Discussion
Looks to me like Sony are seeing just how far they can push the prices up before demand drops off. Is good old fashioned supply and demand.
The RX100 range of cameras are very good so it remains to be seen whether Canon, Nikon or Panasonic can knock them off the top spot with a comparable offering.
In terms of the pricing of the RX100 MK5 at €1200 EU there will always be people willing to pay a premium for the latest and greatest offering, in the meantime they offer four cheaper models catering for nearly every budget. Clever marketing indeed.
RX100 MK1 - £269
RX100 MK2 - £429
RX100 MK3 - £598
RX100 MK4 - £829
(Prices from www.camerapricebuster.co.uk)
I've owned the RX100 MK1 which was good and now I'm on the RX100 MK3 which is better, and it does nearly everything I want from a compact camera. Therein lies the problem, if I want something with a longer zoom I either buy a bigger compact camera aka the Panasonic Lumix, or go for something with a smaller sensor size to achieve a longer reach aka the Sony WX500 for an inferior photo. I had forgotten just how good the RX100 was until I used a WX500 for a few weeks.
In terms of image quality you only have to look at the high standards achieved by GetCarter to appreciate that the RX100 really is an excellent bit of kit and Sony continue to improve on it.
Edited for typo - sorry Steve!
The RX100 range of cameras are very good so it remains to be seen whether Canon, Nikon or Panasonic can knock them off the top spot with a comparable offering.
In terms of the pricing of the RX100 MK5 at €1200 EU there will always be people willing to pay a premium for the latest and greatest offering, in the meantime they offer four cheaper models catering for nearly every budget. Clever marketing indeed.
RX100 MK1 - £269
RX100 MK2 - £429
RX100 MK3 - £598
RX100 MK4 - £829
(Prices from www.camerapricebuster.co.uk)
I've owned the RX100 MK1 which was good and now I'm on the RX100 MK3 which is better, and it does nearly everything I want from a compact camera. Therein lies the problem, if I want something with a longer zoom I either buy a bigger compact camera aka the Panasonic Lumix, or go for something with a smaller sensor size to achieve a longer reach aka the Sony WX500 for an inferior photo. I had forgotten just how good the RX100 was until I used a WX500 for a few weeks.
In terms of image quality you only have to look at the high standards achieved by GetCarter to appreciate that the RX100 really is an excellent bit of kit and Sony continue to improve on it.
Edited for typo - sorry Steve!
Edited by rich888 on Saturday 8th October 22:07
I do think they are taking the piss a bit with the pricing, considering the difference between the Mk5 and the Mk4. Still, if people buy it, who can blame 'em.
As for Brexit, it a simple matter of exchange rates - GBP has fallen dramatically against both dollar and yen (over 13%) since June 23, so anything not 'in stock' will eventually become more expensive. I bought a Sony a6300 about 6 months ago. The same outlet is now charging £126 more than I paid. On business news the other day the advice was to buy big ticket items now while they were in stock in the UK, as import prices are on the way up.
As for Brexit, it a simple matter of exchange rates - GBP has fallen dramatically against both dollar and yen (over 13%) since June 23, so anything not 'in stock' will eventually become more expensive. I bought a Sony a6300 about 6 months ago. The same outlet is now charging £126 more than I paid. On business news the other day the advice was to buy big ticket items now while they were in stock in the UK, as import prices are on the way up.
Several months ago I queried why the RX100 range of cameras were continually out-of-stock and was advised that the main factory which manufactured the camera had been badly damaged by an earthquake in Japan which had resulted in a shortage in cameras and subsequent short-term increase in prices.
I'm quite sure that Sony are no worse than any other manufacturer in terms of pricing so can only assume that they think that the current prices are achievable - if sales drop off as customers buy rival products from the likes of improved Panasonic or Canon cameras there will no doubt be a steady drop in their pricing structure, but by then the damage has been done as potential customers have already walked...
I'm quite sure that Sony are no worse than any other manufacturer in terms of pricing so can only assume that they think that the current prices are achievable - if sales drop off as customers buy rival products from the likes of improved Panasonic or Canon cameras there will no doubt be a steady drop in their pricing structure, but by then the damage has been done as potential customers have already walked...
Seems some truth in that
https://www.cinema5d.com/sonys-sensor-production-s...
I guess if you have limited supply you can push the cost.
https://www.cinema5d.com/sonys-sensor-production-s...
I guess if you have limited supply you can push the cost.
Must say that if the Panasonic Lumix range of cameras had been a little smaller I would have bought one. The Canon G7X looked most interesting and I did actually buy one only to unpack it and discover it was silver not black!
I had held off from buying a new RX100 for several months given the previous historical one year update cycle, before giving in and buying the RX100 MK3 which was nearly as good as the far more expensive MK4. What I was hoping for was a drop in price of the MK4 when the MK5 was unveiled but Sony are trying to ramp the prices up rather than dropping them.
The Sony RX100 range of cameras do indeed produce excellent results but I don't understand why Sony management stubbornly refuse to provide firmware updates to existing cameras to improve what are already extremely good products. Arrogance and complacency comes to mind.
I had held off from buying a new RX100 for several months given the previous historical one year update cycle, before giving in and buying the RX100 MK3 which was nearly as good as the far more expensive MK4. What I was hoping for was a drop in price of the MK4 when the MK5 was unveiled but Sony are trying to ramp the prices up rather than dropping them.
The Sony RX100 range of cameras do indeed produce excellent results but I don't understand why Sony management stubbornly refuse to provide firmware updates to existing cameras to improve what are already extremely good products. Arrogance and complacency comes to mind.
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