Cameras and Components in Short Supply - Prices Expected to Rise

In times of tragedy it's often difficult to think about the financial side of things, but it's an essential part of moving forward.

The quake in Japan has resulted in damage to manufacturing plants, work stoppages and, in some cases, total shutdowns. That means that the components that make up lenses, cameras, and even flash memory will be in short supply.

Fujifilm, for example, sustained damage in the Taiwa-Cho factory that's responsible for producing the new X100 digital camera. The camera was already delayed due to high demand, and the damage to the plant is resulting in another delay - albeit temporary - in manufacturing of the camera.

The folks at iSuppli say that the price for flash memory has surged up by ten percent already due to the projected numbers from manufacturers.

The damage to facilities, the loss of water and electricity and even the logistics of getting people to work with damage to roads and rail lines are all factors that could cause a steep drop in supply over the next year.