Why are kit bundles common on entry-level cameras but rare on pro bodies and lenses?
Asked 6/13/2013
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Camera makers often sell entry-level DSLRs and mirrorless cameras in kits, but pro bodies are usually sold body-only, with only a few bundle options. Why are discounted body-and-lens kits much less common in the professional market? For example, why wouldn't a manufacturer offer several bundle choices around a pro body with different standard zooms?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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I believe this is for the simple reason that many people buying "pro" bodies will have been DSLR/SLR customers previously and will thus have an existing lens collection so are unlikely to need as many different options in terms of bundled lenses.
The digital rebel end of the market is still capturing new DSLR customers who are upgrading from non-interchangable lens cameras. Fewer people go straight from a compact/bridge to a 5D mkIII!
Offering more kits means an more box designs, more shipments to retail outlets, greater marketing costs, i.e. it is a non-zero cost for the manufacturer. At the lower tier of the market the effort makes sense, but not at the highest tiers, for reasons mentioned above.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
13y ago
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Because the buyers are different.
Entry-level kits are mainly aimed at new interchangeable-lens-camera users who need a complete, ready-to-shoot package and may not know which lens to choose. In that market, a simple bundle helps sales.
For pro bodies, many buyers already own lenses and are often upgrading only the body. Those who do need lenses usually have specific requirements, so a fixed bundle is less attractive. A 24-70mm f/2.8, 24-70mm f/4, and 24-105mm each suit different users, so predicting demand is harder.
There’s also a real cost to offering many kit combinations: more SKUs, packaging, distribution, retail complexity, and marketing. That can make sense at the consumer end where volume is high, but less so for pro products with a smaller audience.
Also, some pro-oriented kits do exist—for example, certain full-frame bodies have been sold with a 24-105mm lens—but far fewer than at the entry level for the reasons above.
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