I recently bought a Kowa 883. I had been tracking the optics prices and had noticed them going up through the roof - I found one place in Rochdale which had somehow managed to secure an order for several scopes at the old prices so I snapped one up - the price went up the following week. Now I would have to pay £350 more.
Having asked him about the price increases I was told that optical equipment is traded in dollars and it is the pounds weak performance against this currency that is the problem. He showed me a camera which had increased in price by nearly £500 in the space of a week!
I bought a new lens a month or so ago (Sigma 150mm f2.8) which cost just over £400. The very next day the price had increased to £560! When I bought my Sigma 500mm f4.5 last year the price of a new one (I got a secondhand one) was £2499 - this week it is £3790 - an increase of about 50%. Now is not a good time to buy methinks - but will they fall in the near future - I doubt it.
It's the weak pound Craig. Its value against the Yen has dropped by about a third since Jul-Sep last year and by about 20% against the Euro. I luckily bought a new lens just before the prices went up.
same with cameras/lenses craig,something to do with the YEN,even they are feeling the crunch. dslr cameras and lenses have gone up by a third since xmas,a lens that cost £479 at xmas is now £719-so someones ripping someone off.
The cost of bins seems to have just gone astronomical, or is it me? I was thinking of getting some new bins, but at £1250 for the new Leicas I think not . Even the Zeiss and Nikons have rocketed.
Two months ago a price of Swarovski 8x30 SLC's were £539 now they're £649
I take it the credit crunch isnt affecting birders
In case I decide to plunge in - anyone give me an idea what a secondhand pair of Leica 10x42 BA's in good nick would be worth?
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No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
but dont hold your breath
you could buy a decent semi detached house for that 40 years ago
same with cameras/lenses craig,something to do with the YEN,even they are feeling the crunch. dslr cameras and lenses have gone up by a third since xmas,a lens that cost £479 at xmas is now £719-so someones ripping someone off.
