Who understands Olympus prices?

JakeJY wrote:

Pixnat2 wrote:

Soulhand wrote:

Pixnat2 wrote:

Difficult to understand what makes the E-PL9 so expensive?

Any idea?

Olympus think they can sell it at that price?

It's a fashion item.

I don't think so. It's an entry level camera made to attract P&S upgraders.

It's not priced based on adding up its technical features. It's not aimed at people like you (or me).

see above

I don't buy iPhones because I think they are overpriced compared to devices that are alternatives (for me). Millions of people do, though.

Except that Olympus is not Apple and that iPhones are eating the market of that kind of camera.

Olympus presumably feel the alternatives you list aren't really competitors in the minds of actual likely purchasers - and who knows, maybe they are correct.

I don't see many cosmetic differences between the E-PL9 and X-A5, for example.

I assume they know more about pricing and marketing cameras than me.

I really wonder if they do

Paul

You are forgetting the Japan and Asian market which has different perspectives than the US and European market. The EPL series certainly look a ton more "fashionable" than the M100 or the X-A5.

I believe Olympus is doing quite well in those markets and they are probably the only markets where the entry level cameras are doing decently well (likely the same reason why Panasonic keeps releasing Japan only updates for the GF series, like the GF8 and GF10). I doubt they sold much in the US and European market (and they can always price drop later).

Thanks for your answer. I think you nailed it. Japanese hipsters are probably the main target of this camera.

Moreover, the E-PL9 won't be sold to US, so you're probably right.