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 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.
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.
5D Mark II: more kits than bodies
Reply With Quote
