Why are you selling it so expensively - when it is going for the $90's range? Buying this lens on the camera is cheaper than this...
808791
This is a different lens than the kit lens that comes with the camera at a much lower price. Unfortunately, I don't know the answer as to what makes this lens worth 3 times as much.
1658447
I don't understand why Yahoo is asking me about this lens. Can you tell me?
1866177
$ 650 for D40 is way to high. where are you buying this from. Available on amazon with kit lens for $ 460.
2209522
I'll be honest and say I don't know. It's a beautiful lens but I would suggest that if you leave close to a large photo store go in and see if they will let you play around with one. Sorry that I can't be more helpful.
1808766
I don't know the answer, but I'll answer anyway. I bought mine used, from a seller called "anandrav." So I took a chance. The lens arrived in perfect condition. But what I really wanted to say, is that the quality of the images and the general sharpness of the lens has really been eye-opening. I've bought enough things by grey market, that if one turned out to be a failure, I"d still be miles ahead. But, of course, I don;t know the particular seller and your tolerance for risk. I'm a little tolerant. What's the ad look like and who is the seller?
91302
I love this lens, but yes... I DO think you should save up for the IS version. I wish I would have. I was just a beginner not knowing what I was purchasing at the time. I am totally kicking myself now. :( Its not terrible, but I think the IS would be much better. In my honest opinion
519692
Yes I also noticed that. I had purchased this camera last month and returned mine for an exchange due to possibly being defective (after an email exchange with Canon support). Unfortunately they then emailed me that they no longer had it in stock and didn't know when they were going to get more. They could only offer me a refund. They finally showed it back in stock but then I was amazed at the price! I even emailed them to find out why but just got a non answer (to be expected I guess) about how their suppliers set the prices. As you say, this price is higher than Canons, so it makes you wonder what they are playing at. I guess they don't want anyone to buy it from them...!
1531926
I received mine over the weekend from Amazon, but have done similar research as you did for over a week. I've noticed the same thing as you do on the price increase. IMO I chaulk it up to supply and demand. I shopped around and found the prices to be generally very close amongst online stores, and no more $435's available except at one reputable NY store selling it at $439 just the other day, and is back-ordered. The thing is that with Amazon there aren't even other vendors selling this camera at any price, so it's completely up to Amazon to charge what it thinks is appropriate. Even the used prices (which are mostly by Amazon in this case) have risen by a large margin. However, the camera is fantastic! So it's still a value proposition in my case. Since I sold my M43 gear, this $500 price tag is downright low. Look at it another way, there are no M43 or DSLRs (bodies only) that shoot at 5.5 FPS with autofocus or 12 without that come in at less than a grand. The lens range and aperture are in the same situation, there is nothing in the inter-changeable lens world that come close without costing multiples of this FZ150. Seriously, an Olympus 28-200'ish mm equivalent M43 lens runs at $450; a Nikon 18-200 VR for APS-C sensor is at approx $900; a Nikon 28-300 VR for full frame is about $1k (while non of these open to f 2.8). True, those cameras have larger sensors and the lenses are quality stuff and can do different things (we're not totally comparing apples to apples here), but if this camera is right for you for what you do as it does in my case for what I intend it to do, which is for travel (light) and take photos of my son at baseball games, the price is a steal. Frankly this camera out guns my DSLR by a large margin and does 1080P video with fast accurate auto focus at 60p :) I cannot do manual video focus of sports - at any price! On the other hand, other options may be to wait and see, or buy used. I checked out eBay, no luck there (but Amazon pricing staff already know that).
476510
I believe the issue is that Amazon sold out of them (this seems to be a very popular camera), and the third party sellers are charging a higher price due to the demand. It's not anything Amazon's done, $999 isn't their price.
1345982
I'm starting to think Sony has something to do with this. It is my understanding that Sony owns a piece of Tamron, and Tamron makes some lenses for Sony (55-200 and 18-250). It may be that Sony does not want this lens to compete with it's 70-300 G since the Tamron is nearly half the price. I was looking for this lens to replace the 70-300G, after two bad copies I got rid of it, it's not worth $800.
1604636
Just noticed the typo of $239.00. That should have been 4439.00. I don't think it will work on lower end lenses. I tried it on my 70-400 and it was a no go. I tried it with my 70 too 200 mm 2.5 prime and the results were incredible. That lenses is also almost $1800.00. Super clear glass is is stupid expensive. Wish it wold have worked.
1332687
It's a little expensive for that actually. Cool camera but not economical. Good luck.
57481
It was quite expensive. Anyone looking at it was probably also looking at the LX3 which has become the reference camera. Now, it can be had for $200 and is a good deal. Same sensor as FX35.
360399
This pricing scheme mostly has to do with a camera special. The price always skyrockets to an exorbitant amount when you are offered a good discount on select lenses when you buy a certain camera(s). After the special is over, the prices go back to normal.$399 was just too ridiculous. The person or program that adjust these prices is whack if they/it thinks someone will pay 25% more than the MSRP. (I wonder how many people actually did... ::facepalm::)
2251105
The reason the price jumped is that Amazon doesn't have the camera in stock (hardly anyone does -- Panasonic seems to have badly underestimated demand), and the only third-party Amazon sellers who have it are charging these ridiculous gouging prices because they think there are people willing to pay that much to get it NOW as opposed to whenever Panasonic can manufacture enough to satisfy the demand. If I were to put in an order with Amazon today (buying from Amazon at $899), I doubt I'd receive it before January at this point. There's no way I would pay $1500 for a GF1, but the official $899 price seems fair for what it is (with a lens included).
1235805
This appears that there is a couple of ideas to why such a price difference. 1 this could be a refurbished lens. 2 this could be a gray market lens that you will not be able to get the US Warranty for the lens. 3 could be sold by an unauthorized dealer. My experience, is to find an authorize dealer that you will get the proper support for warranty and technical support.
575221
I agree and have noticed that as well. I bought the older version and have been pleased with it. I have also not read complaints about the newer version. It may be as simple as supply and demand or something we are not aware of. You might check review sites just to make sure the version 2 is well rated and then go for it if it's cheaper. The 20MM has been a great lens, I have received compliments about my photo's and 9 times out of 10, it's taken with the 20mm.