5D Mark II: more kits than bodies

I need to rant....someone I know just dumped all of his Nikon gear (D300, a few lenses) on eBay this week and found that B&H listed the 5D Mk II as "In Stock" and with "Free Express Shipping." He now has one in his hands. I got on a wait list at Calumet on 17 September 2008. I do not. What's wrong with this picture?

Well, says Calumet, "we do have kits in stock, if you'd rather have that." A 5D Mark II "kit" is the body with a 24-105mm f/4L IS lens. A quick search of "canon 24-105" yields a TON of lenses that are labeled from their sellers as "brand new, unused, from my 5D Mark II kit."

Chuck Westfall, if you're listening (I know you're not): YOU DO NOT ROLL OUT KITS AT THE SAME TIME AS THE BODIES PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITLISTED FOR. YOU WAIT UNTIL THOSE ORDERS ARE FILLED.

I am THIS close to dropping the order, and switching to Sony for the A900. And I'm not kidding. This is bulls*$%.

I got mine (body only) from Hunt's a week ago; even got extra batteries and the grid focusing screen (should arrive Monday)....

I'm still waiting though for Kirk to get me an L-Bracket for it. I have to use my old Slik tripod for the time being and it's heavy

I think I understand the reason why they push kits. They make more money by selling lenses. Lot of people would prefer to buy the kits to lay their hands on the body.

Good Luck!

Sabyasachi

I know this is no consolation but I ran into exactly the same problem with the 50D a little while back. For weeks, I waited for B&H to get the bodies in and all they had to sell were kits. Finally, I walked into a local camera shop and they had the body for the same price as B&H so I bought it there.

I got one from Fry's electronics in San Jose, CA. I had to return it because it stopped working after a few hours with Error 20 not taking any pictures (and I had a hard time returning it so don't buy from them). I am not purchasing it again because I didn't like the AF (feels like my old 20D) and shutter lag, it's a landscape body not good for birding.