After too many hours of research and a few sleepless nights I have decided to purchase the Mark iv. The major retailers say it is back ordered with no good date of when it will return. There are plenty of other "companies" that have the camera body, but quite frankly after reading about gray markets products, I don't feel the need to take that chance. Fair assumption that if B&H, Adorama and a few other don't have them in stock, I should wait until they do ?

Thanks

Yes, if you want a new copy your best bet, as always, is to wait until the authorized retailers have one in stock. Be aware that they are in very short supply everywhere, and I'm not sure that the 1D MKIV is still in active production.

A good used copy from a reputable firm is a viable alternative, and KEH.com has a single used copy in EX+ condition. A good used copy also commands a pretty high price as well.

Ziggy, I was guessing the earthquake/tsunami was the cause of the back order situation. Is there anybody I could contact to verify if it's out of production ?

Originally Posted by Skorri Ziggy, I was guessing the earthquake/tsunami was the cause of the back order situation. Is there anybody I could contact to verify if it's out of production ?

Canon normally just quietly drops the model from their offerings on their website when they finally run out of inventory.

You can try to contact Canon USA, but you probably won't get a straight answer. Canon is very tight-lipped about production details.

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/s...ct_us_consumer

The Canon customer service lady was pretty cool. She said the Mark iv will not be discontinued. Once the shipments reach their office in Wisconsin they are then listed on the Canon site. They got some 5D3s in today and they sold out within 90 minutes. Like you said Ziggy, she recommends B&H, Adorama. She also mentioned Newegg and Ryther (which I have never dealt with).

Mark iv still on back order with Adorama and B&H telling me it has been discontinued. Adorama said it has not been discontinued and Canon wont/cant tell me. Has anybody else heard ?

Bloody hell, it has been Discontinued

Originally Posted by Skorri Bloody hell, it has been Discontinued

That's sad. I still regard it as one of Canon's best all-a-round professional bodies. (I was hoping for a Canon 1D MK IV-S.)

Oddly, Ryther Camera still lists them as in stock:

http://www.rythercamera.com/catalog/...FSMCQAodQwzndg

I saw that at Ryther as well. Seems like the prices have jumped in the last few weeks. Most sites had a new body right at 5k, now most are $5200 and up.

KEH.com still has a used, -LN copy for $4460.
Adorama has a used, E- for $4300
B&H has a used, 8+ for $4000

Originally Posted by Skorri I saw that at Ryther as well. Seems like the prices have jumped in the last few weeks. Most sites had a new body right at 5k, now most are $5200 and up.

if you're in the stratosphere of cameras why not go for the 1DX

Originally Posted by Brett1000 if you're in the stratosphere of cameras why not go for the 1DX

Losing the 1.3x crop and AF 'only' working to f5.6 would be issues for some - not knowing the OP's interests I don't know if they're relevant factors here.

pp

I'm not too fussed about the crop. I'm one of these guys that makes whatever I have in my hand work. The money was there for a new Mark iv and I can either wait for more used IVs to come around after the 1DXs settle in or save a few more pennies and get the 1DX.

I have to say that one of several reasons I am considering selling the kit and moving to Nikon is this perpetual shortage of Canon pro bodies. I spent months last year trying to get a second 1D4 body, and waited 8 months to have the privilege of ordering a 1Dx. (I passed, just because of the delay and the possibility of switching to Nikon.) There is no good reason for production to be this slow, or discontinuations so mysterious. I mean seriously, how's a pro supposed to do his/her job?!

I might have a couple of 1D4 bodies for sale shortly...