Will the EX1 drop in price now that the F3/FS 100 are here?

TheJetBlack

TheJetBlack

Active member
As much as I'd love an F3 or an FS 100, I can't afford it. But I know I'd be quite happy with the EX1 as I love that camera. But I looked on B & H/Amazon... it's still over 6k. Will it drop in price after the F3/FS 100 both have been in the market for a couple of months? Thanks.
 
Circumstances being normal, Sony would simply hold the price until the item is distcontinued.
However, circumstances are not normal in Japan now, and they won't be for a while. I predict price INCREASES, as production falters while Japan struggles with rolling blackouts and four nuclear reactors that are in full-scale meltdown as we speak. SxS media is already up 40% over a month ago. Lenses are going up. Nikon cameras have become scarce (Nikon had to shut down a dozen of its manufacturing facilities in affected areas of Japan) and many parts that Sony uses are probably also seeing supply shortages due to the tsunami-related complications. We will likely see shortages and hire prices in the months ahead.
 
I'm not so sure if either camera is meant to be a replacement for the EX1 so I wouldn't look for a price reduction.
 
basspig makes excellent points. With the situation in Japan, manufacturing is certainly being disrupted -- not only from simple things like rolling blackouts, but because parts and pieces are made all over the country, and while in general a factory in Osaka or southern Japan might be fine -- sometimes they rely on pieces made in other factories in northern Japan, and those factories might not be fine. Or, the factories might be fine, but they might not have power. basspig states that SxS prices are up over 40%, other threads have noted a general increase in prices for Canon equipment. Shortages and higher prices do indeed seem like a potential outlook for the next several months.
 
Shortages definitely happening here in MT. My local Video/Electronics store is out of every single Canon VDLSR other than the 7D KIT (no body only available) They usually keep lots of stock on hand because they're a fairly poular nationwide online retailer as well.
 
basspig said:
Circumstances being normal, Sony would simply hold the price until the item is distcontinued.
However, circumstances are not normal in Japan now, and they won't be for a while. I predict price INCREASES, as production falters while Japan struggles with rolling blackouts and four nuclear reactors that are in full-scale meltdown as we speak. SxS media is already up 40% over a month ago. Lenses are going up. Nikon cameras have become scarce (Nikon had to shut down a dozen of its manufacturing facilities in affected areas of Japan) and many parts that Sony uses are probably also seeing supply shortages due to the tsunami-related complications. We will likely see shortages and hire prices in the months ahead.
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I didn't think of this. That's quite logical.
 
I'm not so sure if either camera is meant to be a replacement for the EX1 so I wouldn't look for a price reduction.
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+1

The EX1/3 is easier to use in fast action situations just because it doesn't have as shallow a depth of field. That means the EX1/3 will maintain its demand for ENG (I covered the Prime Minister in Belize 2 weeks ago and an EX1 was there), sports (some used in the last Olympics), or anything you can't afford to have to fiddle around too much to keep in focus.

Since they are complimentary cameras rather than direct competitors I don't see any significant drop in EX1/3 prices due to the F3. Heck the venerable XH-A1 (more than two camera development cycles old) has still retained a lot of value for cameras that may be 7-8 years old.
 
It doesn't matter whether the FS100 or AF100 are in the same price category as the EX1 or not - they're in quite different application category. They are intended as digital movie cameras, while the EX series are typical video cameras. They can complement, not replace each other...

The EX1/3 still offer the best bang for the buck in the sub-10k video world, and they will stay that way for a while.

In my application (filming live classical music performances), the FS100 would complement my EX1 beautifully!
 
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I don't think the EX line is the most bang for your buck post-AF100/FS100 for the indie filmmaker. You have to (or, should want to) attach an adapter to the EX line for narrative work.

I think the EX line is still the best sub 10K camera for the videographer, though.

To the OPs question, though, I too was wondering about the EX line and whether or not the price would drop with these new (and improved) cameras coming down the pipe, but the reality is that most EX owners I've spoken with are videographers. Meaning that they pay the bills (or get side jobs) using their equipment, they don't necessarily use them for filmmaking.

The pre-100s indie filmmakers (non-videographers) seem to gravitate towards the DSLR line or less expensive solid state (SD) or HDV cams -- cheaper so that they can afford the adapter.

Obviously there is the blended professional that may own an EX and an expensive adapter so that they can use their equipment to make dollars and art, but whether it's that sort of filmmaker or if it's a straight up videographer, neither, I think, is rushing to trade in their EX cam for something "better". The EX cards are expensive. Chances are if you own one you've invested a lot into it and the picture from, say, an AF100 probably isn't going to be any better than the image from an EX w/ Letus adapter. And it would be much more challenging making a living as a videographer using something like the AF100.

In short, I don't think we're going to see a cam that's truly better than the EX line for videographers in that price range in the near future. The EX1 has pretty much froze at 4500 second-hand. I don't see any reason for it to really ever drop in price.
 
I must agree. I make a living with the EX1. The others are in a different category regardless of price as was mentioned by "moldcad". Sony generally does not drop price...They discontinue first. Prices on the used market may drop then. But don't hold your breathe... As Barry points out, there is still strong demand for this camera.
 
As long as Japan remains a disaster zone, I would not expect any great camera innovations for a while.
Also, SxS media just went up another $150 yesterday.. c'est la vie..
 
What holds the price up for a new or used camera up are its features and the state of the technology at the time it is sold. If the camera was technactly advanced when introduced, as in the case of the EX-#'s, and production costs remain the same even on competing models, the used market price will remain high. I have a FX-1 and an EX-1, I love the FX-1 and swore I would never sell it and now I'm stuck with taking a beating on the used market because of the current state-of-the-art technology. Although the picture is great, A tape 1/3 chip camera is not in high demand. What is of concern is the high cost of 3chip prism manufacturing vs. single mega chip manufacturing. Once they get high volume of mega chips in large, large production, and sell them new in cameras at the same or lower price of a used EX-1 with comparable picture performance, then we have a problem. Inflation may drive the price for these new mega cameras up, which will help the used market. The state of technology was high in the EX series out of the gate, and the used price should remain high, at least for a while. Carl...
 
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Seems like a conspiracy is going on to destroy Japanese electronics manufacturing indistries and replace them with cheap Chinese crap. Makes me wonder......
 
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