Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L II Delayed Again

[Otter]

I think the lesson learned for this round of releases is don't announce a product too early, unless you know you can hit that date within a month. I know it's all been said, I'm just giving my two cents. I'm not waiting for a 1dX or a 24-70 mkII(although I wouldn't mind either!), but it really makes you feel like Canon isn't running their business the right way, caring that people who are waiting for these products and doing a lot of things on the fly.
Yes, I understand nobody wants a lens release for $2000 + or camera @ $6000+ that isn't ready and it's good they are taking the time to get it right. Well, don't create all this negative press by constantly delaying it and 1/2 a year early announcements. I'd rather get a one month announcement or less, here is a new lens and camera in then new lens and camera in 3 months and then it's 6 months and so on. Perhaps it's a ploy to keep people waiting for their equipment as opposed to going over to different companies to get what they want or people getting into photography starting out(yes I know you don't start with a 1DX) waiting for Canon instead of choosing Nikon.
For the record, I do love my Canon products I have purchased in the past and would not change to Nikon or another company... I'm just saying.... "Come on Canon, get your $(*@ together!"

 

[Wideopen]

As long the lens is made to specs, I'm willing to wait for good copy.

+1 gives me more time to save up

 

[jabbott]

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for Canon making sure their product is created with the highest standard they choose for it. However, I am not happy with the way Canon is tossing their customers around. Its just not professional. I expect a company to have everything figured out, then announce the product with a release date and STICK TO IT! Think of how apple does their business. If they say a product is going to be released on July 29th, you can bet that it WILL be released on July 29th. It shows integrity and professionalism. Surely everyone is allowed to slip and have to make recalls or delay the product once in a while. But that should be the exception, not the rule.

On the flip side of that, the first revisions of Apple products are sometimes known to have quality issues... it's all a tradeoff between schedule, quality and managing expectations. I do agree that Canon shouldn't announce a product months early (or years early like the 200-400mm), and they especially shouldn't discontinue the previous product months early. That was a pretty boneheaded move on their part.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I think we are going to continue to see lens manufacturing problems into the future. Glass production requires a lot of electrical power, and companies are being told to cut back.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112538565/japan-faces-power-outages-residents-urged-to-conserve-energy/

The crystal growing operations for the big crystals also requires a reliable power source, and a huge amount of power. Backup generators can only hold power for a limited time, so production is going to suffer.

http://www.canon-optron.co.jp/english/fluorite/index.html

 

[RafaPolit]

What is utterly absurd is the inability of Canon to stick to their own release dates... no one imposes those dates on them, they chose them, and then there is delay after delay!! On EVERY product! Just absurd!

Rafa.

 

[Dylan]

I was the owner of a V1 24-70 and sold it when the date was set for release on the mark II. I didn't expect it to start shipping the exact day they had posted, but certainly not 6 months late. I've been checking CR almost every day DREADING this notice. I figured Canon's recent track record painted a good picture that I wasn't going to receive this lens, even by the end of July. Photographers and videographers make business decisions based upon new arrivals and I chose to sell something early to stay ahead of the game. In the future, I wish Canon would announce something with a large window (expected to start shipping April-October 2012). Why put a date on something if it means nothing and upsets their customers? I own many primes and will get by, but I wanted this lens for a trip in August and wanted the versatility.

 

[keithfullermusic]

I do a lot of music stuff, and this used to be a problem with music software - they announce it, and announce a release date, then delay it, then delay it, then delay it...

It got so bad that companies do NOT announce a release date until the stuff is actually ready for release. What Canon is doing is completely unprofessional. It's something I would expect from a company run by high schoolers.

I'm all for waiting until the product is ready for release, but they really need to stop announcing release dates before they are ready. To me, Canon release dates mean absolutely nothing anymore, especially with pro level items.

 

[Marsu42]

I'm all for waiting until the product is ready for release, but they really need to stop announcing release dates before they are ready.

Makes sense, but obviously Canon screwed up so badly that they stopped producing the 24-70mk1 with only the hope that the mk2 will be ready. So they resorted to salami tactics - what else should they do? Tell people to get a Tamron lens during this nearly half-year time period :-o

 

[suman0102]

That's true. Apple has made the mistake of releasing some items too early with flaws. But so has Canon with their recent 5DIII and light peaking issue. These kinds of mistakes happen and are hard to foresee. But saying canon will announce a product very early and then continues with delay after delay does not settle well with me. What strikes me even more is the timing of their delays. It seems that they tend to make the delay apparent at the very last moment when people get their hopes up. Its like the friend who owes you money and says s/he'll pay it off next week. When next week comes around, he/she says they don't have it and will have it at another point in time. Its hard to rely on people/companies like that.

I guess I've been disappointed with canon lately and am venting more than I really should ;D

Speaking of, 200-400! I'd love to see that lens in the shelves!

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for Canon making sure their product is created with the highest standard they choose for it. However, I am not happy with the way Canon is tossing their customers around. Its just not professional. I expect a company to have everything figured out, then announce the product with a release date and STICK TO IT! Think of how apple does their business. If they say a product is going to be released on July 29th, you can bet that it WILL be released on July 29th. It shows integrity and professionalism. Surely everyone is allowed to slip and have to make recalls or delay the product once in a while. But that should be the exception, not the rule.

On the flip side of that, the first revisions of Apple products are sometimes known to have quality issues... it's all a tradeoff between schedule, quality and managing expectations. I do agree that Canon shouldn't announce a product months early (or years early like the 200-400mm), and they especially shouldn't discontinue the previous product months early. That was a pretty boneheaded move on their part.

 

[bdunbar79]

What is utterly absurd is the inability of Canon to stick to their own release dates... no one imposes those dates on them, they chose them, and then there is delay after delay!! On EVERY product! Just absurd!

Rafa.

This.

 

[keithfullermusic]

I'm all for waiting until the product is ready for release, but they really need to stop announcing release dates before they are ready.

Makes sense, but obviously Canon screwed up so badly that they stopped producing the 24-70mk1 with only the hope that the mk2 will be ready. So they resorted to salami tactics - what else should they do? Tell people to get a Tamron lens during this nearly half-year time period :-o

What they can do is announce the product, but not announce any sort of release date. If they NEED to announce a date for some reason, they should expect the worse, because that's what usually seems to happen. Telling people that a product will be ready by a certain point, and delaying it multiple times is just unacceptable for a bigtime company like that. If it happened once then fine, but this happened with the 1DX, the 5Diii, and now this...

 

[Marsu42]

Telling people that a product will be ready by a certain point, and delaying it multiple times is just unacceptable for a bigtime company like that. If it happened once then fine, but this happened with the 1DX, the 5Diii, and now this...

I'm sure, Canon management would subscribe to that view, at least internally. Announcing and delaying one product might work to torpedo the competition's sales, but this might undermine the trust in Canon as a whole. You could add the slow introduction of the new radio tech to the list.

My only explanation is that there are still aftermaths from the natural disasters in Japan on design facilities and staff, so that by prioritizing other research like mirrorless and video (af,stm) they're screwing up in their old back yard.

 

[RunAndGun]

If it happened once then fine, but this happened with the 1DX, the 5Diii, and now this...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the "official" release date of the 5DMKIII March 22nd?(approx. a month after announcing it) There were many who received their copies before that date and MANY, MANY others like myself who received it the day after(it shipped on the release date). No, not everyone who had a pre-order received one, but it was initially released in fairly sufficient quantities and "on-time".

 

[cliffwang]

I can see Tamron smiling right about now!

And not me

I was hoping the Tamron's price would break a bit . . . guessing this is NOT going to happen.

I also expected Tamron drop its 24-70 price. Now I may just go ahead to order one from Amazon.

 

[Marsu42]

I also expected Tamron drop its 24-70 price.

Realistically, since only the non-IS 24-70ii will be the competition, I expected the Tamron not to get much cheaper. But now with the new delay, I'll grab my Tamron first thing in the morning tomorrow :->

 

[robin]

I was the owner of a V1 24-70 and sold it when the date was set for release on the mark II. I didn't expect it to start shipping the exact day they had posted, but certainly not 6 months late. I've been checking CR almost every day DREADING this notice. I figured Canon's recent track record painted a good picture that I wasn't going to receive this lens, even by the end of July. Photographers and videographers make business decisions based upon new arrivals and I chose to sell something early to stay ahead of the game. In the future, I wish Canon would announce something with a large window (expected to start shipping April-October 2012). Why put a date on something if it means nothing and upsets their customers? I own many primes and will get by, but I wanted this lens for a trip in August and wanted the versatility.

I guess you did sell the lens so early, because you wanted to get the high prize, before there is a drop when the Mark II is available. So don't complain, you've got it!

 

[samueljay]

If it happened once then fine, but this happened with the 1DX, the 5Diii, and now this...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the "official" release date of the 5DMKIII March 22nd?(approx. a month after announcing it) There were many who received their copies before that date and MANY, MANY others like myself who received it the day after(it shipped on the release date). No, not everyone who had a pre-order received one, but it was initially released in fairly sufficient quantities and "on-time".

That's what I thought, I don't think the 5D III was delayed? I got mine in the second batch in Australia, and got it on the 4th of April. There was only delays to shipments during the light leak debacle

 

[Dylan777]

I can see Tamron smiling right about now!

And not me

I was hoping the Tamron's price would break a bit . . . guessing this is NOT going to happen.

I also expected Tamron drop its 24-70 price. Now I may just go ahead to order one from Amazon.

Friend of mine has Canon 24-70 V1 and decided to try the new Tamron 24-70- bought it from BH 2weeks ago.

Today, I called and asked him if I can borrow the new Tamron to try out on my 5D III. The answer I got is "NO". The lens is on the way back to BH and he asked for his money back.

Reasons the lens is going back to BH:
1. Focus is slow
2. CA is terrible
3. VC(is) is not that great compared to Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS
4. Sharpness - not so good, but not so bad. just OK

What he likes about Tamron:
1. Price
2. It feels solid

At the end, he decided to keep his Canon mrk I and wait for mrk II.

 

[Razor2012]

I can see Tamron smiling right about now!

And not me

I was hoping the Tamron's price would break a bit . . . guessing this is NOT going to happen.

I also expected Tamron drop its 24-70 price. Now I may just go ahead to order one from Amazon.

Friend of mine has Canon 24-70 V1 and decided to try the new Tamron 24-70- bought it from BH 2weeks ago.

Today, I called and asked him if I can borrow the new Tamron to try out on my 5D III. The answer I got is "NO". The lens is on the way back to BH and he asked for his money back.

Reasons the lens is going back to BH:
1. Focus is slow
2. CA is terrible
3. VC(is) is not that great compared to Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS
4. Sharpness - not so good, but not so bad. just OK

What he likes about Tamron:
1. Price
2. It feels solid

At the end, he decided to keep his Canon mrk I and wait for mrk II.

It's worth the wait.

 

[Fatalv]

Ugh... more wait time. I'd love to see the internal gantt charts for canon products as of late. At least then I'd have a good laugh and it would put a smile on my face.