USA Rebates Starting Sunday? [CR1]

I was going to trade in a lens here in Minneapolis and the local shop here confirmed a rebate program starting this Monday.

All sources are pointing to May 3rd. Let’s hope and wait.

Maybe they will finally discount cameras with the virgin mary and jesus in the pixels bonus feature too!

o rebates but price increases May 1 in canada? That sucks!

There you go. I am a smart shopper, getting the best price is my goal.

Primes rule for everything but photojournalism in my opinion. But low light wide angle is not a big thing for me so I haven’t invested in the 24/35 1.4’s either. The 5D2 made me rethink that a bit with it’s low light ability, but I’m passing on any new cameras until the video features get better. Maybe after that I’ll want the faster wide primes.

Saw this on slickdeals.net:

CANON INSTANT REBATES: May 3 – July 11, 2009

Camera Bodies

EOS 50D Kit + EF-S 18–200mm f/3.5–5.6 IS – $300
EOS 50D EF-S 18–200mm IS Kit – $300
EOS 50D EF 28–135mm IS Kit + EF-S 18–200mm f/3.5–5.6 IS – $300
EOS 50D Kit + EF 70–300mm f/4–5.6 IS USM – $150
EOS 50D EF 28–135mm IS Kit + EF 70–300mm f/4–5.6 IS USM – $150
EOS Rebel XSi EF-S 18–55mm IS Kit (B) + EF-S 55–250mm f/4–5.6 IS – $200
EOS Rebel XSi EF-S 18–55mm IS Kit (S) + EF-S 55–250mm f/4–5.6 IS – $200
EOS Rebel XS EF-S 18–55mm IS Kit (B) + EF 75–300mm f/4.5–5.6 III – $100
EOS Rebel XS EF-S 18–55mm IS Kit (S) + EF 75–300mm f/4.5–5.6 III – $100

Lenses

EF 200mm f/2L IS USM – $500
EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM – $130
EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS USM – $200
EF 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS USM – $100
EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM – $100
EF 50mm f/1.2L USM – $100
EF 24–70mm f/2.8L USM – $80
EF 70–200mm f/4L IS USM – $75
EF-S 17–55mm f/2.8 IS USM – $70
EF-S 10–22mm f/3.5–4.5 USM – $50
EF 17–40mm f/4L USM – $50
EF 70–200mm f/4L USM – $40
EF-S 17–85mm f/4–5.6 IS USM – $50
EF 100mm f/2.8 MACRO USM – $35
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 MACRO USM – $30
EF 28–200mm f/3.5–5.6 USM – $30
EF 28–105mm f/3.5–4.5 II USM – $20
EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 IS – $15

Flash Units

SPEEDLITE 580EX II – $50
SPEEDLITE 430EX II – $30
SPEEDLITE 220EX – $30
MACRO TWIN LITE MT-24EX – $70
MACRO RING LITE MR-14EX – $50

I believe all in the above but the 200/2 rebate. Local dealer is having a sponsored event beginning on May 2nd with “Instant Rebates up to $300”. Manufacturer isn’t being specified, but these have always corresponded with the Canon rebate programs.

I don’t want to be negative, but 5D Mk II is unlikely, I think. We’ll need some other links to confirm that this list is accurate. Or just wait until Sunday.

You have the info. Why fight it?

I’m not. I just question the rationale behind the 200/2 rebate – it doesn’t make sense. Anyone actually considering buying the lens is going to make their decision on the basis of the lens, not its price. They might as well offer rebates on the 300 + 400mm glass as well; it’ll be as effective in impacting sales.

I feel that there is less demand for this lens because a lot of people still have their 200/1.8, and frankly for indoor sports its a better lens (yes its not as sharp and AF isnt quite as fast, but the .5 stops really helps). the 200/2 really rocks for portraits too, but its hard to justify that kind of cost for a portrait lens over the 135 f/2. I am glad they have a 200/2 in their line-up, it needs to be their, I just wish they’d made a 200mm f/1.8L IS USM. I know it would have been more expensive, but it would give a lot of indoor sports shooters a real reason to upgrade a 20 year old lens. (and put a little bit of a squeeze on nikon =P)

Another potential reason: Nikon’s 200/2 is priced ~500 USD lower than Canon’s.

I just ordered the 135mm F2/L from Norman camera, $935. The lenses are not in stock at B&H. I’ve bought two other lenses from Norman Camera in the last 6 months, they ship promptly and are a good dealer.

I’d probably buy from our local dealer, Huppins (onecall.com), but they don’t stock it, just by special order.

They were revised on the 26th of April, net income (15.8)%. I read it in the financial results sectiong on the Nikon web site in a PDF. I didn’t bookmark it though.

I received the 135 F:/2 L today, and took a few snapshots. You were right, it is simply amazing, I had no idea of how sharp it really is. I plan to use it for stage photography, and it will get its first workout at a dance recital tomorrow.

Without IS, I will really have to support it well in low light, or use a flash, but outdoors, even wide open its sharp. I also put a 1.x X extender on it. Only a slight degradation, still as sharp as my 70-200 2.8 IS.

I’m not very good at holding the camera absolutely still, but I will be forced to learn.

with the Canon Rebates, its a standard thing that has been going on for many years. Prices are raised twice a year, and right after we have the rebates.

Not to say that they don’t use it to get rid of slow selling stock, but some of their fastest sellers are rebated as well. Those are high profit items like the 200mm F:/2 lenses.