. Now that canon repaired the 20D I will be shooting a lot more no matter if I can get my hands on the MIII or not.
I keep reading that the first round of MIIIs are pretty well spoken for and that the next batch won't be available until probably July. I hope that is not true. I wonder if their is any truth to this.
 
C

Charles L Webster

pro member
I see this price ?increase? as being similar to auto dealer's "additonal dealer markup" that is applied to cars that are in short supply. Those who want to be the first on the block to have the latest whiz-bang toy have to be prepared to pay the price.

Early adoption often has a price premium.
 
S

Stan Jirman

New member
Personally I find this discussion even more ridiculous than the sensor dust one. If $4500 is too much for you, for whatever reason (idealogical, truly financial, spousal) then don't buy it. Don't blame Canon or B&H for it. I always thought that this is what free market economy is about, period.
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
As I have mentioned before the price Canon charges is just what they can get. You'd do the same!

Canon USA does have the luxury of being able to sell them to the retail stores from as low as $1,400 if they wish according to my best estimation. Now they problably sell them for closer to $3600 or even more. So most of the profit goes to Canon USA, not the stores. They might make more now, but that will last for 3 months only.

If not for this free market system, we would not have such fine cameras anyway, unless it was the work of one family dedicated to some Zen perfection. However, the camera then would not have all the whistles and bells and might be called Leica or Minox.

Asher
 
P

Paul Bestwick

pro member
whole heartedly agree with Asher. & Stan i am with you regarding your comparison to the dust thread (seems like just another excuse to whine & complain). I recall paying a similair price for the D30 when it came out. Now, 5 years later I can buy a 1DMK III for the same price. So, the way I see it the price has dropped significantly. I recall in my first year of digital I saved 20K on film & processing. For me, I dont care about paying a bit more for such amazing technology. If you applied the same technology principle lets say for example to cars, then you would be buying a Porsche. Photographers are getting a great deal.

Cheers,

Paul
 
S

Steve Saunders

New member
Yes I agree that DSLR's have got significantly cheaper in the Nikon camp as well. Each top moel (D1, D1X, D2X) was cheaper than the previous one and gave double the resolution and faster performance. Compared to the 90's when a 1.5mp DSLR was the price of a house, we are certainly getting a better deal nowadays.
 
R

RoyVarley

New member
I picked mine up today. AU$5999 = US$4800. So, a little pricier over here but that's not unusual for anything!

I've been snapping things around the house - nothing of any great merit to show on these forums! But ISO3200 is impressive, noise wise. Here's a jpeg straight out of the camera: http://www.screenpeace.net/0J4W0050.JPG

The camera feels great. With the 70-200 F2.8 it handles beautifully. Focus is fast. Didn't try AI servo. The LCD is bright and clear - I like the + - zoom buttons and I set the "zoom to focus point" custom function (rather than just zooming from centre) - very nice.

Shutter is quiet (compared to my 1Ds). Silent mode is soft - you'd hear it in a quiet hall but it wouldn't be intrusive.

Menu system is a breeze although I did have to read the manual to find some functions.

I have some real work next week. I'll let you know how it goes if you'd like.

I have the WFT-E2A on order as well as a second battery. The dealers don't even have real order numbers for these from Canon yet, apparently.
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Hi Roy,

Congrats on your new camera. Impressive 3200! Like the 1600 of my 1DII or better. The image comes out improved with levels and a simple S-curve. Interestingly the histogram is combed showing missing tonalities due to some sort of binning. There is no obvious purple fringing between the junction of the black letters of the street sign and the white background.

Asher
 
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