Rebel with a rebate

[skr8pn]

So right now Canon has a $100 rebate on the Rebel XT. What a conincadence, I need a new camera. For this rebate to be applicable it must be purchased from a authorized canon dealer (www.buydig.com) and purchased before 7/14. I've found rebate generally happen for a reason, a new product someone is trying to push to the market (not the case) or an old product to push out so a new one can be introduced. So before I go a plunk down the cash for this camera has anyone heard any rumors, stories, lies about a new camera or new revision of software or firmware for some reason?

Hopefully I'll have a new camera before my honeymoon to hawaii (and know how to use it).

 

[boBQuincy]

You don't need a new camera, you need a bigger diamond for your fiance!

Canon rumors? Plenty of them here:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=158139

The consensus appears to be that since there is a $100 rebate on the Rebel the new one is due soon, maybe this Fall.


boB

 

[skr8pn]

You don't need a new camera, you need a bigger diamond for your fiance!

A great man once summed it up: "Diamonds.... that'll shut her up" - Ron White

We got the old diamond reset. So it's time for me to get new toys.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Canon WILL introduce the replacement of RebelXT (DIGIC 3 chip, 10 MP), a lower end version of RebelXT (same class as 35mm Rebel 2000, either DIGIC 2 or DIGIC 3 chip, 6 MP, really low in price - supposedly to 'kill' Pentax istDL class), a higher end version of 30D (DIGIC 3 chip, 10 MP) and a lower end version of 5D (DIGIC 3 chip, FF, probably the same 12.7 MP) for sure before the end of the year. Most probably in October/November. Those were the 4 I heard from reliable sources, there is a 5th camera which none of them know what's going to be, my wild guess will be 1Ds mkIII with 20MP and DIGIC 3 processor.

also there is one lens that's supposed to be released to replace 17-85 IS, which is 17-125 (or 200?) IS. There are several rumours about the range. Some said it's going to be 17-135, 17-125, 18-125, 18-135, 18-200. Don't know which will come true. But the lens for sure is coming.

 

[boBQuincy]

A lower end version of 5D ?
A 17-125?

Don't do this to me, Kelly! Or more accurately, don't do this to my already smoking credit card! Hmm, groceries or 5D lite?

As for skr8pn, it comes down to: do you buy now or wait for a few months?

 

[ndelaware]

With the much rumored lower end DRebel (Rebel 3000D?) on the horizon I think Canon will no longer try to hold the new version Rebel XT(or equivalent) price under $1000. So if you like the curent version of the XT you will probably save yourself $400 to $500 as opposed to buying the newer version. Of course after the latest version comes out the XT prices will drop even more.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

A lower end version of 5D ?
A 17-125?

Don't do this to me, Kelly! Or more accurately, don't do this to my already smoking credit card! Hmm, groceries or 5D lite?

As for skr8pn, it comes down to: do you buy now or wait for a few months?

Sorry boB, that's what I heard. I hope they don't bring out the cheaper version of 5D either. I've just bought my 5D (I was the first 10 people in Toronto who bought the 5D). How reliable the leaks are I don't know. Usually they are reliable (my 30D, for example, I got the info from one of them).

The thing is, however, I never once asked for a leak from them, so if the babbled, that's all the info I know. I'm not going to ask further (just a common courtesy amongst 'data leakers')

 

[Kelly Grannell]

oh, and answering your question: "grocery or 5D lite" the answer is clear: 5D lite. DUH!

 

[skr8pn]

do you buy now or wait for a few months?

Thats basically what it boils down to, even though me and boB have had this conversation before, is it well worth the money now or will the bottom fall out of the price in late august/early sept before I go on the honeymoon. I obviously won't/can't use it during the wedding and I should have a fair aray of good phtographers there . Maybe I'll break down on July 13th and order it. Not this weekend though, just got canon 8400F scanner today.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I don't know the trend in the US. In Canada, usually there there is the $100 rebate, then followed with a couple of months of no rebate, then the price dropped by $100 for about a month, and when the new model is introduced, the price dropped by another $50 to $100 until stock lasts. However, the inventory situation in Canada is pretty bang on so to get the additional $50 to $100 savings usually I have to really monitor the price weekly and if I missed it by 2 weeks, it'll be out of stock.

That's what happened with 10D and 300D.

 

[boBQuincy]

oh, and answering your question: "grocery or 5D lite" the answer is clear: 5D lite. DUH!

Of course! I can always eat later (and wouldn't miss a few pounds anyway) but to buy a new camera...? YES!!!

 

[Anewman]

From what I can remember, Canon has always done at least one rebate program per year(sometimes 2), usually a spring/summer and a Fall/winter. The current program does not strike me as one of the more aggresive promotions in recent history, I tend to love the TRIPLE rebates.

But yes Canon may replace the Rebel XT, in fact the Rebel XT is about 16 months old and recent history has shown that Canon tends to replace each model at about every 18 months. You do the math.

Current Canon cameras age.
Rebel xt = 16 months
30D = 6 months
5d = 10 months
MK II N = 10 months

Canon may very well abandon the pattern they have exihbited over the last several years, but since it has been working so well I dont see why they would.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I think this time they will. Between Pentax, Sony, Olympus, Nikon, Samsung, Panasonic and Canon there'll be about 15 new dSLR cameras by then end of the year. We know Pentax will come out with at least 2 cameras, Sony with 3, Olympus with at least 1, Nikon with at least 2, Panasonic 1 camera, Samsung 1 camera, it'll leave Canon with the possibility of maximum of 5 cameras (don't forget 30D is actually 20D with Spot Meter and larger LCD, nothing more)

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Hopefully I'll have a new camera before my honeymoon to hawaii (and know how to use it).

Or you guys can hire me as your honeymoon photographer. I'll have 2 couples in Hawaii in November and 1 couple in Florida in February next year. So it's not uncommon to have a photographer for honeymoon. Just an idea (and shameless self-promotion )