1D MK II pricing

[J. Cobble]

What is the new 1D supposed to retail for??

[Belmondo]

So far, just about everyone that's taking orders on them is getting $4,499. Some places are offering small discounts to professionals with commercial accounts.

Best guess is: that will be the price until initial orders are filled.

[defordphoto]

With the 1D MKII Canon has stopped listing an MRP. They now list an MAP, which is" Minimum Advertised Price.

[Belmondo]

Sounds like what we used to call 'Fair Trade.' I guess they can do that.

[defordphoto]

MRP is kind of pointless anyway. Nobody ever, EVER paid MRP for anything.

[Mills]

OK. Today a Pro comes to one of the divisions of my business to shoot pictures for some advertising. Never seen anything like this. He had THREE 1Ds's, one with a 16-35L, one with an 85L and one with a 70-200L IS. He had a Amabilla hard case in the trunk with more toys than I could ever imagine.

Anyway, he told me he does a ton of work (never heard of him, works for an AD agency in Chicago), and that he actually does field testing for Canon. I'm getting skeptical, but keep listening. He goes on to tell me that there will be a 1Ds Mark II unveiled at Photokena (sp?) and that when that happens the 1D Mark II will drop in price considerably, down as far as $3,000.

I admit I was in awe of this guy's equipment. But he sounded believable. Also saw some on his work on a 17 inch Powerbook and it was awesome. Told him I have a Mark II on order. Based on what I told him about the delivery date and position in line that I was quoted, he said I would be in possession of my camera by the end of April. This part of the story I desperately want to believe. What do you guys think? Blowhard with a ton of dough and a cool job or legit?

[defordphoto]

I never ceases to amaze me how many people try and outguess what Canon is going to do.

[Mills]

I agree Jim. Seems like they have done pretty well so far.

[defordphoto]

And if I was all worried about price drops, I would have stayed in film. But, I see the MKII as being the last camera I buy for some time and it will be third camera I have bought in less than 2 years.

[PaulB]

Spoke to a pro dealer here in the UK yesterday about the price of the 1DMkII - which has dropped c£500 ($900!) suddenly from £3499 to £2970 - and he told me that they were expecting a price reduction on the 1Ds soon.
That would indicate that Canon have the 1DsMkII due for announcement if this follows the pattern of the 1D pricing we saw back in December last.
How exactly the release of a 1DsMkII would affect the price of the 1DMkII I can't quite see though.
Unless of course the 1DsMkII is something like 16Mp and 8.5fps for 40 frames.........................!
NO, couldn't be. Could it?
Don't start this off as a rumour for goodness sake! It's not, honestly.