Prices falling quite rapidly in Japan

[britinjapan]

Over the past month Iv`e watched the price of the IV drop from Yen 58,000 to 46,000 at the discounters. Any idea why this is happening? Is the V on its way?

 

[streetshooter]

That is interesting isn't it?

I think but would never post my thoughts about this.
I mean I would never express the idea that Nikon and Canon bought millions and millions of GRD4's.
I would never openly express that they were going to scrape off the R word and put on the C or N word.

I have PTSD so I am not responsible for this post. The other guy in my brain is....

 

[thelps]

Over the past month Iv`e watched the price of the IV drop from Yen 58,000 to 46,000 at the discounters. Any idea why this is happening? Is the V on its way?

Pavel has looked at the release cycle in the past on the GRD series and it seems Ricoh release a new GRD model about every 2 years so while I suspect a V is likely on the drawing board I doubt there is one soon. Its a bit odd to see this drop in Japan because when I recently looked a few HK suppliers ran out of stock and re-listed GRDs for more than the previous batch. When I inquired they stated that the new higher price was "set by the supplier". As one poster pointed out exchange rates have a lot to do with it. Perhaps sales are down a bit in Japan hence the shift.

My GRD IV cost substantially less than the GRD III did that was welcome.
I think the GRD faces more competition from other companies - the GRD V will be an interesting camera.

 

[streetshooter]

Here in the colony, B&H has raised the price of the GRD4. A few weeks ago it was $599.99 and now it's $649.00 USD.

It's still worth it....

 

[MikePenn]

$570 at Adorama

The only way a new GRD is going to be released in the next year is if a special model such as a B&W only version is released. I'll give it about an hour before someone starts crying for a 40mm version. :roll:

 

[33dollars]

Joe Public is still playing with the iv. The v is still a long, long way off.
GXR will have a new thingie before the v.

 

[streetshooter]

$570 at Adorama

The only way a new GRD is going to be released in the next year is if a special model such as a B&W only version is released. I'll give it about an hour before someone starts crying for a 40mm version. :roll:

Sorry Mike, it was more than an hour but I'm dancing under the moon on Market Street for a 40mm GRD? In all honesty, if the 40mm is released, I'd use that and my GRD4 and that would be enough for me.
Don

 

[thelps]

$570 at Adorama

The only way a new GRD is going to be released in the next year is if a special model such as a B&W only version is released. I'll give it about an hour before someone starts crying for a 40mm version. :roll:

I fill the 40mm with another brand camera. Sometime I tote a DP2, and I do have an X100 also. The X100 particularly is a monster size wise compared to the GRD but its nice to use.

As a little game... If I had to chose between a regular "bayer 40mm GRD" OR A "BW only 28mm GRD" ??? -- hmmm. I'd go the BW 28

 

[MikePenn]

Every camera I've used over the last 2 years has had a 28mm lens with the exception of the Pentax UC-1 (32mm) and the Yashica T4 (35mm). While I could probably get away with a 40mm about 1/4 of the time in Philadelphia, it wouldn't work on the crowded streets of NYC. I'm so comfortable at with 28mm 99% of the time I just point the camera and shoot. My Ricoh GRD 3 became too erratic after being caught it a dozen or so storms. So for the mean time I use my GXR and a the Yashica T4 until the next GRD is released.

 

[streetshooter]

Oh k.... I'll fess up. I sometimes use the GXR28 and have the GRD4 in my pocket.
Why? I have no idea but I can so I do.

The 40mm I would like but would only get maybe 5% of the workload.

 

[thelps]

Oh k.... I'll fess up. I sometimes use the GXR28 and have the GRD4 in my pocket.

For my hands I think handling wise the GXR28 would win, but its mainly because of pocket wise the GRD wins.

 

[tessl8d]

Paid AUS $720.00 for mine, even though I live in a capital city, very few shops stock them here. No complaints about price though, it's a totally unique photographic tool.

 

[MikePenn]

Oh k.... I'll fess up. I sometimes use the GXR28 and have the GRD4 in my pocket.

For my hands I think handling wise the GXR28 would win, but its mainly because of pocket wise the GRD wins.

I'm coming close to trading my GXR for a GRD 4 and a GR1S. For my method of street photography a smaller camera is better.

 

[streetshooter]

Oh k.... I'll fess up. I sometimes use the GXR28 and have the GRD4 in my pocket.

For my hands I think handling wise the GXR28 would win, but its mainly because of pocket wise the GRD wins.

I'm coming close to trading my GXR for a GRD 4 and a GR1S. For my method of street photography a smaller camera is better.

Mike, I sure understand that trade issue.
I really love my GXR's but I really use my GRD4.

I'll prolly sell the GXR's but have nothing to even consider buying.

If you want to try out the GRD let me know.

 

[MikePenn]

Thanks Don. I borrowed one when it was first released in New York. Benefits of being close to Adorama.