Alert! Pentax revising prices of FA & A lenses upwards

[creampuff]

Bad news...
Due to rising raw material cost, from Monday, 2 Feb 2009, Pentax will revise upwards the prices of the FA and A line of lenses.
I guess the high Japanese Yen has forced this as well.

1) Announcement
http://www.pentax.jp/japan/news/announce/20081121.html

English translation
http://translate.google.com/translat...-8&sl=ja&tl=en


2) Revised price list
http://www.pentax.jp/japan/news/anno...0081121-01.pdf

English translation
http://209.85.171.104/translate_c?hl...7vOtHILa3I8M7w

Those who have yet to get your FA lenses (especially the FA Limiteds),
better act quickly, as time is running out before the impending price hike kicks in.

Aargh, time to look out for the FA 43mm Limited again...
and I still haven't got the FA 31mm Limited yet...

[Baracus]

Gah! Looks I'll have to stick to DA at the moment.

[alanpotpot]

20% increase for the 31 ltd?!? Hope I can find a silver one soon...

[night86mare]

alamak..

no more bbb

[hjbyeo]

Heng ah... bought liao!

*smug look* (joking, don't take it too seriously).

[Gengh]

Wah, some of the increases are really steep! Like over 40%! Hmm... Pentax lenses not going to be cheap anymore... these ones anyway. Hope the brand still remains value-for-money on the whole.

[fengwei]

Actually just some price increase on those A/FA lenses, this price hike won't affect DA lenses, and the majority Pentax users would use DA lenses anyway, so I guess this won't affect its total sales much.

But I agree, it's probably a good time to look for the FA limited lenses, their prices are pretty reasonable nowadays .

[airconvent]

Originally Posted by Gengh Wah, some of the increases are really steep! Like over 40%! Hmm... Pentax lenses not going to be cheap anymore... these ones anyway. Hope the brand still remains value-for-money on the whole.

That's assuming only Pentax is affected by the global downturn but that's not true. Pentax is probably the first to respond because they have a smaller finance buffer, and also likely because they manufacture in smaller quantities, hence stock depletes faster and need to be replenished using current raw material prices whereas the bigger players are probably holding substantial ex-stocks.

BTW, Pentax stuff have traditionally been cheap. I am guessing this increases merely reduce the gap between other brands such as C stuff but not caught up and very soon C will increase their prices to maintain the "premium price gap". Hence they will continue to be value for money for those who are in the buying market.

[creampuff]

Originally Posted by fengwei Actually just some price increase on those A/FA lenses, this price hike won't affect DA lenses, and the majority Pentax users would use DA lenses anyway, so I guess this won't affect its total sales much. But I agree, it's probably a good time to look for the FA limited lenses, their prices are pretty reasonable nowadays .

Well those who are new to the brand and want to experience a fast big aperture lens like the FA 50mm f/1.4 are in for a shock.

Hmmm, I think I'll have to cut back on Xmas presents this year so that I can afford one more of the FA Limiteds...
I personally think the FA series are just that bit nicer than the DA series in colour rendition and if you want fast primes, FA lenses are the way to go.

[flowerpot]

well... seems like the FA are the best investment right now considering the financial situation the world is facing... guarantee 20% return no risk of shares prices pummeling to record lows... 100% capital protection... where to find as such good deal...

[scorpioh]

Wah. I had ordered a black fa 31 and silver fa 31 and a black fa43.

[tyzts]

Originally Posted by flowerpot well... seems like the FA are the best investment right now considering the financial situation the world is facing... guarantee 20% return no risk of shares prices pummeling to record lows... 100% capital protection... where to find as such good deal...

Alamak, sold my FA50mm too soon

[seefei]

Thinking of getting a FA31 black

[flowerpot]

when the price goes up.. i might sell

[taekimon]

where do u guys usually buy Pentax or other 3rd party K mount lenses from? Not many shops carry them and what are the shops carry a range of lenses?

[nameless1]

Originally Posted by taekimon where do u guys usually buy Pentax or other 3rd party K mount lenses from? Not many shops carry them and what are the shops carry a range of lenses?

ClubSNAP Market..... dude
Brought most of my lens here.

[scorpioh]

Originally Posted by taekimon where do u guys usually buy Pentax or other 3rd party K mount lenses from? Not many shops carry them and what are the shops carry a range of lenses?

I think Orientphoto has the widest range of pentax equipment at reasonable prices locally. Usually, I try online, like adorama, shashinki and lastly BnS in CS.

[Gengh]

Originally Posted by taekimon where do u guys usually buy Pentax or other 3rd party K mount lenses from? Not many shops carry them and what are the shops carry a range of lenses?

I'd say that Orient Photo and Cathay Photo have the largest range locally, but this is just my impression. Most of the usual camera shops should have a selection (except John, they're very focused...), some more than others. No need to try non-specialist shops like Courts, Harvey Norman, etc if you're looking for more than just the "kit" lenses.

For 2nd hand, you already know...

[flowerpot]

i oni ever bought 1 pentax and 1 3rd party lens at a shop, the rest is from online or BnS...

[taekimon]

those lens that orient photo sells, are they with warranty or grey sets?