If you’ve been eyeing a new Fujifilm camera, you might want to act sooner rather than later.
The company is set to increase prices on a number of its most popular models from September 1. The hikes will be up to €500 as the ongoing DRAM shortage continues to push up component costs.
According to retailer Fuji-Store, Fujifilm will raise the recommended retail prices of at least five cameras across its X Series and GFX lineup. While the changes have only been confirmed for Europe so far, the wider semiconductor shortage behind the increases suggests other markets could eventually be affected too.
The biggest jump comes for the Fujifilm GFX100 II, which will increase by €500, taking its recommended retail price from €7,999 to €8,499. That would leave Fujifilm’s flagship medium-format camera carrying a list price €1,000 higher than the rival Hasselblad X2D II.
Elsewhere, the hugely popular Fujifilm X100 VI is set to rise by €200, moving from €1,799 to €1,999. The compact camera has already been notoriously difficult to buy since launch due to overwhelming demand. As a result, the higher price could make it an even tougher sell for prospective buyers.
Three other cameras are also affected. The Fujifilm X-E5, X-T50, and X-S20 will each receive a €100 increase. Moreover, the higher prices will apply to both body-only options and lens kit bundles.
Fujifilm reportedly attributes the increases to rising production costs, but the underlying issue stretches beyond the camera industry.
The current DRAM crisis has driven up the price of memory chips and also affected other key components including processors and image sensors. Manufacturers across consumer electronics have already warned that higher component costs are likely to feed through into retail pricing.
What it means for buyers
If you’re already planning to pick up one of the affected Fujifilm cameras, buying before September 1 could save a significant amount – particularly if you’re considering the X100 VI and GFX100 II.
The bigger question is whether Fujifilm will be the first of many. With the same supply chain pressures affecting the wider camera industry, it’s possible that rival manufacturers could also be forced to revise pricing in the months ahead if component costs remain elevated.
For now, Fujifilm has only confirmed these increases for selected European markets. However, photographers elsewhere may want to keep a close eye on local pricing if the DRAM shortage continues.
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