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The Canon EOS R5 Mark II has been a frustrating launch when it comes to stock levels for both customers and retailers. There are still some long preorder lists in various countries around the globe, and the communication from Canon has been less than stellar for a lot of people.
We also all saw the news that ‘new' EOS R5 Mark II orders could take more than 6 months to arrive. Canon publically stated that the issue(s) are with the supply chain, but they didn't articulate on that point. By the looks of it, Canon has removed the supply chain comment on their supply status notice for whatever reason. The last update was on September 9.
We have been told that in the UK, a small shipment of camera bodies hit their warehouses, but not enough to cover the long preorder lists. The UK seems to have received a very small initial allocation compared to the rest of the planet.
Small numbers of camera bodies have started to hit EU retailers, and we'll keep an eye for any retailer that shows stock.
North America has started receiving camera bodies, but those seem to be going to preorders, as the list grew again over the last month or so.
I'm not sure about the 6 month thing, that is likely the worst case scenario for new orders. We can hope they get things sorted well before March of next year.
Let us know if you've had your preordered cameras ship this week.
B&H Photo does have stock of the EOS R5 Mark II w/RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Kit for $5399
Canon EOS R5 Mark II
"Hi Canon, I'd like to buy this new camera you just announced!"
"After reviewing your photos, we don't feel that you're a good fit for our camera and we're going to wait for someone better to click buy. But by all means, please come back and ask again in 6 months once we've supplied more talented photographers!"
"Oh... ok..."
I get that it can be frustrating though.
Edit:
And concerning the idea of a photographer first policy - canon would probably lose out on sales doing that. The photographer will buy the new camera, even when they have to wait for a while. The influencer has almost no use for the new camera, as soon as the hype is gone and making content about it doesn't generate enough clicks anymore, so they would probably just skip to the next project.
OK, I got your message!🙄
While I take issue with the bevy of "professional" reviewers that don't actually shoot having authority in our space, most people that buy a Porsche 911 have no idea how to drive it and would be better suited with a VW Golf R, but that's ok. They had the poster on their wall as kids. I have a very cool car that I will never be able to drive to its capabilities. I just happen to love it for whatever reason and parted with a lot of money just to stare at it. 🙂
Some people just like cameras and lenses, if they only want to take pictures of their cats with an R52, that's fantastic. Hobbyists are what fund the industry, not professionals. A big percentage of big white lenses and 1 series cameras are bought by hobbyists that happen to have some disposable income.
- What exactly makes a photographer legitimate? Who decides that?
- What evidence is there that people are buying these cameras for status? Is it a hand full of people posting on internet forums, and what proportion of R5ii owners does that account for? Does anyone actually gain status from having a new camera?
- Even if people are buying the camera for status (or any other purpose you've identified as illegitimate), would it be better for Canon to restrict that behaviour, or to sell as many units as they possible can to anyone with the money? You listed this change as "imperative", but I can't see that being imperative for anyone other than the hand full of people who didn't get the camera as quickly as they wanted to - certainly not for Canon.
- If priority will be given to professionals and artists over pretenders and speculators, how do we decide which category people fit into? Minimum sales per year? Instagram likes? Gallery showings? Award wins? Percentage of income derived from photography? What about on the other side of the equations for pretenders and speculators - People that do Gear reviews? People with fewer than 10k exposures on their last camera?
I mean, come on. How does any of that sound like a good idea? Here's a hot take - I think a free market would suggest that anyone with the money, ability to find a retailer with inventory, or anyone with the forethought to pre-order early has earned their right to buy the camera regardless of what they plan on doing with it. I think setting special criteria over who has the right to buy the camera gets ugly fast.