Canon 5D Mark III - Price Drop Details

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I can remember people in 2008 planning to wait for the price of the 5D MK II to drop.  The cameras were almost constantly back ordered for well over a year, and it briefly dropped over three years later to $2,000 last Christmas.  I wonder if they are still waiting for it to drop below $1000 

[Raddy]

i don't think this can happen.  if they drop the mark iii to $2500, that means the mark ii needs to be what, $1500?

In case Canon is officially selling the Mark II by that time. ;-)
But I do think $2500 is way to optimistic...

[ugury]

i think it will be under 3000$ within this year, otherwise d800 beat it..

[itsnotmeyouknow]

Wait for the reviews.

If there are going to be any price drops, it will be after DxO and/or dpreview have reviewed it.

If the lack of DR is confirmed in production models and it becomes apparent that the 5D3 is roughly the same as a 5D2 for taking photographs then it is possible that cost conscious people will stop buying the 5D3 and buy the 5D2.

And cost conscious means people that aren't professional photographers because all those that are professionals will be able to factor it in to this year's capital expenses one way or another (and will get a VAT/GST refund on top of writing it off for tax purposes.)

So the buyer looking for a discount is going to have to wait...

Like many people on forums, you overestimate the influence of online reviews.  I doubt that Canon care all that much about the DxO test since unlike Nikon, they don't grease DxO's palms.  If it mattered that much they'd pay out for it.  I don't think there will be a substantial price cut while they are still selling mkII's.  I think they have too many mkII sensors and when they have sold them through the mkII will be discontinued. 

[Daniel Flather]

If you wait for a price drop, that wait will turn in to the wait for the 5D4. 

[riogrande100]

I believe the prices will come down sooner, especially with the sales of the D800 being so high! Canon cannot afford to let its reputation as a leader slip!

Also the landscape of photography has changed since 2008! Now far more amateurs are looking to go full frame, and far more movie makes are switching to DSLR! Actually the BBC and Hollywood using them too!

[gecko]

If you wait for a price drop, that wait will turn in to the wait for the 5D4.

When do you expect the 5D4 to be released? 

[awinphoto]

I believe the prices will come down sooner, especially with the sales of the D800 being so high! Canon cannot afford to let its reputation as a leader slip!

Also the landscape of photography has changed since 2008! Now far more amateurs are looking to go full frame, and far more movie makes are switching to DSLR! Actually the BBC and Hollywood using them too!

Uhh... canon is pumping out more 5d3's than the ever did with 5d2's during it's release and the camera is still backordered.  On the BH Photo Video thread on this forum, some are awaiting a backorder well into june.  It may be presumptive and some humor aside, but Canon isn't losing money to the D800, yet.  Now once the camera demand settles, bodies actually sit on shelves longer than a day, and things iron itself out, we may have a better understanding of demand of the D800 vs 5D3 then. 

[RunAndGun]

I predict the price of the MKIII will be exactly the same price at Christmas as it is right now.  I will be shocked if the price comes down any within the next 12-18 months.  It will probably be more like 24 months.  When I bought my MKII in December '08 it was the same price as when it launched and I don't remember seeing widespread price reductions on it until 2011(BUT, I also wasn't pricing or looking to buy another one until last fall). 

If you can't afford it at this time, that's fine and there's nothing wrong with that.  In fact, way too many people spend money they don't have on things they don't need.  BUT, if you're just holding out trying to save a few bucks(being cheap) instead of getting it now and enjoying it for the longest time span possible, well to me, that's a poor decision.  I would rather pay the "full price" on day one and get and enjoy something I really wanted, than wait a year(or two or more) and try to save, maybe, a few hundred bucks.  In that one to two years, are you really going to miss a few hundred dollars(assuming that buying it doesn't over extend you financially to begin with)?

[Ivar]

I have seen as low as 2900€ compared to the initial 3300€ or even 3600€ in some places.

I think the price doesn't matter that much, it is worth it or not. If I manage to wait for a high MP model I'll stay with Canon, though I'm a bit tired of Canon. Adding just more megapixels will not make a new product.

[prestonpalmer]

As a wedding photographer. This is a mute point. The money I will make with this camera far exceeds any savings from a later purchase.

[Wilmark]

I think the price will hold for the first year since we are looking at possibly a 3 year cycle. Demand is healthy. A lot will depend on other announcements by Canon (like the other DSLRs this year) and the market response to them, and obviously Nikon and their pricing. They may very well keep product, stock, and new offerings tight so that they maximize each product one by one. I bet the 1Dx was delayed because they want the 5D sales to breathe and then fall off. And they will get everyone excited. Also, it appears that there is healthier supply of the kit version of the 5Diii. And this could be helped by the delay of the new 24-70 ii. A lot of people will buy both these lenses. It looks like canon will have a very exciting and healthy 18 months and they wont play all their cards at once. Its quite  interesting that they announced the 1Dx long before the 5Diii, without availability of the former for a long time.

[AnselA]

My soothsayer insists even she doesn't have any clue either how many D800s or 5D Mark III the twin overlords in Japan have sold so far but that the 5D Mark II may meet its maker before the first snows fly and that the 5D Mark III will match Nikon on price through rebates and then permanently to keep the game interesting. (Her money was on North Carolina though, not Kentucky, so go figure.)

[azizjhn]

Hi i guess the price will drop sooner than later cause the 5D MK III ranked 20th in sales in USA & 28th in Japan as per DSLRphoto.com compared to D800 which is 2nd in USA & 6th in Japan the MK III it can't keep up with the D800 sales no matter how good the 5D is. because the D800 has higher MP advantage & cheaper price.

[RunAndGun]

Hi i guess the price will drop sooner than later cause the 5D MK III ranked 20th in sales in USA & 28th in Japan as per DSLRphoto.com compared to D800 which is 2nd in USA & 6th in Japan the MK III it can't keep up with the D800 sales no matter how good it. D800 has higher MP advantage & cheaper price.

Megapixels do not a camera make... or something like that. 

A bajillion Megapixels aren't everything.  Look at both manufacturers newest flagship pro bodies. 16.2MP for the Nikon D4 and 18.1MP for the Canon 1DX.

I'm in no way knocking the D800, but there is more to a camera than JUST a sensor.  And there are people that will buy it JUST because they see 36MP and know nothing else.