Canon Community

LaneW · ‎12-23-2023

Estimated shipping date was Dec 14. I ordered through Adorama, and they just say that they are backordered. Seems to be the same story ordering direct from Canon and other sellers. What is really going on here?

Canon R5, 80D. EF 100-400 ii, 1.4 ii TC. RF 800 F/11. RF 24-105 F/4

Tronhard · ‎05-06-2024

Apologies for the late response, some health issues and I missed your post.

Actually, from my experience there have been similar issues with other brands, but since their market share is significantly smaller there are fewer voices expressing their discontent. I'm not disagreeing that this is frustrating, but given these factors impact a lot of other things that are more critical to people's wellbeing - I have seen issues in other contexts with medical equipment deliveries, for example. The first line of my signature is a truth - if your home is flooded, or flattened by a tornado, or you are made redundant and lose your job, a delayed lens will suddenly be somewhat less tragic.

The fact is we have become used to a world of predictability, convenience and fast service. Well, as factors like climate change (example Panama Canal issue) and conflict (Hormuz Strait bottleneck) start to become more prevalent, you can expect more to disruption to come. The world has changed a lot since the COVID outbreak - people are more stressed, and that is expressed as frustration, lack of tolerance, political extremism, anger and antisocial behaviour. We see it a bit on this forum from people who come to rant rather than seek solutions or explanations.

While I do a lot of photography, I am not dependent on any one piece of equipment, and I am not going to get myself in a twist over something I cannot control. I believe photography is more about technique than tech, and since I functioned perfectly well before I knew this or that gear existed, I can continue to do so until it turns up or I consider it economically viable.

I never personally pre-order gear, and usually wait until it has had some field use before purchasing, that way I am not tapping my fingers waiting in anticipation, and it's a lot less stressful. However, communication is a different issue and I agree that silence in these situations is not golden. I have worked with multiple large companies and can attest that not sharing bad news is a fairly common human characteristic in business and politics, and there are challenges in doing so when there are major variations. What if I issue a statement that such-and-such is critically delayed, but some folks get that item right away and then accuse the vendor of crying wolf? I have seen that happen with weather predictions: predicted bad weather never comes and the agency gets rubbished, so it they be more reticent to issue a warning for the next weather event, and if they don't and it causes strife, they are pilloried again. Furthermore, as I have also said, it seems to be a cultural characteristic of Japanese society in particular to hold back from the perceived shame of admitting an issue.

All I can say is that if you feel that Canon is acting poorly and think that another vendor will perform better in that context, then I would sincerely suggest moving to them - it's your right as a consumer to vote with your feet. I shoot Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Olympus and Sony and they are ALL great companies or they would not exist. Just be aware switching platforms usually costs, so research their performance carefully.

cheers, TREVOR

The mark of good photographer is less what they hold in their hand, it's more what they hold in their head;
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow", Leo Tolstoy;
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase" Percy W. Harris

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LaneW · ‎12-27-2023

Rick. Thank you for your considerable insight. You make many good points.

I guess my frustration, and concern, is the lack of any of this kind of information from Canon. I have called and written but got little from them, and there is not a way that I know of, to communicate with higher ups. So I can only hope that someone there is reading these concerns. If the issues you express are causing delays, I would just like to know what’s going on. If it’s now going to be February, rather than December 14, I would like to know. And I don’t have any confidence in a February date based on what I have seen so far.

Canon R5, 80D. EF 100-400 ii, 1.4 ii TC. RF 800 F/11. RF 24-105 F/4

tomynysmon · ‎12-31-2023

you know we use dd/mm/yyyy over here ? So I reckon its 1st April not 4th Jan

mdougc · ‎12-31-2023

Well buggers! I did know that, and I failed to translate.
We lived in Swansea for a couple years. My spelling has been cocked up ever since. 🙂

Thank you.

mDougC
Avid Wildlife photographer - EOS R, R5, R5 Mark II, many lenses, LR Classic, Topaz, necessary gadgets

woodwoman · ‎12-27-2023

I understand all about supply chain issues. All I'd like to hear is something from Canon regarding a potential next round of shipments and/or some information on what may be impacting their ability to ship or to give a projection on when people can expect to receive lenses.

Waddizzle · ‎12-27-2023

@woodwoman wrote:
I understand all about supply chain issues. All I'd like to hear is something from Canon regarding a potential next round of shipments and/or some information on what may be impacting their ability to ship or to give a projection on when people can expect to receive lenses.

As noted above, this is not the proper venue for those questions. This is merely a user forum. It is social media. This forum is neither Canon Sales, Service, or Customer Support. I suggest you contact your vendor, whomever that might be.

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"The right mouse button is your friend."

woodwoman · ‎12-27-2023

I know this is a user forum. I was simply expressing an opinion on a topic of interest to me and wondering what other users opinions were. Canon has no answers. I wasn't expecting one from them in this medium. I have reached out to them directly and they have no timeline or information.

Waddizzle · ‎12-27-2023

@woodwoman wrote:
I know this is a user forum. I was simply expressing an opinion on a topic of interest to me and wondering what other users opinions were. Canon has no answers. I wasn't expecting one from them in this medium. I have reached out to them directly and they have no timeline or information.

My mistake. You seemed to be requesting a response directly from Canon.

Was Canon your vendor? You should be reaching out to your vendor. What does your vendor say? The vendor is the party who seems to have made promises, to you, not Canon. Every vendor is in a different situation.

--------------------------------------------------------
"The right mouse button is your friend."

woodwoman · ‎12-27-2023

Canon was my vendor.

Tronhard · ‎12-27-2023

As has already been exhaustively pursued, we are not associated with Canon sales or logistics. However, it has been clearly indicated in media and my other information sources, that supply chains and logistics are seriously interrupted by shipping and supply issues. This impacts such things as simply getting specific screws to manufacture lenses, to shipping the actually completed lenses around the globe. There are now several choke points that are seriously hampering logistics including:
Diversion of shipping through the Red Sea due to attacks on shipping by Houthi rebels and Iran, and there have now been similar attacks in the Indian Ocean. While the Houthi claim they are attacking shipping associated with Israel, that is hotly debates and many shipping companies are taking a safer route around South Africa, which adds considerable time (and no little cost) to the shipping process. Even the war in Ukraine is have impacts far outside of the actual combat zone itself.

Shipping moving across the South China Sea are being cautious as confrontations between China and Philippian authorities have increased - China claims most of that body of water, against conflicting claims from Vietnam and the Philippians. Then of course there is the Taiwan Strait which is also very busy shipping route and choke point.

On top of that there are supply issues of raw materials caused by strikes and other forms of industrial unrest. China is itself experiencing some issues with industrial disruption and disjoint internal logistics according to the material I have seen.

My point is that no single issue is going to be able to be pinpointed as THE cause, but they form a picture of global disfunction that is causing challenges on many levels.
Down in Oceania, I am told that each authorized dealer got one 200-800 lens and that's it until more can make it here. There are no indications when more will arrive. I somehow doubt that Canon are rejoicing over this and are likely far more frustrated than we are.

cheers, TREVOR

The mark of good photographer is less what they hold in their hand, it's more what they hold in their head;
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow", Leo Tolstoy;
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase" Percy W. Harris

woodwoman · ‎12-27-2023

Yes, I have. I purchased from Canon. I simply asked here to see if anyone had heard ANYTHING other than nothing.

I have contacted Canon and their customer service has no information.

Canon Community

What’s going on with the RF 200-800 backorder