Comments on: USA Rebates Starting Sunday? [CR1]

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 01 May 2009 23:54:12 +0000

with the Canon Rebates, its a standard thing that has been going on for many years. Prices are raised twice a year, and right after we have the rebates.

Not to say that they don’t use it to get rid of slow selling stock, but some of their fastest sellers are rebated as well. Those are high profit items like the 200mm F:/2 lenses.

By: David

David — Fri, 01 May 2009 23:03:27 +0000

We’ll see. When stuff sits on shelves too long sales start happening. I’m sure that’s why the rebates are happening.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:33:27 +0000

I received the 135 F:/2 L today, and took a few snapshots. You were right, it is simply amazing, I had no idea of how sharp it really is. I plan to use it for stage photography, and it will get its first workout at a dance recital tomorrow.

Without IS, I will really have to support it well in low light, or use a flash, but outdoors, even wide open its sharp. I also put a 1.x X extender on it. Only a slight degradation, still as sharp as my 70-200 2.8 IS.

I’m not very good at holding the camera absolutely still, but I will be forced to learn.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:28:07 +0000

I think you meant 2nd Half. They are losing $$ in the 2nd Half, but the 1st Half was profitible so there will be a net postive for the year. Things are off to a poor start for 2010 though.

I’m sad to see prices being raised in order to increase profits, what happened to lose a little on each one and make it up on volume :-)

By: David

David — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:36:23 +0000

They were revised on the 26th of April, net income (15.8)%. I read it in the financial results sectiong on the Nikon web site in a PDF. I didn’t bookmark it though.

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:23:28 +0000

Can you give us a link? Their second Quarter 2009 results were in long ago, and they did very well. Their 4th quarter 2009 ended March 31, and will be reported in about 2 weeks. Their sales for FY 2009 were amazingly strong.

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:28:44 +0000

I just ordered the 135mm F2/L from Norman camera, $935. The lenses are not in stock at B&H. I’ve bought two other lenses from Norman Camera in the last 6 months, they ship promptly and are a good dealer.

I’d probably buy from our local dealer, Huppins (onecall.com), but they don’t stock it, just by special order.

By: David

David — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:14:24 +0000

Nah it wont fit on an EOS so no one would buy Nikon’s 200 for a Canon…

:)~~

By: Val

Val — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:07:55 +0000

Another potential reason: Nikon’s 200/2 is priced ~500 USD lower than Canon’s.

By: David

David — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:50:47 +0000

I think you called it there.

By: Zac

Zac — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:37:23 +0000

I feel that there is less demand for this lens because a lot of people still have their 200/1.8, and frankly for indoor sports its a better lens (yes its not as sharp and AF isnt quite as fast, but the .5 stops really helps). the 200/2 really rocks for portraits too, but its hard to justify that kind of cost for a portrait lens over the 135 f/2. I am glad they have a 200/2 in their line-up, it needs to be their, I just wish they’d made a 200mm f/1.8L IS USM. I know it would have been more expensive, but it would give a lot of indoor sports shooters a real reason to upgrade a 20 year old lens. (and put a little bit of a squeeze on nikon =P)

By: David

David — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:39:04 +0000

Maybe the 200/2 hasn’t sold as well as expected and they’re trying to move it.

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:10:33 +0000

I’m not. I just question the rationale behind the 200/2 rebate – it doesn’t make sense. Anyone actually considering buying the lens is going to make their decision on the basis of the lens, not its price. They might as well offer rebates on the 300 + 400mm glass as well; it’ll be as effective in impacting sales.

By: Val

Val — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:19:45 +0000

Take it or leave it. It’s the truth, regardless what you believe.