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Tariffs have been causing a lot of trouble for manufacturers outside of the United States. According to reports, Japanese goods will be charged 15% tariffs, which will affect many photographers. However, it now appears that Europe, too, will face new tariffs. This means companies such as Leica and Hasselblad, which already offer premium products, will now stand a chance a see a higher price rise. Here’s a look.
According to CNN, President Donald Trump will increase prices in the U.S. as part of a new trade deal between the country and the European Union. The deal showcases a 15% tariff on all imported goods into the country. This comes after the 10% hike, which was a result of the 90-day pause. At the moment, many Leica cameras already have a price hike. But with another 15%, Leica, Hasselblad, and even some OM System, can face more changes.
After May, the Leica SL3 went from $6,995 to $7,485, while the Leica Q3 rose from $5,995 to $6,735. However, these increases were less than 15%, but with new tariffs, the retail prices may be changed further. The Leica D-Lux 8, which was created in China, rose from $1,595 to $2,790 due to higher tariffs of 145% against China, but once the rate was fixed to 10%, the price came back down to $1,915.
Per the new tariffs, here is a look at the Leica cameras that could see an average of 5% to 12% increase:
- Leica SL3 – May increase further from $7,485 to $8,250
- Leica Q3 – Could go from $6,735 to $7,400
- Leica M11 – Could jump from ~$9,000 to $9,900
- Leica M11 Monochrom – May rise above the $10,160 to about $10,160
- Leica CL and TL series – Expected to increase between $300–$500
These are some hypothetical increases, if they happen. However, we do hope that Leica does not charge further, as the company has already seen a hike. But we can only know for sure on August 1, since the revision could happen around that period. There is, however, a chance that the company may not increase the price just yet. Either way, photographers are looking at different ways to get a camera. Some may get to second-hand devices, and eBay has some great options. We do hope things get better, but that’s just our wishful thinking now.
