Canon has delayed the next EOS R5 Mark II shipments by potentially 6 months.

[frankchn]

I can see the R5II being given as a graduation gift or something similar, and if you don't know anything about cameras, buying a pre-packaged kit makes the most sense.

 

[Baywoof]

Announcement was delayed, it was supposed to be announced alongside the R1 development announcement. Anything more than that about it's development timeline, I don't know.

Considering now early adopters are waiting for a firmware upgrade to fix the reported problems with the R5II (menu resets, general glitches, etc.) perhaps it's best to wait until Canon gets their act together.

 

[P-visie]

It can make sense on a product that is either radically different than its predecessor or a new entry into the market even if it is just new from that vendor. There's no excuse for being wildly wrong on likely demand for a revision to an existing product that's already established in the market. But being wildly wrong on the "Mark II" of an existing product like the R5?

I agree with your reasoning, but the R5 has a stacked sensor. My understanding is that manufacturing a stacked sensor is much more complicated than manufacturing a non-stacked sensor. The R5 Mk II sensor is “only” the second (or third if you include the sensor of the R1) stacked full frame sensor that Canon has made.
Maybe it is production capacity that causes these long waiting times. If production capacity is smaller than demand, you can 1) introduce the product into the market and accept long waiting times for new orders or 2) try to increase production capacity and delay product introduction until production capacity meets demand.
Option 1 will bring revenue, option 2 comes with additional costs and no revenue. Both will bring dissatisfied customers. Which would you choose?

 

[Gendra]

But I don’t get why lens kit models exist on pro-level bodies. They are harder to sell at this level and artificially constrain supply of “body only.” It seems Canon would be better off just to offer $100 off the lens when purchased with new body and if someone wants the kit lens they can get it, or a more expensive L lens even, that way.

What's even more bizzare: Here in Europe the kit (R5II + 24-105/4) has the same price as the MSRP of both parts combined without any savings.
And since the street price of the lens is lower in most shops, it makes no sense to buy the kit at all.

 

[John Wilde]

"...I've now gotten confirmation from three different companies that there is are still parts shortages..."

-Thom Hogan, April 9, 2024

 

[Exploreshootshare]

I do agree with your reasoning for the R3, but not for all the other lenses and cameras. Basically every lens and camera which were released in the past 2-3 years have sold more than expected. That can´t be true...

But there's an another fact that I don't understand. When the R6mkii was released it very quickly made the list. Now, Canon USA is dumping "refurbed" R6mkii with insane rebates. In addition, it is basically the same price as the R6 for refurbed models. Also, there still seems to be a looooooot of stock of the R5 and it´s beeing dumped as well. So far, my obervations. Now, for my question/ speculation because I really don't know whether my assumption makes sense from a company's perspektive:

In both cases (R5mkii and R6mkii) I ask myself: Could've Canon stopped the production of the mki version earlier in favor of the mkii? If they now still sell so many mki with huge rebates, wouldn't it have made any sense to stop producing (far) earlier and built up extended inventory for the mkii because demand is very high and those would sell without rebates? 5000 - 8.000 mki versions less in favor of mkii? Or even 20.000? R5 and R6 were in stock everywhere (and still are) in the months leading up to the mkii announcements and shipping...

Me, personally, I would try to have minimum inventory needed of the mki and maximum available inventory for mkii once the announcement hits. It just doesn't seem to be the case... whether with the R6mkii or R5mkii

 

[Viggo]

Though at least in the US, B&H cleared their entire pre-order list with the initial shipment and the camera was briefly in stock on the website, so anyone who pre-ordered with them at any time before release was fine.

But, to everyone in Europe this is absolute BS… how about giving every country at least something instead of dumping them all at BH, the world is quite a bit larger than the US…

 

[Viggo]

This pi***es me off too… I can’t understand that this is possible… Vaporware….

And from a purely personal standpoint this sucks especially bad since I already sold my R5 to avoid having to give it away when everyone is selling their R5…

 

[Exploreshootshare]

And since the street price of the lens is lower in most shops, it makes no sense to buy the kit at all.

This is true especially for the RF 24-105mm F4 L IS. In Germany, the initial MSRP of the 24-105mm was 1.199 € when it was released in October 2018. During covid the MSRP was as high as 1.649 € (highest I´ve seen). Right now, it is 1.249 € but some "cheaper kit lenses" still sell it for 1.299 € or 1.399 €. Absolutely crazy...

Plus, the RF 24-105mm F4 l IS USM is probably the worst performing (still good, but far from being great) of the L labeled lenses (imho).

 

[John Wilde]

In their financial documents, Canon projects that they will sell 2.90 million interchangeable lens cameras this year. It will be curious to see if they adjust that number downward in their next set of financial documents, at the end of October.

 

[Besisika]

This may be a strategy to create a buying frenzy.

You pre-ordered, cancelled the pre-order because many Youtubers said it sucks, then real photographers had it in their hands and said that it is fantastic, then you try to order again, but now have to wait 6 months. I feel the pain.

 

[[email protected]]

Darn. I finally decided to get another r5ii last night after finding myself with mine in a cloud of bats in a feeding frenzy. It was almost completely dark out. My wife held a pen light out to give a drib of light. The R5ii focused on individual bats. They were feeding from about 100 yards out to right over our heads, coming within a foot or two, so the focus racks were unreasonable for any camera. My hit rate was about 10 percent. Maybe 5 percent. But I think that's amazing. Never owned a camera that would've gotten a single shot. We're going back this evening with a slightly larger light. Unfortunately, I think these guys were migrators, and we won't find them ever again.

Definitely a noticeable ISO hit when shooting black furry flying things in the dark. My 12k ISO shots from the R5ii look like 25k ISO shots from the R5, but then the R5 wouldn't have gotten them in focus in the first place. (I started with it and swapped it for the mark ii.)

Too bad about the supply issues. Does sound like they might need to swap a part for whatever reason.

-tig

PS: Was using both R5 versions to shoot nighthawks earlier in the evening. Very clear to me that the Mark II does much, much better with birds at great distances/smaller subjects, and with complicated backgrounds. I think this has been the weaker point of Canon's AF abilities till now. Couldn't be happier with the AF. It alone makes the jump to Mark ii worth it.

 

[PinholeR5]

Just some practical advice: Never sell something you use in anticipation of receiving the replacement. Once you have the replacement in hand and it works then sell the previously used device.

I hear you. That's what I did, given my expectations on supply, even though I ordered within seconds of the order button being available. I do think there are some situations where folks need to sell first. I have sold lenses in antecipation of new lenses coming out, but then these were lenses I could be without for a while if needed.

But yeah, you're right. If you need to have a camera and this is your main/only one, perhaps wait until you get the new one before selling the old one.

 

[wockawocka]

I feel there's more to this than there is. I can't see why you wouldn't develop a camera yet not have enough parts in to make a few production runs.

It's not as if the Mkii is a revolutionary camera.

 

[PinholeR5]

Honestly, with every lens or camera there is the "preorders were significantly higher than anticipated..."... it is really annoying. If this happens once or twice, I'm fine with. But if it happens EVERY SINGLE time Canon announces something, there is a at least one department that does shitty work... it could be bad market research (for having wrong estimates ALL THE TIME), marketing (for using the same phrases as an excuse over and over again), production planning or acquisition of raw materials.

It does sound funny. Just like Google maps that tells me every single weekday morning "there is heavier than usuall traffic".

 

[Billybob]

With Sony you never know if they have something ready to come out at any time. The A1 was fantastic when it came out and had a far out price to match....it's been around 4 years now though and everyone has something similar but the A1 hasn't come down in price. Luckily I haven't owned a stacked sensor camera yet so I don't know what I'm missing. The R5 and A7RV are both great cameras, and the Z8 and R5II are for the most part the upgrades I have been wanting for the price I'm able to pay. Sony isn't in the picture unless they surprise us really soon. I'm just not willing to get a whole new set of lenses to go Z8 (and the autofocus isn't quite as good as either Canon or Sony yet). So I wait and watch and my poor 500mm lens sits in its case through bear season this year.

The Z8 AF may be measurably inferior but in practice there won't be many shots you'll miss that you would have gotten with Canon or Sony gear. But I agree, buying into a new system without lenses when you already have an existing kit is not advisable (I rarely follow my own advice ).

I suspect Sony is working on an A1 successor (no idea what novel features it will offer--a global shutter?). When that body is ready, Sony will almost certainly lower the A1 price to be more competitive with the Canon and Nikon offerings.

 

[Anon]

Sorry, couldn`t resist But seriously, good things come to those who wait. So get your tea, coffee, beer or whatever and enjoy the camera you have right now. Except for @Viggo, your situation really sucks mate. Sorry to hear that

 

[neuroanatomist]

This is another tempest in a teapot. The R5II will be on the market for four years, give or take. If anything, constrained initial supply will lead to a longer delay before price drops, meaning more profit for Canon long term.

Component supply issues are still a thing, but regardless of the underlying reason it's unlikely to cause long term issues for Canon, though no doubt it will frustrate some people. Most people who want an R5II will likely just keep using the camera they have until there is stock available.

 

[Del Paso]

What I really don't understand is that, at least in most European countries, the R 6/R6 II/R3 were all rather quickly available.
Is demand so huge or is production capacity so limited? Or both?
Maybe I'll bridge the waiting time with a cheap brand-new R5? Since I planned replacing both the R and 5 DIV, this could be a good option. On the other hand, I'd prefer two R5 IIs. Yes, the eye AF!
Be patient, my poor suffering heart...

 

[Del Paso]

This is true especially for the RF 24-105mm F4 L IS. In Germany, the initial MSRP of the 24-105mm was 1.199 € when it was released in October 2018. During covid the MSRP was as high as 1.649 € (highest I´ve seen). Right now, it is 1.249 € but some "cheaper kit lenses" still sell it for 1.299 € or 1.399 €. Absolutely crazy...

Plus, the RF 24-105mm F4 l IS USM is probably the worst performing (still good, but far from being great) of the L labeled lenses (imho).

I bought mine in Italy for Euro 860 (new, from an official Canon dealer), and enjoyed afterwards Euro 100 cashback!
I didn't like it. As you wrote, it was good, useful, but far from great. It never surprised me in a positive way. One year later, I sold it for 1000 and replaced it with primes.
In those times, when you wanted something, you went to a shop and simply bought it.