Is there a better time to buy a 5D mkIII?

[SecundumArtemRx]

Hello Canonistas,

I've tracked the 5D mkIII price for a little while and am wondering when I should pull the trigger.

I know Canon's MAP pricing complicates matters, but wonder if the price is going to drop a little bit after the June 22nd rebate period expires. My thought process is: if Canon has $200 off the body and enforces the strict $3299 pricing - is there a chance B&H or the other big companies will be able to push this price lower, after the Canon rebates end? Just trying to snag a good deal, wondering if history has been any indicator in the past.

I'll be upgrading from a 60D, photography is my hobby, and wondered what some of the seasoned forum posters thought about buying now, after 22nd, or buying in the fall?

Happy Monday and thanks for your thoughts!

 

[awinphoto]

Yes there is, a matter of fact... about 2-3 months BEFORE canon releases the 5d mark 4, you should see a big sell off.. THAT is the better time ;D ;D ;D

 

[PhotographAdventure]

There were some better deals this past November thru January. If you want to save, buy it sometime in November/December. You may only save a few hundred though.

 

[Loswr]

They'll be really cheap after the 5D Mark V is released. Wait until then...

 

[awinphoto]

They'll be really cheap after the 5D Mark V is released. Wait until then...

Why didn't I think of that... Listen to neuro...

 

[mycanonphotos]

Dude...I thought I would never be able to buy it.. Then Adorama had a fire sale just before the 6D was announced... I paid 2649 for it ...new body...lots of happy people I think the sale stopped at 800 or 900?
There will be another sale somewhere....

 

[mwh1964]

Just buy it and be happy.

 

[Wildfire]

You can buy it with the 24-105L kit lens and sell the lens for ~$800 to get a slightly better deal.

 

[Loswr]

You can buy it with the 24-105L kit lens and sell the lens for ~$800 to get a slightly better deal.

That is good advice. If this was last year. But buying the 24-105L as part of the 6D kit today adds only $500 to the price of the body...so it's pretty darn hard to sell one for $800 these days...

 

[Wildfire]

You can buy it with the 24-105L kit lens and sell the lens for ~$800 to get a slightly better deal.

That is good advice. If this was last year. But buying the 24-105L as part of the 6D kit today adds only $500 to the price of the body...so it's pretty darn hard to sell one for $800 these days...

Depends on where you live.

In my city (Las Cruces, NM) there are no stores that sell L lenses or full frame bodies. When one goes up on craigslist, it gets snatched up pretty quickly even if the ebay prices are cheaper.

 

[jdramirez]

I have an opinion, but I'm not sure what it is yet. I think one thing and then immediately have a counter point. weird.

 

[bseitz234]

Wait for the refurb store to have a 20% off sale. This last round excluded the 5d3, but they sometimes include it. Then the body is only 2200something...

 

[jdramirez]

Wait for the refurb store to have a 20% off sale. This last round excluded the 5d3, but they sometimes include it. Then the body is only 2200something...

they do charge tax... so that could be a deal breaker. but the condition is usually like new and very few people complain about the condition.

 

[RLPhoto]

I paid 2499$ for one of my MK3's. Brand new in box, USA warranty.. All via BigValueInc on evil bay. Just wait until December for the deals.

 

[SPG]

Now.

I waited and debated when the best time would be and held off and made do with my other camera and in the end when I finally pulled the trigger I kicked myself for not buying it sooner. Not because of the price, but because it's such a wonderful camera that I would have been happier having it sooner.
These aren't stocks we're buying, but tools (or toys) that we can put to good use right now.

 

[Rienzphotoz]

Just trying to snag a good deal, wondering if history has been any indicator in the past.

what some of the forum posters thought about buying now, after 22nd, or buying in the fall?

Going by recent history and if I recollect correctly, the next set of "deals" are usually due in Christmas ... oh, almost forgot, don't the Americans have something called the Black Friday after the Thanks Giving Day? I've seen some awesome deals during that time ... maybe you can snag a really good deal ... either way you'll have to keep on eye on those sales constantly ... CR is a good place to keep checking for deals, just yesterday one member posted an Adorama deal for EF 28mm f/2.8 IS for US$399 (via eBay) ... but I find it annoying to wait for something I like/want, so I usually buy it the moment I can spare some money and sometimes regret later and sell it off ... since we don't have the concept of renting camera gear in this country, I look at all my camera gear regrets as rentals ;D

 

[brad-man]

I paid 2499$ for one of my MK3's. Brand new in box, USA warranty.. All via BigValueInc on evil bay. Just wait until December for the deals.

Just trying to snag a good deal, wondering if history has been any indicator in the past.

what some of the forum posters thought about buying now, after 22nd, or buying in the fall?

Going by recent history and if I recollect correctly, the next set of "deals" are usually due in Christmas ... oh, almost forgot, don't the Americans have something called the Black Friday after the Thanks Giving Day? I've seen some awesome deals during that time ... maybe you can snag a really good deal ... either way you'll have to keep on eye on those sales constantly ... CR is a good place to keep checking for deals, just yesterday one member posted an Adorama deal for EF 28mm f/2.8 IS for US$399 (via eBay) ... but I find it annoying to wait for something I like/want, so I usually buy it the moment I can spare some money and sometimes regret later and sell it off ... since we don't have the concept of renting camera gear in this country, I look at all my camera gear regrets as rentals ;D

+1

December/January (for the last couple of years) has proven to be the time of Great Savings. In the shops that usually have the best deals, rebates don't seem to have an effect on pricing. Even now, GetItDigital on ebay are selling the mklll for $2950 (USA warranty). With the end of "wedding season" coming, prices will likely only go down till the end of the year. And who knows, by the end of the year, perhaps people will be pre-ordering their 7D mklls and stealing some of the mklll's thunder

 

[Harry Muff]

About a week ago for me… ;D

 

[M.ST]

Hint: Better wait what is coming in 2013 or the first half of 2014.

 

[SecundumArtemRx]

I paid 2499$ for one of my MK3's. Brand new in box, USA warranty.. All via BigValueInc on evil bay. Just wait until December for the deals.

Just trying to snag a good deal, wondering if history has been any indicator in the past.

what some of the forum posters thought about buying now, after 22nd, or buying in the fall?

Going by recent history and if I recollect correctly, the next set of "deals" are usually due in Christmas ... oh, almost forgot, don't the Americans have something called the Black Friday after the Thanks Giving Day? I've seen some awesome deals during that time ... maybe you can snag a really good deal ... either way you'll have to keep on eye on those sales constantly ... CR is a good place to keep checking for deals, just yesterday one member posted an Adorama deal for EF 28mm f/2.8 IS for US$399 (via eBay) ... but I find it annoying to wait for something I like/want, so I usually buy it the moment I can spare some money and sometimes regret later and sell it off ... since we don't have the concept of renting camera gear in this country, I look at all my camera gear regrets as rentals ;D

+1

December/January (for the last couple of years) has proven to be the time of Great Savings. In the shops that usually have the best deals, rebates don't seem to have an effect on pricing. Even now, GetItDigital on ebay are selling the mklll for $2950 (USA warranty). With the end of "wedding season" coming, prices will likely only go down till the end of the year. And who knows, by the end of the year, perhaps people will be pre-ordering their 7D mklls and stealing some of the mklll's thunder

Ha. Knew it wasn't all that simple. I guess you're right and ill keep waiting for a couple months longer. My 60D is still decent enough for the amateurish stuff I take... But who knows when that 7D MkII or 3D will get announced, based on today's rumors! (Please say soon! *evil laugh*)

Thanks for all the tips everyone!