Who understands Olympus prices?

Sergey Borachev wrote:

joeletx 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

Just go to Olympus website then the EPL-9 page and you'll see who are holding the cameras in the adds. Women! That was Olympus is marketing this thing for. I think the camera looks gorgeous though.

The women that I have seen in Japan and in Asia all have brains, and also dads, brothers or boyfriends/husbands whom they respect when it comes to opinions about choice of cameras.

They are careful or frugal with their expenses in electronics (not necessarily in clothing, handbags, jewellery). Unlike man who save on clothing to spend on their cameras and cars, they save on things like cameras. (The iPhone or RX100 they use is likely jewelery or pass-me-downs that their boyfriends bought.) I don't think those boys or they themselves will flock to a camera that is clearly poor value. Adding a few colours to a camera with the same looks does not fashion make. So, even if women buy their own cameras, I doubt very much that they will pick the Epl9 at this price, assuming they also look at other cameras.

What Olympus website shows and what their marketing people think is not necessarily what will happen. This pricing is only going to help market the Fuji A5, the Canon M100, Panasonic GX850 and other entry level cameras, I'm afraId.

The fact of the matter is Olympus is doing very well in Japan taking #1 in mirrorless in Japan in recent years (including the latest BCN 2018). I trust Olympus's marketing department knows more about their home market than you do (or I do).

I don't see any reason why women won't consider aesthetics in purchasing their cameras (or phones for that matter). And I think it's a fallacy to suggest that taking aesthetics into account is being unfrugal.

And you are being a bit disingenuous suggesting the visual difference between the cameras is just some colors. The M100 is pretty featureless (looks a bit too slab like) doesn't have the faux leather (only crosshatched textured plastic). The X-A5 goes for a similar retro look as the EPL series, but it doesn't go all the way (the faux leather cuts off abruptly at the mount and the body as a whole looks a lot chunkier than the E-PL9). The GX850 has that awkward off center hump (I think the older GF7/GF8 looked better).

I personally wouldn't buy the E-PL9 (I shop specs too), but I think most people would agree it's a good looking camera.