Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L Officially Discontinued?

[Loswr]

It's evident that the Mk I will be discontinued at some point soon. The replacement is several hundred dollars more expensive, even compared to MSRP. But soon, you won't be able to get a new 24-70/2.8 cheaper than the street price of the MkII.

Um, are you really suggesting that at some point the Mk1 will cost the same, or even more, than the $2300 Mk2, purely based on supply-demand economics? That is so unlikely as to actually be preposterous. ???

I think you misinterpret. What I mean is that soon the original will be discontinued, and retail stock will dry up, and at that point, street price of the MkII will be the only option for a new 24-70/2.8 lens (from Canon, of course), i.e. the MkII. That fact is what's going to drive up demand for the current 24-70. Here's what I mean:

During the last non-rebate period (most of 2011), the average list price of the lens was just under $1400. It's worth noting the Canon states the estimated retail price of the lens as $1399, and most of the retailers sold at or a bit under that price. Look at B&H or Adorama today - some retailers with the lens in stock are selling it for $1599, $200 above Canon's estimated retail price for the lens. Why are they selling it for more than the 'usual' street price? Supply is low, and demand is high for the reasons mentioned above. There are still a couple of retailers with the lens in stock selling it at $1399, J&R and Sears, for example, and a lot more retailers listing it at $1399 but with no lenses to sell at that price.

This is exactly what happened with the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS at the time the MkII was announced/released.

 

[DB]

I think you misinterpret. What I mean is that soon the original will be discontinued, and retail stock will dry up, and at that point, street price of the MkII will be the only option for a new 24-70/2.8 lens (from Canon, of course), i.e. the MkII. That fact is what's going to drive up demand for the current 24-70. Here's what I mean:

Great chart, it shows graphically precisely what I've observed anecdotally, since the beginning of this year.

I wonder if Neuro knows what happened to 28-70 prices after 24-70 was introduced and the older 28-70 was then discontinued

 

[DB]

Canon have just raised their 'official' MSRP for the 24-70mm f2.8L Mk I by more than 100 euros during May from €1,599 to €1,700 now (that's US$2,170)

http://www.canon.ie/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/EF_Lenses/Standard_Zoom/EF_24-70mm_f2.8L_USM/

Plus two weeks ago I balked at the Harvey Norman price for this lens @ €1,569 when I looked at in in one of their stores and now it is €1,699 (I verified the price too with one of the sales staff)

http://www.harveynorman.ie/canon-24-70mm.html

Seems like Canon are raising guide retail prices,whilst retailers are following suit. You guys in the States are so lucky to be able to buy @ one-third off European prices.

 

[h4ldol]

You guys in the States are so lucky to be able to buy @ one-third off European prices.

Oh please, enough of the European whining about how the U.S. prices are so 'cheap'. While they may seem cheap to you given the current dollar/euro exchange rate, they are not 'cheap' to us over here.

In any case, J&R cancelled my 24-70mm mark I order, saying that it was 'discontinued'. So it looks like the only option for now is $1600 at B&H or Adorama.

 

[bdunbar79]

The question remains as to whether the mark II lens could possibly be updated ENOUGH to warrant that much of a price increase. I mean, how can you improve IQ that much over a lens that already performs very well? This must be some sort of "super lens."

 

[Loswr]

The question remains as to whether the mark II lens could possibly be updated ENOUGH to warrant that much of a price increase. I mean, how can you improve IQ that much over a lens that already performs very well? This must be some sort of "super lens."

No doubt about it. The current (now discontinued) 24-70mm is a good lens, but it has focus shift, and while the color and contrast are excellent, the sharpness is just good. If you compare the 24-70mm to several primes in the same range, the primes have better IQ. If you do the same comparison with the new 70-200mm II, you find that it equals most primes in that range - if the new 24-70mm II is the same, it's more than worth the price increase (to me, at least).

 

[bdunbar79]

The question remains as to whether the mark II lens could possibly be updated ENOUGH to warrant that much of a price increase. I mean, how can you improve IQ that much over a lens that already performs very well? This must be some sort of "super lens."

No doubt about it. The current (now discontinued) 24-70mm is a good lens, but it has focus shift, and while the color and contrast are excellent, the sharpness is just good. If you compare the 24-70mm to several primes in the same range, the primes have better IQ. If you do the same comparison with the new 70-200mm II, you find that it equals most primes in that range - if the new 24-70mm II is the same, it's more than worth the price increase (to me, at least).

Excellent point. What if the II version has the IQ (or close to) of say, the 24, 35 and 50 primes, then heck yeah, it'd be worth it. I think I am going to wait awhile to consider purchasing it though. If it matches IQ, I'll sell my 50's and just use the 24-70L II at 50mm since I never shoot at super low light at 50. Great point.

 

[mbworldz]

I bought the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD, great lens! It works quite well with the 5D Mark III.
The new one from Canon is little pricy IMO and it has no IS.

 

[DB]

You guys in the States are so lucky to be able to buy @ one-third off European prices.

Oh please, enough of the European whining about how the U.S. prices are so 'cheap'. While they may seem cheap to you given the current dollar/euro exchange rate, they are not 'cheap' to us over here.

In any case, J&R cancelled my 24-70mm mark I order, saying that it was 'discontinued'. So it looks like the only option for now is $1600 at B&H or Adorama.

Stop moaning about not being able to buy a discontinued model and pre-order the 24-70mm MkII to go with your pre-ordered 5D3. If you can afford three-and-a-half grand on a camera body, you can surely splurge two-thirds again on some decent glass?? Everyone in this forum has spent more on glass than their current camera body. And hey...if it's too expensive over there right now...well uh just 'charge it'... it would be positively un-American of you not to. ???

 

[rambarra]

also the 5d2 in kit w/the old 24-70 are nowhere to be found bcs all vendors jumped on those in order to unbundle the lens. It is very odd how ppl never realize that items which are being discountinued usually raise in price, especially if it is the case of a very popular lens/camera. In the meanwhile also prices of the used items are driven up accordigly (as a general trend).

There is nearly always a very low price point which usually occurs months BEFORE of the actual EOL announcement and is due to manufacturer's dumping excess stocks to the market. When you see a good low price it is time to buy in volumes and then wait.

 

[DB]

also the 5d2 in kit w/the old 24-70 are nowhere to be found bcs all vendors jumped on those in order to unbundle the lens. It is very odd how ppl never realize that items which are being discountinued usually raise in price, especially if it is the case of a very popular lens/camera. In the meanwhile also prices of the used items are driven up accordigly (as a general trend).

There is nearly always a very low price point which usually occurs months BEFORE of the actual EOL announcement and is due to manufacturer's dumping excess stocks to the market. When you see a good low price it is time to buy in volumes and then wait.

Your last paragraph made me think about the current EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens (the first 'L' lens with 4-stop image stabilization) because the price of this lens both new and used appear to become a lot cheaper this month. I've noticed because I was considering selling mine and getting the f/2.8, but a lot have appeared on online adverts during May, plus camera stores are also discounting them by 50-100 bucks. Perhaps an EOL announcement is in the offing later this summer? Or maybe a Mark II?