The actual cost for Canon to build this camera is $2400.
This is very, very hard to believe.
By Christmas 2013, Canon will be selling the 5DIII for $2499.
Obviously, the 5DIII cannot sell for $2499 if its costs $2400 to build.
And yet, it will sell for that much. Mark my words.
I personally think the $2400 value is the cost that they sell to retailers or distributors. The actual cost to make the product will be far less. This isn't a game console where they make money back on the games. They make a big chunk on the hardware itself.
If it is the cost to actually make the product, then it will include the R&D costs and the production line. Something that no doubt will decrease rapidly as the camera sells.
I personally don't think they can go on long selling it at the price it is. A $500 drop will come soon I think, especially with cheaper Nikon rival SLRs.
Agree with all of this except I doubt the price gets much lower than $2999 anytime soon.
Also...There are 3 prices...retail, cost, and canon's cost. I used to run a retail golf shop, the term "cost" always referred to the retailers cost. Also, the manufacturers would often use this "cost" price as the price that their own employees could purchase the product...in this example, a canon employee would pay retailer's cost of $2400...some companies add plus 10 or 20% for their employees.
I don't doubt the $2400 as the retailers cost, but Canon's actual cost is probably in the $1500 range... That's just a guess.
So, maybe they make it for 1500, sell it to retailer xyz for 2400, retailer xyz sells it to us for 3500? ballpark est.
