Everywhere we look, everything technology wise has gone down in price through the years whether it is is televisions, computers, cell phones, etc. You have far more capability as well. Why aren't we seeing this with Nikon Cameras? Every upgraded camera comes out far more expensive then the camera it is replacing at least in the pro models. The just announced D4 is $6,000. You can only imagine was the forthcoming D4X (if there will be one) will be.

The Nikon D1 series radically lowered the cost of professional cameras. On a personal note, I think I bought a D1H at $3,600. The D2H was bought for perhaps $3,400. Both of these were designed for the PJ/Sportshooter just like the D3 and D4 with another higher megapixel camera for those who need the greater MPs. I think the D3 came out at around $5000 and now the D4 is now $6,000.

People may say....but Mel...they are far superior to the older ones. This is right and technology moves forward. Back when the older cameras were designed, they brought forth the technology of the day. The computer I have today is far superior to the IBM XT (dual floppy disk drives) that was bought many years ago for $15,000 at a fraction of the cost.

The first D1 series brought professional digital cameras down in price that the serious hobbyist could afford. The reason I got the D1H was because of the frame rate and buffer. It was amazing compared to any other camera out there at the time. I did get D2H and D2X.

All this said, I have concluded quite a while back that the DX00 series was really the only series I will look at going forward. I knew the D4 would certainly come out way beyond a price point I am interested in just like the D3 but rumors of the forthcoming D800 has it coming out in the $4000+ range?

I just find it amazing that while every bit of technology out there has had a downward trend in price, Nikon Pro or Prosumer cameras certainly haven't.

Not a rant as such but just an observation.

Mel
An Opinionated Old Curmudgeon from Virginia


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Mel I wonder the same thing.

I want an SB900, hoping but knowing that at $50-60 more, the SB910 still won't drop the price on the older speedlight.

I should have jumped on the D700 back in summer, before the tsunami hit Japan and the prices were lower. Then ofcourse, the tsumani hit, then the flooding in the Thailand and Nikon prices jumped up to early release pricing. Unfortunately, other things prevented me from doing that. This is just a hobby for me after all.

I'm supply and demand, global economics, the rise of the yen and decrease of the dollar...its all related and someone will be willing to pay the entry fee.



Anthony

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This is not just Nikon, so don't pick on them. Canon and the others have done the same.

Don't forget to factor in inflation.

Also consider if the volume increase in computer and mobils phone sales have help reduce their prices (or vice versa). I doubt that pro level camera sales will ever match the volumes of cell phones and computers that have been bought, while the investment in camera and lens technology has certainly been substantial.

Best option, protest with your pocketbook!

Mick
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That's not entirely true. High end computer equipment has done the same as high end cameras. My old server at the ofiice was $12,000 3 years ago. The new server (better) was $19,000 six months ago. My tablet PC for work (hardened) ran over $4,000 with all the extras.

A few years ago if I built a high end PC it cost about $1,200 the last one ran $1,700.

Woodworking tools are up about 30% in 18 months.

Philip

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Bear in mind that you're thinking mostly of electronics that have serious volumes, which are one of the governing factors in driving prices down. In the consumer market, you don't have "volume" until you are into the millions of units. I'd be surprised if Nikon's FX cameras constitute even 10% of their DSLR volume, let alone their camera volume. (Even 10% would be in the vicinity of 400k, and I think that the figure is probably more like 5-6%.) As such, chips such as Expeed or especially the sensors are "boutique" chips, with attendant price premiums.

And in this case I think that there are other non-technology factors at work, such as the currency fluctuations, financial recovery from the disasters in the East, and probably some other things.

Finally, don't forget inflation. $3600 in 2001 dollars is about $4600 in 2011 dollars.

The Japanese yen was standing at ¥116 to the $USD January 1, 2001. It's ¥77 to the $USD today. So that $3600 in 2001 was ¥417,000, and after inflation it's ¥533,000. Today $6000 is ¥462,000, so given the volume constraint and general financial trends over the past ten years, the prices aren't totally ludicrous. Certainly not as bad as it feels over here when we pay the NAS bills...

_____
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