I just read a thought-provoking article on EOSHD about the current state of camera prices. It raises some interesting questions about whether manufacturers are losing touch with reality, especially when you look at the stark differences between new and used gear.

EOSHD.com - Filmmaking Gear and...

Camera prices - Have the Japanese taken leave of their se...

A Fujifilm JPEG-only half-frame toy for 850 smackers, the latest Sony flagship for 7000 something + tax, and the new mid-range “standard model” S1 II from Panasonic yours for a bargain $4000 with ‘...

Google says these are the CIPA sales volumes for DSLRs; I'm sure the trend has carried past 2023. My guess would be that we shall see some consolidation in the manufacturing space.. some M&A.

Ajay

Everybody is loosing contact with reality. Just look at the prices for the housings. It's incredible.

2 hours ago, Thomas said:

Everybody is loosing contact with reality. Just look at the prices for the housings. It's incredible.

Amen

I agree totally that prices everywhere are getting out of hand - but we must always remind ourselves that we no longer pay for film either

On 5/22/2025 at 9:23 PM, Ajay said:

Google says these are the CIPA sales volumes for DSLRs; I'm sure the trend has carried past 2023. My guess would be that we shall see some consolidation in the manufacturing space.. some M&A.

Ajay

That’s just for DSLRs eh? They are a shrinking part of the market.

7 hours ago, Thomas said:

Everybody is loosing contact with reality. Just look at the prices for the housings. It's incredible.

Housings are pretty crazy, but it’s likely good to remind ourselves that underwater imaging is a small segment of the larger imaging tech world.

Maybe trying to create a Leica vibe, make it expensive enough to become a status symbol. It's probably inevitable prices will go up if sales volumes are not there, outside of enthusiasts or perhaps hipsters who buy retro models most people just use their phones and are not interested in cameras. Couple that with sensor development topping out at least IMO, sensitivity, noise and dynamic range improvements are really only incremental today and its going into readout speed and computational photography.

I'd like to counter the "we're only gonna die" trend-chart that that @shokwaav posted above with recent CIPA trends.
Make sure not to confuse DSLM (which is state of the art) with DSLR (which is just a 2nd hand market today) sales numbers.

The chart shows Interchangeable Lens DSC.

So the influencing factor is more likely to be inflation, tariffs and increased labour + parts costs.
Which basically accounts to all products sold and build.