Head and Tripod Prices

[Mark Allen]

It seems like there has been a definite camera revolution in the last few years. We're talking about camera package with Scarlet of being in the 10k range yet... as far as I can tell, the Heads haven't dropped in price at all and they cost about the same as the Cameras themselves. Now, I'm sure there is some crafty engineering going on, but I cannot imagine that an older established technology really takes the same amount of cost as a camera which 5 years ago would have been the industry leader.

Okay - so educate me if you disagree. It's not something I've studied much, I've just been pricing things and been thinking "How on earth can this tripod and head and tilt plate EACH cost as much as the entire camera package.

Keep your flames polite, I'm open to learning. I do have engineers in my family, but I have to say they are making things that seem way more complex for way less as well.

[NateWeaver]

There's no such thing as Moore's law for crafting finely machined steel and aluminum. It still takes as long as it ever did. There's computer controlled machines to do it now instead of humans, but those machines cost an awful lot. So it's that and the size of the market. If there were only 100 of your car's air conditioning compressor being sold per year, it would cost $6000 as well :-)

BTW, the same goes for optics.

[jimhare]

So with the explosion in camera numbers expected over the next couple of years, you might expect prices to come down with increased volume.

Having said that, the average weight of a camera may plummet. If the range is Canon 7D to Scarlet, the 8-20 pound fluid head market will be huge.

[Felix K.]

I'm still very satisfied with my Manfrotto 501 fluid head... simple device for small cameras. Intend to use it with the Scarlet... Was about 450 € inkl. the 525 legs...