Sony to increase the price of most lenses in the US on April 1st, 2012

Model Effective 9/1/11 Effective 4/1/12 Price Diff

SAL1635Z $1,899.99 $1,999.99 $100.00
SAL1680Z $849.99 $999.99 $150.00
SAL2470Z $1,799.99 $1,999.99 $200.00
SAL24F20Z $1,299.99 $1,399.99 $100.00
SAL85F14Z $1,499.99 $1,699.99 $200.00
SAL135F18Z $1,599.99 $1,799.99 $200.00
SAL70300G $899.99 $999.99 $100.00
SAL70400G $1,799.99 $1,999.99 $200.00
SAL35F14G $1,399.99 $1,499.99 $100.00
SAL300F28G $6,299.99 $6,999.99 $700.00
SAL100M28 $749.99 $799.99 $50.00
SAL1118 $699.99 $799.99 $100.00
SAL135F28 $1,299.99 $1,399.99 $100.00
SAL14TC $499.99 $549.99 $50.00
SAL16105 $649.99 $699.99 $50.00
SAL1650 $699.99 $799.99 $100.00
SAL16F28 $899.99 $999.99 $100.00
SAL18250 $599.99 $649.99 $50.00
SAL1855/BQ $199.99 $219.99 $20.00
SAL20F28 $649.99 $749.99 $100.00
SAL20TC $499.99 $549.99 $50.00
SAL2875 $799.99 $899.99 $100.00
SAL35F18 $199.99 $219.99 $20.00
SAL50F14 $399.99 $449.99 $50.00
SAL50F18 $149.99 $169.99 $20.00
SAL50M28 $529.99 $599.99 $70.00
SAL85F28 $249.99 $299.99 $50.00
SEL18200 $799.99 $899.99 $100.00
SEL24F18Z $999.99 $1,099.99 $100.00
SEL30M35 $249.99 $279.99 $30.00
no price increase:
SAL18200 $549.99 $549.99 $0.00
SAL1870 $179.99 $179.99 discontinued
SAL30M28 $199.99 $199.99 $0.00
SAL55200/2 $199.99 $199.99 $0.00
SAL70200G $1,999.99 $1,999.99 $0.00
SAL75300 $249.99 $249.99 $0.00
SEL16F28 $249.99 $249.99 $0.00
SEL1855 $299.99 $299.99 $0.00
SEL50F18 $299.99 $299.99 $0.00
SEL55210 $349.99 $349.99 $0.00

No, this is not an April 1st joke - in the US, Sony will increase the prices of some of their lenses with $20 to $700. This is probably to compensate fluctuation in the dollar/yen exchange rate. The absurd thing is that Sony is currently offering instant rebates on some of those lenses. If you are planning to buy some of the glass listed with a price increase, it will be a good idea to do it before April 1st.