Email: brqyvn@gmail.com
Just a few days ago, I wrote an article about "One Camera and one Lens". I received the following email
 6:05 AM (13 hours ago) | | |||
I just recently came across your Pentax DSLRs Blog Spot and quite enjoy it. Your most recent article on lens costs is interesting
I thought some of our readers would enjoy this. Keep in mind that the prices in Canada were probably higher than in the United States. If the same prices could only still be current today, what a collection I would have. But yet, "One Camera and one Lens" would still apply, wouldn't it?
Thank you for stopping by and reading.
May the good lighting be with you,
Yvon Bourque, and as a long time Pentaxian I happen to have some early Canadian Pentax brochures from the 1970s. I'm attaching two files (these brochures were printed on 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper and folded in thirds), front and back, for the 1972 brochure. You might find this useful in the context of how equipment costs have changed over time. In any case, feel free to use the images as you see fit.
All the best,
2 comments:
Remember in 1974, we had bought a Asai Pentax Spotmatic F. We had bought it at Simpson's downtown. We had paid aroud $300. or a little more.
We had used yours to go go the Bahamas in the Spring 74, and when we returned, of course, he needed one. Thanks Yvon.
Sounds great... until you consider inflation.
To choose a random example, on page one, the "SMCT 50mm f/1.4 lens" sounds like a steal at CAD$142 back in 1972, until you consider that after inflation, that's CAD$762 in 2011 money. The nearest equivalent lens today, the smc Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, costs US$450 list (CAD$456).
How about the "Asahi Pentax Data Camera: Spotmatic II Data SMCT f1.4 Camera Chrome" at CAD$595 in 1972 equates to CAD$3,193 in 2011 dollars? By contrast, the K-5 Silver cost US$1,700 (CAD$1,723) list body-only, leaving you almost CAD$1,500 to play with on lenses for a vastly more capable camera.
On page one, the 6x7 800mm f/4.0 Takumar (CAD$3,200) is an eye-watering CAD$17,171 in today's money.
And if I am reading the 6x7 kit price with 105mm, Pentaprism, and strap correctly--CAD$5,995 I think--that's an unbelievable CAD$32,170 in today's money for one body, one lens, pentaprism and strap. Ouch!!
By contrast, you could pick up a 645D with 55mm lens for US$11,200 (CAD$11,352) today, so you could almost get three 645D kits for the price of one 6x7 kit in 1972.
Inflation is a cruel, cruel thing. Makes us see the past through entirely too rosy glasses, and stops us realizing what a great time we're living in now.
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