An Expensive Hobby

Trey Ratcliff:

So, while here on the shaky south island of New Zealand, I had to swing by a camera store in Christchurch to pick up the new 28-300 Nikon lens. It’s expensive here… probably an extra $700 over the 28-300 cost in the US… That kinda sucks eh? Does anyone know why its so expensive? Are there tariffs and taxes? Why do governments do this? (I come from the Milton Friedman schools, as some of you know…)

The situation is similar in Canada. I know a guy who has close to a dozen Nikon lenses and in the past two years those lenses have appreciated in value. After owning them for several years, he can sell them used for the same price that he paid!

Good for lens owners, sucks for new customers.