The Sony FS5 has received a major price drop in the US, bringing the price down from $5749US to $4749US. Sony Professional Solutions of America has a limited time mail-in rebate promotion where you can get $1,000US off the cost of an FS5 or the FS5K package that includes the E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS lens.
The FS5K price after the mail-in rebate is $5249US, which represents very good value for money considering you not only get the camera, but a lens that retails for just under $600US. This promotion is valid up until the 31st July as long as you purchase the PXW-FS5 or PXW-FS5K from a Sony authorised reseller, reseller of a Sony authorised distributor or direct from Sony.
Just to be clear you are still going to have to pay the full price up front, and you will only receive the $1,000US rebate after you fill in details of your purchase via an online form that you submit to Sony. Not only do you have to fill out the online form, but you also have to send a printout of completed online form, entire ORIGINAL UPC product code label from the box of the PXW-FS5 or PXW-FS5K purchased (photocopies of UPC not accepted), and a copy of purchase invoice from the same Sony authorised reseller, reseller of Sony authorised distributor or Sony to Sony Award Headquarters at the following address, postmarked no later than August 31, 2017.
Sony End User Award Headquarters Offer # XXXXXXA
PO box 42012 Hazelwood, MO 63042-1012
Sony certainly don’t make this process easy, and it’s almost as difficult as navigating through a Sony camera menu.
To me this discount means one of two things; either a new version of the camera is coming later in the year, and/or Sony are trying to get potential Canon C200 or Panasonic EVA1 customers to buy into the Sony ecosystem at a cheaper entry point. At $4749US this makes the FS5 considerably cheaper than the recently announced Canon C200 and Panasonic EVA1, it also undercuts the Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro by $1246US.
Unfortunately this promotion only looks like it is valid in the US. What do you think about this price drop? Are you tempted to buy an FS5 instead of waiting for the C200 or EVA1? Let us know in the comments below.
