Street Prices for the PMW-F3
 

Dear Friends,

Sony has announced the Street Prices for the PMW-F3

PMW-F3L Street Price is $13,300, List Price is $16,000 (Without lenses)
PMW-F3K Street Price is $18,950, List Price is $23,000 (With three lenses)

I thought "street price" is by definition the price retailers are actually selling at, vs. what the manu MSRP says? In other words, the figure could never come from the manu?

Somebody who is not a sponsor has listed for $13,300 already. That's my definition of street price.

Many times what is called street price is actually MAP or minimum advertised price. The manufacturer will set this number and enforce it to all authorized resellers.

Dear Friends,

In the United States, due to a 2008 Supreme Court ruling, manufacturers can actual set Minimum Selling Prices.

Prior to this ruling manufactures could set Minimum Advertised Prices.

For many Sony cameras, there is a "Program Price", which is the minimum sale price for the product.

So, we have List or MSRP, MAP, and Minimum Sale Price.

Many Sony dealers sell at the Minimum Sale Price, so this quickly becomes the "Street Price".

Ok. Fair enough. But the camera is going to be selling for a lot closer to 13K, thankfully!

It's actually the difference between this camera being a contender or not, really. At 16K for me, it's too close to an Epic. At 13K, it's a definite possibility.

I don't know if this has been talked about elsewhere or not, but there will only be 10-12 dealers in the USA who will be authorized resellers for the F3. Just because a dealer currently sells the EX1R/3 doesn't mean they will be carrying the F3. It's not hard to guess who most of those resellers will be.

That is excellent news, if this is true, those numbers would be fantastic. I'll take 2 please.

I saw for the B&H prices (who is a sponsor) for $13,300 so I'm guessing thats the real deal. Very nice price point.

Aha. When B&H first put up a couple days ago, it was at 16.

Apologies to Dan. When I first read his first post, all I saw was the 16K, didn't see he had 13.3 in there. So I was like "street!?"

Dear Nate,

Thank you, I understand now.

Dan, I sent you an email at convergent designs over 24 hours ago. How come you are answering questions on here, but not @ CD!?!?!? just kidding, but seriously...

-burk

Dear Burk,

I am very sorry for not responding earlier.

Your email landed in my Junk Folder for no apparent reason.

I am responding now.

Dear Burk,

I have replied to your email.

It's £10,995.00 + 17.5% VAT in the UK.

Thx Dan, i appreciate the info!

This follows the practice of Sony initially announcing a higher price then lowering it closer to shipping. They did this with the other EX cameras.

I wonder if this will have an effect on Varicam sales and rentals.

Well Varicam is a different beast all together, this shouldn't touch that market at all. Varicam market is set in tape based workflows and P2 workflows and archiving is something production houses dont want to give up for their tape based Vcams. As well as the use of Varicam is usually in the more rugged environments, which the F3 definably would not handle well. My varicam and hpx500's have been through hell, and hold up perfectly well. I'd have to say that a lesser built camera would have been in bad shape.

Varicam is in its own world, should be fine, as i said, its a whole different beast.

In my neck of of the woods, the Varicam (original) has been effectively out of the running for quite some time (2-3 years). You can buy or rent for dirt cheap.

Or, basically, US$20,000 by the time the new VAT rate kicks in. Or, more to the point - zero UK sale to me, chalk one up for a transatlantic flight to NY...

Way to go, UK dealers. Ugh.

Whilst I share and understand your frustration about "rip off Britain", personally I wouldn't "advertise" that action on a public forum if I were you (anyone in the Inland Revenue might see it...!)

Don't forget the sales tax in the US.

In the UK if you're working for corporate clients or production companies, it makes sense to register for VAT, so you can claim it back.

I am registered for VAT, but it still ends up being 30% more and that's before other, incidental fees.

Okay! Grumble over.

Yes, always more, I imported my Steadicam from the US and upset the then UK agent.

I feel bad for all you across the pond with the ridiculous VAT rates.

Luckily, here in Illinois, we have NO sales tax on equipment purchased for "Graphic Arts Production", which is partly why so many movies are being filmed in and around Chicago. For fellow Illinoisans, the tax exempt form is "ST-587". Combine this tax exemption with my local Abel Cine and I am able to get the lowest prices (they match most competitors), no tax and usually no shipping in addition to excellent customer service.

In Virginia, in state based movie production companies are sales tax exempt for a lot of things, including food and hotels.

In Japan ...
 

We'll be paying full price for this camera plus tax. I often salivate at the prices in the U.S. and buy there whenever I can. That being said ... we often get a better price later ... after release.