Camera tariffs 101: Where are cameras made and what are the charges?

We're all worried about tariffs and the effects they'll have on prices – and when it comes to cameras, those effects could be enormous.

Obviously, the entire situation is incredibly volatile. Nobody knows for sure how things will play out or what costs will be passed on to the customer – or even if the tariffs themselves will change yet again.

While Blackmagic has confirmed that US consumers will face price rises, most of the major manufacturers are playing their cards very close to the chest. Fujifilm has suspended US shipments for certain cameras, while a Leica dealer says that there will be widespread price increases on May 01.

Still, while we don't know much in the way of specifics, we do know the countries in which the various brands make their cameras.

And although the actual rates could fluctuate – bearing in mind that the Trump administration froze all tariffs at 10% until July, for every nation except China – we know the announced tariffs for those respective countries.

So if you're thinking of buying a new body, here's a quick look at where it's made (right now, at least) and what kind of tariff is being levied on the country of manufacture:

There are a couple of caveats there. Sigma, for example, assembles some components (such as batteries for the Sigma BF) in Indonesia, but the cameras themselves are manufactured in Japan (I went on a tour of the Sigma factory, if you're interested in that process).

Likewise, Hasselblad makes its cameras in Sweden (and by hand, no less) but batteries are produced in Thailand.

I've also given Canon an asterisk for India, because it is currently in discussions to open manufacturing centers there. But given the enormous 145% tariff that the US is currently imposing on China – and with the bicep flexing taking place on both sides – I suspect those negotiations have taken on new urgency.

So this list is by no means exhaustive, but gives a good illustration of how complex and costly this situation is going to be.

And if you're wondering when the camera brands will wise up and just move their factories to America, don't hold your breath. As Blackmagic's Patrick Hussey explained, most camera semiconductors sold by US companies are imported from overseas.

"We were planning to build a new factory in Dallas, Texas, to streamline our supply chain and allow us to work more directly with US semiconductor companies… If we proceed with the US factory, we'd incur tariffs on those parts, increasing costs and negating the savings we anticipated."

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Keep an eye on our live tariff updates for all the latest developments that affect the camera industry. If you want to buy a camera and are worried about prices going up, you might want to pull the trigger on one of the best mirrorless cameras sooner than later.