Anyone notice that 64GB A-series cards now cost barely more than E-Series?

ullanta

Veteran
At many retailers, the A-Series 64GB cards are available in the $1100 range... seems to me a small premium over the E-series cards... and a lot less than they cost a short while ago!
 
Interesting... B&H has it at $1100. But at the Panasonic site it's still listed as an MSRP of $2600.

Well, something's wacky with memory pricing, because the Sony SxS-1 cards came out with prices barely lower than the regular SxS cards... and now the 64GB "A" is barely higher than the 64GB "E"...

Actually, it's for more cards than just the 64. Check it out:

B&H pricing
16GB SxS $529
16GB "A" $450
16GB "E" $399

32GB SxS $845
32GB SxS-1 $750
32GB "A" $649
32GB "E" $595

64GB "A" $1100
64GB "E" $929

Looks like the "A" series has had MASSIVE price cuts, and they didn't tell anyone! I wonder if they're phasing 'em out because everyone's buying "E" cards? Or is it a broadside against Sony? P2 now costs way less than SxS no matter how you slice it, inside or out, A or E series, SxS or SxS-1.

Looks like the long-awaited price slash on "A" series is finally here, but I wonder why no announcement? And does this portend a price slash on "E" series?
 
If this price reduction is for real, then maybe a reduction in the other small add ons may also be in the wind ?. let's hope.
I paid about 60% of the cost of my camera in R series P2 cards, thankfully only had to buy them once.

Cheers
Tom K
olinevideo.com.au
 
I don't know... adorama's pricing is normally identical to B&H's, but they're way higher on the 32GB "A". But almost the same on the 64GB "A".

TapeOnline.com still has the old pricing.

AbelCine still has the old pricing.

Spec-Comm still has the old pricing.

So -- either this is a new price slash and B&H just beat everyone to posting the new prices, or... perhaps B&H is just having a massive sale?
 
I don't remember which, but i had found five or six places offering prices for the 64GB "A" series in the $1200-$1400 range, while most still had the $2600 price... so i don't think it's just B&H. Then, as I was thinkin' about ordering one before year's end... the B&H price dropped as you say to $1099.

Maybe something changed in the flash market... and/or maybe it turns out that the faster transfer speed of the E series is more valuable than Panny thought, and has trumped the A-series's longer lifespan? Or it turns out that 5 years in the rapidly-changing camcorder market is enough lifespan that the A-series isn't worth such a premium to anyone?

Who knows for sure (except maybe Jan)... but it's certainly good news!
(And glad i didn't buy an E-Series...)
 
reputable place than $1049 on eBay...)

Some of the reputable dealers are now selling on ebay. I have purchased 2 A 64 series there in the last 3 months 1 was $1299 the last $1199. They were in a unopen original box.:Drogar-Happy(DBG):
Mule
 

Mule,

This card is $1029.95 not $1049.95, there is also something about signing up for a 2% rebate via eBay (eBay Bucks program) so that's another $20 off for a price of $1009.95. The accept Pay Pal so I'd bet you can knock another 3% off if you are a cash buyer from NY (all ya gotta do is ask).

They have a rating of 19,000+, I would buy from them, I wouldn't think twice about it.
 
Near as I can tell, this looks to be a massive sale by B&H and a few others. Panasonic hasn't posted anything about a price cut, so ... I say if you want "A" series cards, man... this is a huge discount.
 
So, just for perspective . . .

How does the price of a 200 with 128 GB of P2 compare to its introduction?

Just to chart where we were and where we are now . . .
 
So, just for perspective . . .

How does the price of a 200 with 128 GB of P2 compare to its introduction?

Just to chart where we were and where we are now . . .


See: mountain vs molehill


Trick question though. At its introduction, it was not possible to run a 200 with 128G of P2 storage cards. :D
 
In my opinion, in a world where all other memory cards (SD, CF..) are becoming a consumable commodity; it would seem ridiculous to spend extra money on cards that simply last longer.

Why would anyone pay extra for an A series?

- Mikko
 
Why would anyone pay extra for an A series?

- Mikko

Compairing the prices between an A and E series card, I'd pay the extra $50 for an A series for resale purposes.

Indies might not care about the E series expiring but news stations and broadcasters sure will.
 
I just spoke to a sales rep at B&H and he told me that this isn't a sale, the price has just come down.

800-947-1175

I'd love to see SSD's drop their price in half as well, that would be nice.
 
Trick question though. At its introduction, it was not possible to run a 200 with 128G of P2 storage cards. :D
Not loaded all at once, but you could have bought 16 eight-gig cards.

Let's see: Dec. 2005 HVX200 was $5995, and nobody got a penny off. And 8GB cards were, IIRC, $2200 in December; I think they dropped to $1400 in February thereafter but they started at $2200.

So: in December 2005, HVX + 128GB P2 = 5995+(16*2200)= $41,195.

In December 2009, an HPX170 (much superior camera) costs about $4500, and includes 16GB of P2 with it, so while you only need to buy 112GB, you might be better off selling your free 16GB card and buying two 64's. And at today's prices, that'd cost you about $1860 - $360 = $1500.

So: in December 2009, HPX170+128GB P2 = $4500+$1500 = $6,000.

Almost 1/7th the cost in 4 years.

Interesting, also, is that you can get it filled out with 128GB of P2 and it's still less expensive than an EX1 with no memory cards. :D That's like having 5.5 hours of 720pN onboard storage built-in, or 2.25 hours of 1080p storage.
 
Wow! Nice calculation. I THOUGHT I got a discount on pre-order from Specialized... I'm imagining that I paid something like $5395 plus $600 for a 4GB P2 card in December of 2005... of course, I didn't get the cam 'til March...

It all sounds so outrageous now!
 
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