I have been wondering if the complaints about 'extreme' pricing is valid when inflation is taken into account. I have compared lenses where a clear EF predecessor exists for the RF lens concerned. Below is a table showing prices at Launch ($ at L), Launch price adjusted for inflation at year of EF version launch (L yr Adj), what the EF price would be in 2021 when adjusted for inflation (2021 adj), EF price adjusted for 2022 (2022 adj), current B&H prices (Current). I have also computed the percentage increase from EF price (adj & current etc). So 'L-Adj)' compares inflation-adjusted EF price at launch of RF counterpart etc, 'C-21adj' - current RF price compared to 2021 adjusted price, 'L-adj21' - RF launch price compared to EF adjusted price in 2021, C-C - simple comparison of current EF & RF prices.
The inflation data is from an inflation calculator (
https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/2000#:~:text=$100 in 2000 is equivalent,cumulative price increase of 72.05%.), which obviously is as best a reasonable estimate. I have used both the 2021 & 2022 inflation values simply because 2022's inflation is an outlier - as such, using only 2022 seems somewhat distorted.
If I were to use within 5% as a reasonable increase, between 5-10% as just about accepted, and beyond 10% as being 'unreasonable', then the following observations can be made (without validation, of course) using L-Adj and C-C columns
(a) Lenses that are reasonably priced: 15-35 f2.8, 24-105L, 35 f1.8 & 85 f1.8
(b) acceptably (subjective) priced: 100 f2.8 macro
(c) 70-200 f4 hovers around ok pricing, especially if a good discount is offered
(d) 100-500 is not bad if one can still get the launch price
(e) The rest need serious discounts
Overall, the L series lenses are a mix bag when it comes to price increases from EF counterparts. While there are good reasons to scream at the high pricing for some, a good discount (perhaps when a mark II lens is released, or that the lenses are in the market long enough for prices to drop) would bring the pricing to a reasonable level. The current non-L in this list are broadly 'cheap' (with the exception of the RF 50 1.8, but the base price of that is low enough to treat it as reasonably priced).