Canon just gave photographers a heads-up about 2027: camera prices could go up. In the question-and-answer summary from its third-quarter 2026 results (released Oct. 27), Canon told investors it no longer expects memory chip prices to come down next year, and that if those costs stay high, its policy is to offset them with price increases. DPReview, PetaPixel and Digital Camera World all picked up the story this week. Canon has not named any models, amounts, or dates, so this is a warning, not a price list. Still, it matters to anyone who buys camera gear, and to the businesses that hire photographers.
What Canon actually said
- Memory costs are not easing. Earlier this year Canon expected memory prices to start easing in the second half of 2027. Now it says it does not expect memory or raw material prices to decline next year at all.
- 2026 is covered, 2027 is not. Canon says it has already secured the memory it needs for this year, but expects higher procurement costs next year.
- The plan is to pass costs on. Canon’s stated policy is to offset higher component costs through price increases from next year onward, while weighing the effect on sales.
- Some adjustments already happened. Canon says it has been making pricing adjustments as costs rise, though it has not said which products or markets were affected.
- The cost is real. According to Canon’s results, higher memory prices cut company-wide operating profit by about 19.8 billion yen in the third quarter, and memory plus Middle East-related costs are expected to trim the imaging unit’s fourth-quarter margin by roughly five points.
It is not just Canon
The memory squeeze is industry-wide. DPReview notes that other camera makers, including Nikon and Sony, have also pointed to higher memory costs, and the same AI-driven demand for chips is pushing up the price of memory cards and SSDs. Modern mirrorless cameras are full of memory: image buffers, processors, and the cards we shoot to. When those parts cost more, the finished camera, and the media that goes in it, tends to cost more too.
This also lines up with the bigger trend we wrote about earlier this week in our look at the latest CIPA camera sales numbers: fewer cameras are being sold, but each one costs more.
Why this matters for San Antonio event and headshot work
At Grey Bug Photography we have shot on Nikon Z9 and Z8 bodies since they came out, so a Canon announcement does not change our camera bag directly. But memory prices touch every brand. Our Z9 and Z8 record to CFexpress Type B cards, and a busy conference, summit, or headshot day can fill a lot of them, plus the drives we use to back everything up before we ever leave the venue. When card and storage prices climb, the cost of doing the job properly climbs with them.
For working photographers, the takeaway is simple: plan ahead instead of panic-buying. For clients, it is a reminder that professional coverage relies on serious equipment, redundant cards, and backups, and those costs are moving in one direction right now.
Key takeaways
- Nothing is official yet. Canon described a policy, not specific price increases. Watch for real announcements before making big decisions.
- If you already planned a 2026 upgrade, don’t wait forever. Current promotions and year-end deals may be better than what 2027 brings. PhotographyTalk notes that some Canon US instant savings end November 1.
- Don’t forget memory cards and storage. They are part of the same memory market. Buy the cards and backup drives you actually need, from reputable brands.
- Businesses: budget early. If you run conferences, galas, or team headshot days in San Antonio, lock in your 2027 photography plans early so there are no surprises.
If you are stocking up on cards for your own camera, here is where we would start: Buy at Adorama: shop CFexpress Type B memory cards. Canon shooters weighing an upgrade before 2027 can also Buy at Adorama: shop Canon EOS R mirrorless cameras.
Our take
Gear prices go up and down, but the job doesn’t change: show up prepared, shoot to reliable cards, back everything up, and deliver images our clients can use. Canon’s warning is a good nudge for photographers to plan 2027 purchases thoughtfully, and for San Antonio businesses to plan their event and headshot coverage early. If you have an event, summit, or team headshot day on the calendar, reach out to Grey Bug Photography and let’s get it on the books.
Disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links, which means Grey Bug Photography may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.
Sources: Canon Q3 2026 results and investor Q&A summary (Oct. 27, 2026); DPReview, “Canon says camera prices could rise in 2027 if memory costs stay high”; Digital Camera World and PetaPixel coverage of Canon’s 2027 pricing outlook; PhotographyTalk on current Canon instant savings.
