I’ve been stalking a D300 body, and blew a couple of deals, expecting even lower prices given the ever worsening economy. I was wondering if the YEN/USD would eventually play a role in the pricing. IMO, the move to hike is foolish, since the YEN/USD relationship over the past 6-8 months has been mostly artificial, the root of it being the so called “carry trade” which is now being unwound by the hedge funds/financial industry – for those not familiar, Japan has had near zero interest rates for about a decade, so many players, would borrow yen at say 1%, then sell the yen and buy USD or Euros, which were then invested in various manners, this causing the yen to be artificially lower vs. the USD/Euro. Now, just the reverse is taking place: assets are being liquidated, then yen are being purchased so to repay the loans, once again creating an artificial condition. Since it is believed that the unwinding of said carry trade is nearing an end, so the demand for yen should weaken, and thus drive it down …..perhaps.

All in all, I am confident Nikon could have done more so to cut costs, and keep prices stable, just as so many others are doing. Perhaps before long, the headlines will read “Canon & Nikon plead guilty in price fixing charges” ?!?!?!?!

The bodies are not being raised since microchip prices are plummeting so, if anything they are bagging more profits on the bodies, which are nothing more than mini computers built to process images around PhotoShop (like) features.

But nuff rambling. I hope the above will help put things in some perspective.

Happy clicking.

Politicians have been selling the lie for years that we can fund wars and other ridiculousness and still reduce taxes. That’s a myth (as we’re now seeing.) But they can still get on TV and claim to have lowered taxes. But there’s no point lowering taxes by 5% if the dollar is worth 10% less.

It’s too bad we don’t import more from the UK because the Pound is far weaker than the Dollar.

Thank You nikonrumors!

Damn! I should have got this sooner. Oh well.

I saw another post that B&H just ran out of the D3. You probably should buy sooner than later not knowing what there inventory is like. They may not have any by January 31st end of the rebate.

Good luck!

It is a balancing act in in unsure economic times to determine what can be charged versus what is required to maintain a reasonably secure financial company.

I am going to try to sell a Nikon AF-S DX 12-24mm lens after February 1st assuming there is a price increase.

No one likes price increases, but companies are in business for profit. I am sure that no company wants to increase prices in a weak economy, but companies do make decisions that they feel are best for their viability in the future. They may not always make the best or correct decision, but they do at the time with hand that they are dealt.