Digital camera prices set to rise...mostly
Economic meltdown to fuel price hikes
The impact of the steadily falling value of the Australian dollar against it's US counterpart can mean only one thing for the prices of consumer electronics in Australia - price rises.
Some companies are reporting immediate rises of up to 20% across their range, citing falling exchange rates and increases in shipping and production caused by the global rise in the cost of oil.
Which is what makes Canon's recent drop in prices in their digital SLR range something of an anomaly, and it can only be assumed this is a desperate effort to recoup some of the loss in market share to Nikon over the last couple of years. Coupled with the price rises is Canon's 'Big Red Christmas' offer, which throws a free bag/case in with most of their cameras. Consider the maths...
A $1500 digital SLR now costs approximately 20% more = $1800. Throw in a bag, valued at just under $100 = $1880. Now drop the price by $300! The $1500 camera is now $1200, but the 'real' price is closer to $1900. This means only one thing - now is the time to buy a digital SLR...and perhaps that's exactly the message that Canon is trying to convey.
Thinking of buying a Canon digital SLR this Christmas? Our recommendations are:
- Canon 450D Twin IS Lens Kit - more for the same money with the recent price drops; a worthy upgrade to the entry-level 1000D ($1269 at time of writing)
- Canon 40D Body Only (add your own lens combination) - another bargain since the recent price drops at under $1100 (without lens)
- Canon 5D mk II - the much anticipated upgrade to the original 'full frame' digital SLR. Pricing should be available in time for Christmas, but this is likely to be several thousand dollars.
