Pentax Lens Price Increase

I don't know if there have been any announcements about it yet, but I hear that Pentax are about to increase their lens prices again soon. So any of you looking to buy a new lens might not want to postpone it for too long.
If this is going to happen (and I'm pretty certain it's reliable information) then I think Pentax are crazy. Rather than encouraging brand uptake, it's more likely to make people look at third party lenses or completely different systems. Let's hope it's no more than just keeping any increase in line with inflation.

Where did you hear this from?

It came from a reputable and well known Pentax main dealer, who I should perhaps not name in case this is information that they should not be divulging under the terms of their agreement with Pentax. But I'm sure many people on this forum will have used them.

That would mean that there isn't a new mount then

It's unlikely that they will bring out a new mount anyway
that would mean producing TWO lines of 135 format lenses
because the K-5II still has the traditional mount.

Strangely though some dealers (SRS and Carmarthen) are
selling off quite a lot of lenses cheaply on ebay
refurbs and ex-Jessop stuff?

'

SRS have always sold Pentax refurbs at decent prices.

Dang, hope this isn't true. I want a DA* 16-50 but not quite ready to purchase it yet.

Any increase should only apply to new deliveries, so current stocks should stay at the old price. If they do not, it is the dealers who are taking the extra profit.

If they replace stock they sell, they have to do so at the prevailing wholsesale price.

So, it can be argued that, the cost to them is not be what they paid but what it costs to restock.

And if the increase is greater than their margin, they'd actually be losing money on every item of existing stock they sold if they did so at the old retail price .

As an example. Would you sell your house at a price based on what you paid for it in 1990? Or what it would cost you to buy a similar one today?

Would it be fair to say there has been a price war selling the cameras of late across all makes (including new 35mm size sensors) so there will be attempts to recoup through lens sales.

I'm glad I have what I need for now. I think the new Jessops have already made their pitch for higher prices

They may have to pay more to restock - but they sell that at the new price too.


Using house purchasing is not a good analogy as you do not normally but at wholesale price to mark up and sell at retail.

Then we'll have to agree to disagree

I maintain that historical cost is an irrelevance to current value. Regardless of whether one is considering straw hats, pork pies, football boots or, indeed, houses or camera lenses.

Let's say you have a shop selling stuff. In stock you have ten of an item you bought at £100, and which you retail at £130 each. One day, perhaps as a result of the weakening Pound, the sole UK stuff importer ups the wholesale price to £150. Are you really going to sell those ten for £1300 total and order ten replacements for £1500? You'd end up with the same stock but £200 down.

I'm on an embargo from the future missus so I'm going to try and put some cash away for FA's 31&77 post-August... Hope prices don't rise too much between now and Sept...

Any camera gear I buy between now and the wedding will likely be used as the weapon that kills me...

Northern women are hard and mean and brutal...

Scary, and crazy! link

If a Pentax lens is rated equal to or better than its equivalent Canikon lens then why should it be any cheaper?

Best regards

Given that a growing number of Canon users (in particular) seem to be shooting 40+ year old Takumars, it doesn't say a lot for their current lens line-up

Maybe Pentax should consider making the Ltds with M42 mounts?

John.