Canon Japan to Increase Prices on 19 Cameras and 42 Lenses
Canon Japan is set to increase prices that span its entire interchangeable lens camera division, including multiple camera bodies, lenses, and Cinema EOS products.
The price hikes are scheduled to take effect on November 4 and include 19 cameras, 42 lenses, two binoculars, two compact digital cameras, one Cinema EOS camera, and one professional video camera for a total of 67 products across its entire imaging line. These price changes are in addition to the 17 RF lenses and one camera that saw a price increase earlier this year (as noted by Canon Japan).
The increases affect basically all of Canon’s most well-known cameras, including all of the new RF cameras such as the EOS R5, R7, and R3 as well as older DSLRs like the 1DX Mark III, 5D Mark IV, and 6D Mark II. Both the EOS R5C and the XF605 cinema camera are also affected.
How much of an increase is to be expected is challenging to parse, since Canon’s online store in Japan includes a 10% tax on the list price while the new increased prices noted by Canon Japan don’t include tax. That 10% tax was removed from the prices noted below to allow a more direct comparison, but PetaPixel can’t be sure that everything has been accounted for in what will be the final sale price after these changes take effect. That said, from what can be calculated with the information at hand, it appears the price increases will be substantial.
For example, the EOS R5 is currently available in Japan for 460,000 yen (about $3,068), which will increase to 520,000 yen (about $3,468.59). The EOS R3, Canon’s most recent high-end camera addition, is available for 680,000 yen (about $4,535.84) today but that will increase to 780,000 yen (about 5,202.88) on November 4.
The list of lenses that will see a price increase is also substantial and includes both RF and EF lenses across the line, including the RF-mount 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8, and both teleconvertors. The EF lenses that are affected range from two tilt shift lenses to a wide range of primes and zooms. Just as is the case with the cameras, how much the prices are going up varies but as a point of reference, Canon’s RF 600mm f/4 is currently available for 1,645,454 yen (about $10,975.77) but that will increase to 1,698,000 yen (about $11,326.27). The RF24-105mm f/4 L IS USM is currently available for 158,000 yen (about $1,053.92) but that will go up to 168,000 yen (about $1,120.62).
A full list of affected cameras and lenses can be read on Canon’s website where the company breaks each down into PDFs organized by imaging division.
In almost all cases, the price increases are substantial enough that if anyone in Japan has been waiting for a sale on any RF or EF lenses or cameras, it probably much smarter to get them before November 4 than to wait any longer since a price drop doesn’t seem likely at this point.
It isn’t clear yet if these price increases will be carried over into the west. Canon USA tells PetaPixel that these price increases are coming from Canon Marketing Japan, not from Canon Inc., a slight but important distinction. As such, the price increases may or may not come to the United States.
That said, some price increases that originated in Japan have come to the west recently, including for a set of RF and EF lenses that saw the second price hike in five months earlier this year.
Update 10/20: After publication, Canon USA provided further clarity on the role of Canon Marketing Japan: “Canon Marketing Japan is a subsidiary — they decided to raise prices and have the discretion to do so just like a dealer or Canon Solutions America can do here in the states.”
Image credits: Canon
