Why Panny GX1 prices dropped so quickly ? - Page 3

moccaman · #21 April 6th, 2012, 12:39 AM

I wouldnt take ebay prices from Hong Kong as a good guide either, very low, yes often, safe to buy from many of these people?? Thats for you to decide, but its not a decision I would make lightly.

phrenic · #22 April 6th, 2012, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by napilopez

To me, the GX1 was always in a bit of an awkward position, particularly after the announcement of the OM-D. It was treading a middle ground where I think many people could see just as good or better options to it at either side of the price spectrum. The price drop helps make that less of an issue.

I think you nailed it. I'd like the GX1..it seems lovely. Just like I wanted the GF1..but ultimately picked up the E-P1 for around half the price at the time (2010). There's relatively little separating the m43 bodies..just the GH2 multiaspect sensor/video performance and the OMD weather sealing that really sets them apart. But the internals are so similar. I think a lot of the battle is on price. Though I find myself paralyzed by the fact that the G3 seems like the best value, but I don't like the controls and looks. The GX1 would be great..but I don't want to spend twice the price of the G3 to get it with an EVF. The OMD would also be a great upgrade over my EP1--but I don't want to drop 1k on a body that depreciates so quickly. Maybe a GH2 is in the cards..but I'll likely be swayed by a price drop when they are clearing out stuff for the next generation released..whoever releases a good value body for 500$ish will get my money. I'm hoping the GH2 will be ~400$ like the GH1 went before it.

p.h · #23 April 6th, 2012, 04:48 AM

Presently in the UK the price difference between the G3 and GX1 is minimal. At my local shop £469 Vs £479 with the same standard kit lens. Current deals see both offered with £50 cashback and free Lightroom 3.
That makes either cameras look like a serious bargain, too much for me to resist! Effectively a GX1 for £300, half the launch price, and a massive difference between that and the OMD launch price (Though who knows where that will go?)
I went to look at both, it seems reasonable to me that the price of these two cameras has converged, only those in the Panasonic marketing team know if this was the intention. Same capabilities, different form and features. I wanted to like the G3, though the size of the GX1 with a pancake lens swung it for me, just as I expect a EVF and swivel screen will sway others. The high price of the GX1 viewfinder is offputing, though I expect it'll make it onto my shopping list.
If I were to sell the copy of Lightroom (Which I'm not) the GX1 and kit lens would have cost me less than a LX5 did two years ago. That's pretty outstanding. I'm not going to spend too long trying to work out how this came about (Though I work in retail support and know how competitive the marketplace is) I'm just glad to be in a position to take advantage.

Bhupinder2002 · #24 April 6th, 2012, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by p.h

Presently in the UK the price difference between the G3 and GX1 is minimal. At my local shop £469 Vs £479 with the same standard kit lens. Current deals see both offered with £50 cashback and free Lightroom 3.
That that makes either cameras look like a serious bargain, too much for me to resist! Effectively a GX1 for £300, half the launch price, and a massive difference between that and the OMD launch price (Though who knows where that will go?)
I went to look at both, it seems reasonable to me that the price of these two cameras has converged, only those in the Panasonic marketing team know if this was the intention. Same capabilities, different form and features. I wanted to like the G3, though the size of the GX1 with a pancake lens swung it for me, just as I expect a EVF and swivel screen will sway others. The high price of the GX1 viewfinder is offputing, though I expect it'll make it onto my shopping list.
If I were to sell the copy of Lightroom (Which I'm not) the GX1 and kit lens would have cost me less than a LX5 did two years ago. That's pretty outstanding. I'm not going to spend too long trying to work out how this came about (Though I work in retail support and know how competitive the marketplace is) I'm just glad to be in a position to take advantage.

Thanks for this info . Actually I am about to cancel my OMD order . I am getting GX1 at half price and that is making me thinking why I should dump 500 dollars extra but then again OMD is a different league camera
Cheers
Bhupinder

Sawfish · #25 April 6th, 2012, 05:52 AM

I agree with P.H. There are many advantages to the GX1. It is build with metal body, and when you handle it, you can enjoy that extra feel of quality. Without the EVF, it just looks like any other P@S and seems just as unobtrusive. With a pancake it is nearly pocketable. As for the fixed screen, well the Fuji X series and many others high end cameras has that as well.
If it appeals to you, there isn’t really anything that should hold you back. You will be rewarded with at very capable camera.

Sf

dhazeghi · #26 April 6th, 2012, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armanius

While the GX1 is clearly superior to the GF1/2/3, it was just underwhelming relative to the G3 (and GH2). As others already noted, the performance is fairly similar, but the G3 has a built-in EVF, articulated LCD, and is much cheaper. My guess is that the GX1 line would have sold much better at the launch price IF Panasonic had bundled the new EVF with it.

Maybe Panasonic should have priced the G3 at about $700-800 (and kept the eye sensor for the EVF). In retrospect, I suppose it would/could have made sense for Panasonic to have a GH line priced at $1000+, G line priced at $700-800, GX line priced at $600-700, and GF line priced at $400-500.

I agree that pricing is a lot of the problem. It's a bit unfair as the GX1 is in most respects a better camera than the E-P3 and it is priced lower, but unlike Olympus, Panasonic simply doesn't have a critical mass of people who will pay whatever the asking price is for the styling.

If I were them, the 2 obvious things to do would be:
1) Do something about the JPEGs. This could probably be managed in a firmware update.
2) Fix the 14-42X and push the GX1X kit more heavily.

DH

elandel · #27 April 6th, 2012, 09:07 AM

I think the GX1 was not that heck of a camera that it was thought to be, so it was overpriced for buyers. The G3 is almost the same in every aspects and has tilt screnn and built-in VF at a lower price, so the GX1 just didn't sell as expected, hence the price drop.

jim_khoo · #28 April 6th, 2012, 10:28 AM

here in Malaysia, the price has not changed... i bought mine at $835 for
a twin lens package plus 8gb sd card and a panasonic bag 3 months ago
and today the price is still over $800 depending on "freebies" offered by
the retailers.

imo, the gx1...
1. targets the trendy young/ yuppies; while g3 targets seasoned dslr users
2. performs better; while g3 has 2 additional features - built-in evf and rotating lcd
(the gx1 offers an extra stop of ISO sensitivity and has higher burst rate)
3. has metal body; while g3 plastic/ aluminium
4. is made in japan; while the g3 is made in china
(let's hope there is no radiation contamination has been exported with the gx1)
5. probably has better jpeg (with the new firmware) over the g3

whether if the gx1 is worth it's value... i can say only for myself.

phrenic · #29 April 6th, 2012, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elandel

I think the GX1 was not that heck of a camera that it was thought to be, so it was overpriced for buyers. The G3 is almost the same in every aspects and has tilt screnn and built-in VF at a lower price, so the GX1 just didn't sell as expected, hence the price drop.

Yeah i think the worse competition is from their own line in the G3. It is harder to rationalize buying a G3 with the articulating screen and built in evf stripped out...for more money. A lot to pay for a grip and metal body.

But as it was also pointed out, it looks reasonable compared to Ep3 msrp. A crazy camera market!

Bhupinder2002 · #30 April 21st, 2012, 02:31 PM

Even BH is selling gx1 body for 549
Cheers
Bhupinder