As a Nikon user since the 801s I am dissapointed to see that Nikon UK want to charge me $659 more for the D300s over the USA price. It might be time to switch to another maker. I think that most users have thought about it at one time so I would appreciate any comments.
Time to move to Canon or Sony?
(35 posts) (19 voices)-
Posted 3 years ago #
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Baldcoot isn't the price difference for canon and Sony just as bad between US and UK prices? I understand your frustration but how's switching brands going to help you? What about the cost of buying several new lenses?
I have used several brands over the years and I know the strengths and weakness of each. Nikon is by far my favorite! canon has come close to tempting me back (I was a canon film camera user) but when my canon color copier machine started constantly breaking down on me, I vowed never to return ! There were also problems with my canon fax machine but I wont get into that.
My Sony Playstations (1,2,and 3) have served my well as have my Trinitron and Bravia Televisions, Walkmans, Radios, clocks, and oh yeah cameras. Sony makes cameras now too. I don't think their DSLRs are worth switching for...yet.
So you see baldcoot the only thing I ever buy from Nikon are cameras and lenses and man are they good. Wait I did buy some Nikon binoculars once :^)
Posted 3 years ago # -
Thankyou NikoDoby for your considered reply. I see that a Nikon D3000 with 18-55mm VR cost $649 on Amazon.com.
Maybe my argument is with Nikon UK.Posted 3 years ago # -
So I made some calculations comparing the prices of Amazon.uk and Adorama (same prices as BHPhoto).
Nikon D700's price in the US is 95% of the UK price. (UK seems to be getting a better rebate)
Nikon D300s' price in the US is 73% of the UK price.
Canon EOS 5D II's price in the US is 76% of the UK price.
Pentax K7 price in the US is 81% of the UK price.In the US D300s is 72% of the price of 5D II, while in the UK it is 75%.
You can calculate those percentages yourself but I don't see any major Nikon UK conspiracy here.
Posted 3 years ago # -
baldcoot - I fully understand Your point, moreover most of You guys living in US, will probably never understand how one feels comparing the prices between US, Europe and rest of the world.
Niko - the price difference is so high, that it's actually cheaper for me to go to US for shopping once or twice a year than to buy stuff here in Europe, especially last year when the dollar was so weak
Posted 3 years ago # -
Not to mention the VAT.
Posted 3 years ago # -
how about fresh idea: move from UK else where : )
Posted 3 years ago # -
Prices are high, fortunately for photographers, so is value. Each generation of cameras is more capable and not necessarily more expensive. Each generation of lenses has added more ED, MC, VR, IF - adding zoom range, reducing flare and chromatic aberration - at not really increasing prices.
What I like best about Sony is that they might spur some price competition. What I fear most is that Sony and Canon get into a price war. They both have deeper pockets than Nikon, plus Nikon's other business - semi-conductor equipment has been a drag on earnings. A major price war could harm Nikon more than the others, although we'd all gain in the short run.
Posted 3 years ago # -
It is not easy for camera brands to have fair prices. I live in in Canada and over the last few years our dollar has moved up and down from 66 % on the US dollar to 110%. Now the dollar is at app 90%
When it was at 110% it was way cheaper to buy them is the US, then as the dollar stayed strong the retail pricing was slowly adjusted to better match US pricing. Then Oil prices fell like a rock and our dollar along with it, now suddenly it was 10% cheaper to get buy in Canada compared to US and properly most of other places in the world.
The Oil and our dollar is up again and prices are app the same as US
But I did move from Denmark and my Uncle (A Canon Fan) back there is always upset about their prices including their 25% Vat. I think it is odd that pricing in Most places outside US is so much higher, and with Ebay and other Online purchase possibilities I am surprised that it has not evened out more. Maybe you should just boycott all local purchases for a while to show how dissatisfied you are with their unfair prices
Pete
Posted 3 years ago # -
I hope at the minimum Sony, with their excellent offering of Zeiss zooms, can help lower the absurd cost of Nikon lenses. . .I mean, $2400 for a 70-200 with VR? Shit, the sony offering, though maybe not as SHARP, is cheaper and I can get it on a FF sensor WITH camera built in stability. . .
if I wasn't so far in with Nikon, I'd consider the switch if not to see at least what life is like with a FF sensor!
Posted 3 years ago # -
Pete - ebay is really not an option for most European taxes, as You have to pay the VAT and fee for custom procedures if You get stuff from US, or even customs if You get stuff from china, not to mention shipping costs which are ridiculous. if I have to pay the tax and app. $200 shipping costs (insured postage for higher priced bodies or lenses) than it's cheaper (or at least not more than that) to buy a ticket and fly to US, especially that my wife's aunt lives in chicago, so I don't have to pay for the accommodation on one hand and can have all my stuff delivered from BH without tax on the other.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Thanks guys, this is all good stuff.
Something must have happened that I am even considering other makers.Posted 3 years ago # -
The problem with US pricing is that they is very wide variation. There are the MSRP's that most people see but then certain companies have great deals and these deals drive prices lower overall.
As far as switching brands, I wouldn't let pricing influence that decision. Lots of bird photographers did this a few years back largely because the Canon stuff was noticeably cheaper. Now days, the prices are much closer than they used to be. Canon still a bit cheaper but not by much. If I were to to jump ship, for what I do, it would have to be to Canon. I'm not even sure if I would completely jump ship. I may just buy one Canon body and one lens. Mainly just to get the lens I can't get from Nikon. As I mentioned before, I almost did this instead of getting my D90.
Posted 3 years ago # -
If you avoid sales tax in US by having merchandised shipped from out of state, you are supposed to pay the sales tax with your state income tax return. They are very, very unlikely to catch you, unless your equipment is for business and you depreciate it on your return (or schedule 179). For businesses in California the Franchise Tax Board does look.
Sorry.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Doubtful that the state will care enough to look. This state is in such political and financial disarray that their not going to spend resources on stuff like that.
Posted 3 years ago # -
So getting back to the time to move to Sony... What are your thoughts on the new a850? 24mp full frame for "only" $1999US ! That's gotta be tempting for a lot of you :^(
Oh and I suggest you all move to Texas....we use to be our own country. Actually in a way we still are :^)
Posted 3 years ago # -
Niko - there's a separate thread for a850, let's keep our forum clean :)
Posted 3 years ago # -
Over my dead body!
Posted 3 years ago # -
If you look at the amount of federal money Texas receives, versus what they pay, it would be better for the rest of us if they seceded. But this is a Nikon forum, it's on a higher plain, kinda like Oklahoma.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I sold the lot and now have a Sony a900. My small protest.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Why the a900 and not the new/cheaper a750?
Posted 3 years ago # -
isn't the 750 cropped versus full frame for a900?
Posted 3 years ago # -
Do you have more recent numbers than http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/22685.html , ted2001?
Posted 3 years ago # -
I asked the same question here a week or two ago and I was almost tarred and featherd.
For the most part, you are asking the wrong crowd here (resisitance is futile and all that), no matter what Nikon produces they eat it up with a spoon. Thay are not very objective.
If I wanted an advanced amateur camera today, the SONY line (900 and 8950) is pretty hard to argue with.
24 MPixels plus in camera stabilization, with great build and lenses it's a state of the art system.
I have a load of Nikon lenses that I have aquired over the years (16mm 2.8 AIS fisheye, 20mm 2.8 AIS, 28mm 2.8 AIS, 35mm 2.8 AIS PC, 50mm 1.4 AIS, 55mm 2.8 AIS Micro, 105mm 2.8 AIS Micro, 200mm f4 AIS Micro, 180mm 2.8 AIS, 75-300mm Auto Focus, 24-120mmm Auto Focus, and a 28-85mm AIS) plus lots of macro stuff (bellows). If I didn't have this stuff I would buy SONY for sure.
What do yo think these are worth, they are all in mint shape, most with Nikon filters? I have an F2, F3, F4, F100 and N2020 also. As you can see, I was a big Nikon fan, but alas, those days are gone.
Posted 3 years ago #
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