Lumix 20mm pancake jumping in price?

Blackout

Blackout

Veteran
What's up with the 20mm lumix pancake lens jumping up in price? I bought two of them from B & H for $279 like 7 months ago... yesterday they were $349... today they are $379... what the hell's going on?

Did they stop production on it or something?

I got in battle with one of my partners and so now I need to duplicate his rig and purchase another lens when we were pretty much sharing resources...
 
I beleive its some (not all) of the retailers taking advantage of the perhaps future supply problems with the Japan crisis.
 
Yeah you're probably right. I forget about that stuff. The lens making factory is probably radiated and flowing with molten nuclear lava right now. I just noticed the $30 spike on B&H this morning cause I was set to buy it yesterday for $349 even though I got it for $279...but this morning it's $379. I guess I should just bite the bullet and grab one before they are all gone.
 
Blackout said:
Yeah you're probably right. I forget about that stuff. The lens making factory is probably radiated and flowing with molten nuclear lava right now. I just noticed the $30 spike on B&H this morning cause I was set to buy it yesterday for $349 even though I got it for $279...but this morning it's $379. I guess I should just bite the bullet and grab one before they are all gone.
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Take it back tomorrow and go to Adorama. Still $350.
 
I think if you do the Facebook Fan page deals it shows it as backordered. I thought list was $379, which the rise in actual prices might be reflecting supply channel problems.
 
Thanks for the heads-up. I've been looking at the Lumix 100-300 which has been $526 at Amazon for weeks, and now $538.

From what I've read, the Panasonic plant that makes Lumix cameras is closed indefinitely. Maybe this goes for lenses too.
 
dan.carter said:
Thanks for the heads-up. I've been looking at the Lumix 100-300 which has been $526 at Amazon for weeks, and now $538.

From what I've read, the Panasonic plant that makes Lumix cameras is closed indefinitely. Maybe this goes for lenses too.
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Indeed, the Lumix factory is in Fukushima Prefecture of all places!!! :Drogar-Mark-10(DBG)
 
It seems, Lumix products are only available in actual stock for next months, maybe years. Panasonic has closed the Fukushima plant that produces Lumix digital cameras. Go, buy quickly.

DPPREVIEW:
'Workers at Panasonic's Lumix camera factory in Fukushima have been injured in the earthquake which hit Japan, the company has confirmed.

As yet it is not clear whether the damage will affect camera production.

Panasonic's head office said in a statement: 'A few employees working at the Fukushima factory, the Sendai factory of AVC Networks Company and at the Koriyama factory of Panasonic Electronic Works received minor injury.'

It added: 'Some part of the ceiling and wall were damaged, but there has been no fire or collapse. As regards the impact on our business operations we are in the process of investigation.'
 
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20.7 has been scarce in Asia for months. The consensus seems higher price for a while. This is truly stagflation.
 
Well, we've all been saying we've never had it so good regarding amazing cameras at bargain basement prices - we've perhaps passed the peak of that with the earthquake/tsunami/meltdown.

I for one am just thankful I'm not in Fukashima right now!
 
Don't know for other part of the world, but here in France we see some offers for the GF1+20mm for 400€ (around 560 USD), so for some weeks now, the best way to buy lenses is to buy these kits, and sell the bodies. There are also some GH1+14/140 at 800€, as you can sell the GH1 body at around 400€, that mean quite cheap 14/140 too.
 
lenuisible: Do any of these French stores have an online store to look at? I've been trying to track down a decently priced GF1 + 20mm with no luck...
 
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