The tariff announcement by the Trump administration on products shipped into the US has thrown multiple industries into a tailspin – and the camera industry is no exception. But the trade war seems to be constantly changing as new US tariffs are announced, retaliatory measures are taken, and the market responds. That evolving battle means that the future of camera pricing in the US is unclear at best – and is expected to see significant price hikes at worst.
When Digital Camera World originally reached out to the major camera brands, few were able to offer a clear answer as to whether or not prices in the US would be affected, despite speculation. But, as the sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs went into effect on April 08, some brands started confirming a price increase.
Now, several camera companies have confirmed price increases or delays as a result of the tariffs. Canon and Leica have confirmed that price increases are coming. Fujifilm has suspended pre-orders for some cameras and introduced its latest Instax camera at a higher cost in the US.
As countries negotiate and the trade war continues to develop, the status of tariffs in the US is changing regularly. For example, the originally announced tariffs have been paused at 10 percent for 90 days for negotiations, excluding China's 145 percent tariff. Smartphones have been ruled as exempt from those China tariffs, but the Trump administration has announced that it is investigating a potential tariff on semiconductors.
Follow the live blog as we update creatives on the impact of tariffs on the camera industry below and check back for regular updates.
Blackmagic confirms camera price hike in the US
The cinema-focused Blackmagic Design was the first company to confirm that tarrifs would impact prices in the US. The company confirmed that prices would be increasing for customers in the US on social media, directing fans to the website for current pricing.
A Blackmagic representative, commenting in a user forum, noted that Blackmagic was able to move the production of Pyxis cameras to reduce the impact of the tariffs.
That move raised the price of the Pyxis 12K G2 just two days after announcing the camera, increasing the cost by about $500, which is about 10 percent. However, the camera is currently still listed for pre-order at B&H at the original $4,995 price.
Moment says most prices will increase
Moment, a US-based company that makes photography accessories, confirmed in an email to customers that “most items” would be increasing in cost by $5 to $10 beginning next week. The company noted, however, that a few items would keep the same cost, and some products would even drop in price.
“We pride ourselves on making the best gear from suppliers we trust,” the company wrote in the email. “Unfortunately these tariffs make it impossible for us to continue without cheapening the quality, laying off the team, or forcing our mom-and-pop suppliers out of business. We’d rather raise our prices and ask for your help to get through these crazy times than face any of those alternatives.”
Moment also has an online store that sells digital cameras and while the confirmed price increase appears to be for Moment products, the company says that it expects products from other brands to increase in cost as well.
“If nothing changes, we expect prices to go up,” the company wrote. “We've already started to receive messages from brands that they too will be raising prices. Most of the world’s cameras are made in Asia, and we would expect camera prices to also start rising this year.”
Trump pauses reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, excluding China
On Wednesday, April 09, the Trump administration announced that the reciprocal tariffs would be paused for 90 days on most countries. The White House noted that tariffs would be brought to 10 percent for most countries during that pause.
The move excludes China, where US tariffs have increased to 125 percent. However, with a majority of the camera brands located in Japan, the announcement means a drop from a 24 percent tariff to 10 percent, which could lessen any impact on camera prices.
Canon USA says that it is "continually monitoring the impact of tariffs"
In a statement to Digital Camera World, a Canon USA representative said that the company is monitoring the tariffs. The company has not announced any related price changes in the US at this time.
“Canon remains fully committed to providing exceptional value and service to our customers and channel partners," a Canon USA representative said in a statement. "We are continually monitoring the impact of the international import tariffs on our business. As a global leader in digital imaging solutions, Canon U.S.A. has an obligation to its customers and to the industries we serve, to provide the highest and most advanced level of technology that elevates what's possible both today and for generations to come.”
China, facing a 145% tariff, bans American-made drones
In part of a response to the US tariffs, which are now at 145 percent for China-made goods, China has now banned 11 American drone companies. Among the list of companies now on the "Unreliable Entities" list is drone-maker Skydio.
While the move is in response to the trade war, the ban sounds startlingly familiar to the legislation that nearly banned China-made DJI drones from the US last year. That legislation did not pass, but instead, the US government gave DJI one year to pass a safety inspection or face a ban in the US. DJI has recently pressed for that review to get started, with nine months remaining before the deadline. When the legislation passed, DJI noted that the law failed to designate an agency to take on the review and did not state what would happen if such a review didn't occur before the deadline.
Camp Snap warns it's about to sell out of cameras "due to new tariffs"
Camp Snap, the maker behind the affordable retro camera that resembles a digital disposable camera, has warned customers that the popular cameras are close to selling out. In an email to subscribers, Camp Snap said, "We're working hard to relocate our factory out of China and plan to be back online soon – but in the meantime, inventory is running low."
The camera's creators urged those needing the camera for summer camp to order in the next day or two to ensure that it arrives on time. Camp Snap is a screen-free camera that originally launched as a way for campers to take pictures at screen-free camps without the expense of disposable film. While originally meant for camp kids, the camera has also found a following among digital minimalists and retro fans.
New tariff exemptions keep smartphones safe from price hikes, but not cameras
On Friday, the US Customs and Border Protections shared a list of categories that would be exempt from the tariffs, a list that includes smartphones, monitors, SSDs, modems and routers. The list of exceptions does not include cameras, which can fall into a few different tariff categories. (Broadcast cameras, for example, are a different category for tariffs.)
That could prevent the steep price increase that has analysts projecting iPhones to cost more than $3,600 under the new tariffs. With cameras excluded, however, photography gear manufactured in China could see steep price increases. While tariffs have been paused, China was excluded, and the baseline 10 percent tariff on other regions remains in place.
In a post on Truth Social, however, President Donald Trump said that those categories aren't exempt but are rather moving to a different tariff bucket: "There was no Tariff 'exception' announced on Friday. These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff 'bucket.'"
An additional semiconductor tariff is coming, which could further hurt the camera industry
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in an interview that semiconductor tariffs are "coming probably in a month or two." This would add a tax to electronics that use semiconductors, which would include the smartphones that were recently listed as exempt.
Notably, however, a tariff on devices with semiconductors could also have a significant impact on the camera industry. The sensor on a digital camera is a type of semiconductor.
“All those products are going to come under semiconductors," Lutnik told ABC News, "and they’re going to have a special focus type of tariff to make sure that those products get reshored. We need to have semiconductors, we need to have chips, and we need to have flat panels — we need to have these things made in America.”
A post on Truth Social by President Donald Trump seemed to confirm potential semiconductor tariffs: “We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations.”
Multiple film labs are raising the cost of Ilford film
Two camera stores based in the US have confirmed a 11-12 percent increase on Ilford film and paper, according to PetaPixel. The outlet reports that a Shutter Junkies and Blue Moon Camera have both confirmed that Ilford parent company Harman has increased the cost of film and paper in the US.
Ilford film and paper have increased by 11 percent at those US labs, with chemicals increasing to 12 percent, according to the report. While Shutter Junkies noted those increases were effective immediately, one-time-use disposable camera pricing is not changing at least while the store's current inventroy lasts.
Harman is a UK-based company and the increase in cost for Ilford film and paper of about 11-12 percent sits in line with the 10 percent tariff that was not part of the 90-day tariff pause. Paterson accessories, which is another brand owned by Harman, are also expected to increase for customers in the US by 11 percent, although the products produced in China could see a higher jump.
Trump administration begins investigating the possibility of tariffs on semiconductors
Federal documents shared online on Monday, April 14, confirm that the Trump Administration is investigating the impact of a potential tariff on semiconductors, as well as pharmaceuticals. According to the New York Times, the investigation looks into placing tariffs on both products that contain semiconductors as well as the equipment used to manufacture semiconductors.
The digital sensor inside a camera is a type of semiconductor. If enacted, that could mean additional tariffs on digital cameras as well as other electronics. While still in the research stage, the potential tariff would be under legislation that allows the president to enact tariffs to protect national security, under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
Astrophotography brand Move Shoot Move confirms a 10 percent increase
Move Shoot Move, a company that makes astrophotography accessories, including star trackers, has announced a ten percent price increase for products sold in the US beginning on April 22. The company announced the price increase in an email to subscribers.
"This isn’t what we wanted," the email reads. "It goes against the heart of what we do — making astrophotography more accessible, not less. But this step is necessary to ensure we can continue supporting you with the same quality and service."
US photographers eyeing a Move Shoot Move star tracker may want to consider buying before the April 22 scheduled price increase.
Rumors: Camera dealers suggest price increases could come as soon as 1-2 weeks
While little official data remains on the impact of tariffs on camera pricing, camera dealers have speculated that price increases could be coming as soon as 1-2 weeks. An unverified report by Canon Price Watch indicates that some Canon authorized dealers have said that prices will be increasing in 1-2 weeks. Other camera dealers have speculated that a reduction in sales and rebates could offset tariff costs instead.
Official details from camera brands themselves, however, remain slim. Manufacturers may be waiting to see how the tariffs, which seem to be changing regularly, play out.
While rumors and speculation on the impact of camera prices remain prevalent, uncertainty is pushing some shoppers to buy early while others face decision paralysis. With the tariffs being announced and then delayed, however, panic buyers may be unnecessarily rushing buying decisions.
Moving camera manufacturing to the US may not skirt tariffs, Blackmagic Design suggests
In a recent interview, a Blackmagic Design representative said that the company was looking into building a factory in Texas, but the potential semiconductor tariffs could negate the cost benefits of such a move. Blackmagic, a company based in Australia that has already announced price hikes in the US for some cameras, indicated that it was exploring a US-based factory in order to be closer to the US companies that supply some camera sensors.
However, Blackmagic says that those US companies source those sensors from outside of the US. With the Trump administration investigating a potential tariff on semiconductors, those plans for a US factory appear to be on hold, as the cost of components could still increase.
The interview sheds some light on the confusion surrounding the recently enacted tariffs and the potential for a semiconductor tariff, which the White House indicates would replace earlier tariffs rather than be added on top of. While the goal of the tariff is to boost American manufacturing, the potentially paused Blackmagic factory is an example of how the effects of tariffs may not be so simple.
The newly announced Instax Mini 41 will cost 30 percent more than the previous model in the US
Fujifilm did not share a US price for the new Instax Mini 41 at the announcement last week, but now the brand has officially shared the retail price for the US: $129.99. That's a 30 percent increase from the older Instax Mini 41. In comparison, the cost in the UK is £94.99, a £5 drop from the older camera.
Fujifilm did not comment on whether or not the price increase is due to tariffs, but the announcement could be the first sign of how the changes could impact camera pricing in the US. As an affordable instant film camera, however, it's still unclear how high-end digital cameras may be affected by the tariffs.
Wandrd updates fans: "We may need to raise prices on some of our gear"
In an email to subscribers, camera bag brand Wandrd has alerted fans that prices might be rising in the future. Wandrd hasn't officially raised any pricing yet, but the company says that production costs have gone up and prices may need to increase accordingly, depending on how the tariffs play out.
"We always want to keep you in the loop," the email reads. "With these new tariffs, our production costs have gone up – and they could rise even more. Depending on what happens, we may need to raise prices on some of our gear. We're doing everything we can to hold the line – pushing back where we can and looking for smart ways to stay efficient. But we also believe in being upfront with our community before anything shifts. If you've been eyeing something, now might be the time to grab it at the current price – just in case."
The announcement doesn't confirm if a price increase will be happening, but indicates that camera bags may be impacted by tariffs as well, depending on how the tariffs play out.
Editing accessories may be getting pricier as a report hints at higher Logitech prices
The cost of many Logitech computer peripherals has increased in the US, according to a report by The Verge. According to the report, the cost of Logitech MX Master 3S – Digital Camera World's top choice on the best computer mouse for photo and video editing – has increased in cost by $20. The list price of the mouse is now listed at $119.99 on Logitech's store as well as on Amazon. However, Amazon US currently lists a temporary discount that brings the mouse back down to $99.99.
Keyboards were also among the products that saw a price jump, according to the report.
Fujifilm halts orders of the X100VI, GFX100RF, and some X-M5 models in the US as the company assesses the impact of tariffs
Pre-orders for the Fujifilm X100VI, the GFX100RF and black variant of the X-M5 have been temporarily halted in the US, the company has said. Fujifilm released a statement that pre-orders for the three cameras have been temporarily suspended while the company assesses "various changes, including tariffs." The pause on pre-orders only applies to the US.
"In the US market, we have temporarily suspended orders for some digital camera products in order to assess various changes including tariffs, and their impact as cost-increasing factors," A Fujifilm North America representative told Digital Camera World. "As a result, we are currently not accepting new pre-orders for the X100VI, GFX100RF, and X-M5 (Black) models."
A representative from retailer B&H also noted that the store has stopped taking pre-orders for those models as well, until a shipping date can be confirmed.
US and Japan are close to a trade agreement, a report suggests
The US and Japan could be moving closer to an interim trade agreement, according to reports from Reuters. The anonymous tipster, however, said the agreement didn’t include two major issues and that it was still possible for the final deal to fall through.
Last week, the Trump Administration met with representatives from Japan. The Prime Minister of Japan, Shigeru Ishiba voiced “grave concern” over the inconsistency in the US tariffs. Ishiba, however, said that the country did not have any plans to terminate the 2019 trade deal with the US that was negotiated during Trump’s first term.
Japan is a key country to watch for photographers, as many key brands are headquartered in Japan.
Trump says China tariffs will "come down substantially" ahead of formal negotiations
In remarks on Tuesday, April 22, President Donald Trump said that the tariffs placed on China would come down. "145 percent is very high and it won't be that high," he told reporters. "It won't be anywhere near that high. It'll come down substantially. But it won't be zero."
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also indicated a potential de-escalation with China on Tuesday, calling the current rates unsustainable. Formal negotiations with China, however, have yet to begin.
China-made goods are currently facing a tariff of 145 percent when imported into the US. China has retaliated with a 125 percent tariff on goods imported from the US.
Report hints that Apple could be moving iPhone production to India
A report from the Financial Times indicates that Apple could be working to shift the production of US-bound iPhones from China to India. Such a move would more than double the company's current production in the country.
While smartphones are part of recent exemptions, the exemption only includes part of the 145 percent tariff, leaving smartphones facing a far lower 20 percent tariff instead. However, the Trump administration is currently investigating a tariff on semiconductors, suggesting the smartphone exemption may only be temporary.
The report suggests that all of the iPhones that are sold in the US could be made in India by the end of next year, a move that would require doubling what Apple currently manufactures in the country. Prior to the 90-day pause that lowered tariffs out of India to 10 percent, US tariffs on products from India sat at a 26 percent tariff.
Leica prices will go up next month in the US, the company has confirmed
Leica Camera USA has confirmed that some prices are expected to go up beginning on May 1. A representative said that the cost of "select Leica product lines" will be increasing next month as a result of the US tariffs.
The official statement follows a post on the Red Dot Forum from a Miami store that said that prices would be increasing next month. Leica did not indicate which products would be affected or by how much.
Leica cameras are largely made in Germany, which is currently facing a 10 percent tariff on goods imported to the US.
Canon confirms price increase is coming in the US during earnings call
During a quarterly earnings call with investors, Canon Inc. said that some prices would increase in the US as a result of tariffs. The company has not yet shared when such an increase would happen, which products would be affected, or how much prices will increase.
In a question and answer document following the earnings call, Canon Inc. said: “We have notified major dealers that we will raise prices and are in the process of estimating the timing and amount of the increase. Since tariffs are borne against the cost of goods, the higher the cost ratio is, the higher the price rate increases. We will conduct a detailed analysis, including the cost of each product and where it is produced, and will determine the rate of price increase for each product.”
While Canon did not state how much the prices would increase, the company indicated that most of its products that are made in China are not shipped to the US, so the impact of the 145 percent tariff would be small. Instead, the company is investigating how the 10 percent tariff on Japan and other countries will affect the cost of its products.
Read the full report on Canon's tariff announcement here.
Tariffs will also increase camera prices in Canada, Leica says
After Canadian retailer The Camera Store shared that Leica was also raising prices in the country, Leica has confirmed that the US tariffs will also affect pricing in Canada. Leica explained that all imports for North America are sent to Leica's US location before shipping to Canada. The company noted that it is investigating potential workarounds, including a potential Canadian subsidiary.
Leica said that prices in Canada will have an increase similar to the changes in the US, which are expected to go into effect on May 01.
Canon says the new RF 75-300mm will come to the US, but doesn't yet have a launch date
When Canon announced the new RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 lens, the company's US branch didn't announce the lens at all, leading to speculation that tariffs were preventing one of the company's cheapest RF system lenses from coming to the US. A Canon USA representative, however, has confirmed that the lens will be coming to the US.
While the new budget telephoto will be headed to the US, Canon USA did not share a date when the lens would be coming, nor how much the lens would cost. With the lens already having a launch date and price in other regions, it seems likely that tariffs are, at the minimum, causing a delay in getting the new lens to the US.
Nikon USA is "evaluating potential impacts" of the tariffs
Nikon hasn't been immune to the rumors and speculation arising from the potential impact of the tariffs, but the company hasn't yet shared any delays or price increases. A Nikon USA spokesperson has said that the company is continuing to monitor the changing market conditions. "Nikon is closely monitoring the evolving global market conditions and evaluating potential impacts," A Nikon USA spokesperson told Digital Camera World.
Nikon's Z series mirrorless cameras are largely made in Thailand, while the company's lenses come from Japan, Thailand, and China. Japan and Thailand currently have a 10 percent tariff rate as part of the 90-day pause, while China is facing a 145 percent tariff on goods imported to the US, with some exclusions.
