[shoplink 30009 ebay]
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That’s really insanely cheap! The Olympus E-PL1 with 14-42mm kit lens sells now for $199 via [shoplink 30009 ebay]Cameta on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. It’s manufacturer refurbished. Those are the deals I really like, you get an interchangeable lens system camera with large sensor and decent functionality and a collapsible zoom lens. Less than you pay for an average compact camera!
Checking for other low budget deals I found the following:
Refurbished GF1 body for $300 on [shoplink 30011 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
New GF2 body with 14-42mm kit lens for $324 on [shoplink 30014 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
New GF3 body with 14-42mm X pancake lens for $468 on [shoplink 30015 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
New E-PM1 body for $299 on [shoplink 30016 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
49 Responses
I hope to see these deals in Europe soon.
I bought one for my nephew here in Spain with the 14-150 all in black for 350€ (redcoon). Less than the lens cost itself 🙂
I actually managed to get a new e-pl2 with the 14-150mm lens here in the Netherlands for 350 euro!
Waar ? Wanneer was dat ?
ca. 6 mnd geleden, via http://www.capi.com/
Mmmmmm yeap in Mediamarkt spain we have the epl1 14-150 for 359 € ^^
For europe, there is sometime cdiscount, currently there is GF2 with 14mm and 14-42 at 400euro, or nx100 with 20-50 at 200euro (yes, it’s cheaper than the lense only). Amazon.fr have some offer too. Those camera are quite “old”, already replaced with younger stuff.
I caught a E-PL2 on that site for $280, but it sold out really quickly. I feel lucky (and excited to get into the format).
I just dismantled that fabulous zoom. Plastic elements.
The body of that is difficult describe. Even old APS P&S camears had better lenses.
Whats wrong with plastic elements?
Plastic, unlike glass is very susceptible to temperature variations. Lenses with such plastic elements may work very well out of the box but may not after going through a full seasonal cycle.
It is not just the plastic elements, this lens is of the poorest build quality. If you have this lens, put its lens cap on and (with the camera on) point it in bright light. You see the camera showing the light leak. This simply should not happen with any lens.
depends on the plastic you’re talking about. the glass transition temperature for polycarbonate is 145 degrees Celsius. polycarbonate is used for CDs/DVDs so its not exactly expensive. where do you take pictures?
All my plastic elements lenses works fine in practice, but not in theory, it seems…
Vivek,
The lens is actually quite good. Don’t knock it till you try it.
I have and gave up very shortly. The lens barrel isn’t even properly light proofed. If in doubt check with Olympus. I do not think even they will deny it either.
I’ve taken great photos with that lens. You might have gotten a bad one.
Personally I don’t care if it’s made of glass, plastic, or cheesecake. For the price (basically free with this camera), the image quality is great.
This particular lens is the crappiest version of the 14-42, only sold with the EPL1. But this combo has brought many people in the m4/3 system.
If it is a good cheesecake..yum. 😉
Enough of these old models- bring in all the new models with 5 axis image stabilization! New Pens and OMDs.
Wow those are some fantastic deals. I will have to look at those sites when I am back in the market. Still enjoying my E-PL2
One of the reasons i never buy an olympus again
The reason is that the cameras are cheap?
Mmm, $199 trophies round the neck don’t match the ego?
You got it wrong i just dont feel i ll ever drop 900 dollars again on a camera which is uncompetitive in iq, and costs 4 to 5 times less
Just 2 years after released
Welcome to the consumer society. No modern electronic or electromachanical product is worth anything at the point its replacement is itself replaced. Seen the second hand value of top quality CRT TVs lately? Film cameras? 2 generation old cars?
You would have the same problem with any consumer camera at the same entry level.
This price is incredible and it’s quite a nice camera too. A good way to draw new users to the system, although I suspect not many of them are going to upgrade or buy extra lenses.
I am wondering where is the 5D mark I super deal…
Can I get an E-PL1 for 150€ in Europe? No? Why not, Olympus? Why not?
No, because Europe will be invaded by cheap people then.
You can check out the Olympus Europe refurbished camera auction on Ebay. They’re posted here almost every week.
Maybe you can visit Ebay. Oly Germany has refurb equipment on in batches from time to time. They will take bids from the EU and deliver to the EU. Prices are depending on what people want to bid. Some goes very cheap some can go quite high. VF-2 usually quite high. I have quite a lot of Oly refurb gear, never had a problem YET.
I ordered one….. To fill the gap until the OMD arrives….
It’s not a brand new model from Olympus, it’s an old manufacturer refurbished one, so the price is very good, especially for young amateurs with little money, it’s a fabulous choice over many compacts out there, $200 !
If I had a kid who wanted to get into photography this would be a great choice. Hopefully this price will come to Europe soon.
It’ll never come to Europe – we subsidize the US. Until the US starts subsidizing us, things will remain this way, with prices 50-200% higher.
I’m sorry, but this is just stupid. It’s has nothing to do with subsidization and more to do with basic economics.
Where was this complaining when the Europe ONLY “olympusmarket” auctions were being listed?
Probably complaining that in Europe they are auction not flat rate. There is a continual buzz that the US has subsidised sales at the expense of every one else. Proof? Just look at E-M5 prices.
It must also be noted that there are far fewer refurbs available in Europe than the US. Maybe due to the US policy of returning product if one changes their mind or only really wanted it for a friends wedding/holiday then return it.
I don’t know how much of your overpriced-camera money is going to the united states. I suspect you are subsidizing your own welfare state more than anything else.
(opinion of a canadian)
True, taxes are higher, but if one looks at the cost, less the tax, then the fact is seen that the US (and by default Canada) gets product far cheaper than elsewhere. They are separate issues, one is the manufacturer is ripping off the consumer, the second is the people of Europe like to look after one another not hang them out to die when sick. Don’t confuse them.
Jim,
You aren’t looking at the cost less the tax. All you are looking at is the cost minus the final tax.
You don’t think that Olympus has to charge more for products in the UK because they are charged more taxes there? And because the warehouses, and petrol, and lorrie drivers, and the retail stores are also paying higher taxes? Do you think that Olympus should charge the same amount at the till as they do in the states, even though they would ended up seeing less of that money than they would in the states?
If so, it sounds to me like you want Olympus to subsidize your government as a public service. No need to bring up Europe’s health care – I already cited the welfare state as being the reason for the increased price. “Manufacturer ripping off the consumer” is so simplistic that it is laughable. What about your price of Nikons compared to the States, what about the price of cars, what about the price of cheese? What about the increased cost of living in general? Are all these manufacturers colluding to rip off the consumer, or is it just evil Olympus?
Things cost more in Canada than they do in the states as well. But we have more social programs than they have in the states so it makes sense – blaming Olympus or blaming the USA, does not.
Fish, I am in Australia. There is NO import tax or duty on cameras. There is a tax of 10% on the final sale of the product, based on the actual sale cost not an estimated one. The logistics in Australia are very similar to the US. Our Post charges are possibly lower than the US.
If BandH can sell at the recommended rate of US$999 then why can I not buy in Australia at US$999 x current conversion rate + the due tax of 10% which totals AUS$1062
Oly Aust has set the price at AUS$1299 That is a rip off to the consumer. The retailer does not get it. It goes to the marketing managers new BMW. Also he/she has done absolutely nothing to earn any thing (including pay) in the E-M5 area.
Your second paragraph! the cost to business in the UK is indeed higher than the US and on top, the point of sale tax is 20%. The distribution channels in UK are shorter than the US. But again don’t forget that BandH sell price (and all US sellers, small and large) includes all costs and taxes in this price (Some additional state taxes may apply but if purchasing out side the US it’s immaterial). The policy in UK as in Australia is that the wholesaler will rip out whatever they can, even at the expense of the retail chain.
Digital downloads at least equal $1 = 1€, and there are absolutely no taxes or anything to be paid in that case. It’s a flat 33% extra fee minimum. For the UK, it gets even worse, as often they have to pay 60% extra. Australians usually have to pay 100% extra. That’s straight-up subsidizing.
I’ve seen computer monitors be sold for $200 in the US, before a $20 available rebate, when the same monitors cost 350€ here.
I’ve heard that many Canadian people go south to buy a car (assembled in Canada, no less) and then drive it back – is that true?
And goodies like free shipping? I recently wanted to order something from the US; they’d ship it for free there, while I had to pay $45 in shipping costs, plus import taxes. And I’d still get it cheaper than in stores here, but I said screw it, I’m not doing that. The same with these Cameta auctions – they’d charge $50 for shipping.
German Olympus refurbs are *auctions* on German eBay (I don’t speak German, I have no idea how to use it), usually fetch prices similar to new equipment, are subject to import taxes for non-EU states (of which there are plenty) and don’t include free shipping.
The Panasonic GH2 body only is 930€ or $1250, by the way.
Many US companies have killed themselves on ebay with their post charges.
Downloads are not always cheaper or 1 for 1. Some sites look at your IP and bounce you back to your local branch at their inflated rates. Or will not accept credit cards from countries where they know the local branch has a ‘loading’ to cover additional costs????
There is actually a law against that in Australia, it is legal to do parallel importing and to charge less than the MFG recommends.
We also have no tax or duty on importing under $1000 for private use.
Oly Australia has withdrawn from the much touted WorldWide Warranty that Olympus uses to claim worlds best warranty. Seems that there are to many people purchasing overseas, perhaps this could be because they charge more at wholesale than anyone else.
I don’t think our US visiters are aware of this as they believe it is WorldWide that’s what they are informed.
You realize it cost the retailer more to ship domestically than internationally, right? I know the company I work for would take a giant bath if we tried free shipping overseas. That goes for any country in the world as far as I know.
Free shipping is only for those that overcharge in the first place. Shipping charges should be shown separately as they are on ebay. Its hard enough making a living without subsidising the purchaser, subsidising the wholesaler seems to be common in many countries though.
My argument was that an item being searched on ebay may show post charges ranging from less than $10 to over $150. While post has increased since oil went up, some have seen this as an opportunity to make extra, or simply they are not interested in selling unless it is ‘box it, post it’ . I purchase from the US frequently and tend to see changes quickly and know what I should be paying as a fair post and packing price.
When I got my GH1 (with the 14-140) it was sold at 1700€ in my country (on the cheapest place), 1100$ in US, 1250€ in France/UK Amazon… Amazon UK it was…
Europeans get ripped off all the time in electronics and other products…
Adobe sells software in UK at a price higher than any other place in the world.
Wacom tablets in europe store are usually more expensive (though I’m happy to report that it seems that it is not the case now), I still remember seeing Intuos 4 with mouse (that was sold separately for 60€ in europe) and other extras for less dollars than the version with just the tablet for more euros.
Anyway…. As there is no money with this economical crisis, in my case, I’ll just stop myself from buying anything at all, hoping that my GH1 lasts till there is a GH7 available…
Thanks Admin! This is a BARGAIN! Picked one up for my spouse. Now I can swap lenses between the OMD when it arrives and the E-PL1.
not so cheap— here in Denmark same price when sales tax/duty/shipping is included,and some shops have it even cheaper ca.$180 ex taxes…can’t dump them fast enough I guess…really hope the E7 comes soon so we have body for the real good glass…
Damn! I’ve been watching the purchase history and there have been at least three hundred units sold since this morning!
I’m gone to say to my little brother, that he should also pay a quick visit this weblog on regular basis to get updated from most up-to-date information.