Did I Wait Too Long?

[Mocha]

Hi! I have been hanging around for about a year, posting occasionally and learning constantly! I hope somebody can answer my question.

In today's newspaper, a national camera store advertised a 20% off clearance sale for all Canon DSLR cameras, limited to stock on hand. I have been researching and saving to upgrade from a Canon advanced point and shoot to either a XSi or T1i. Does this sale mean that Canon is getting ready to upgrade, possibly putting these cameras out of my price range? Or maybe the store is clearing inventory for tax purposes? I can't imagine that this store is planning to discontinue selling Canon cameras.

I am fairly new to photography and am unfamiliar with the retail and upgrade patterns. I am hoping somebody has read something. . . . .

Thanks for your help!

[OsmosisStudios]

They wont discontinue selling canon cameras, but the XSi is a bit long in the tooth and PMA is coming up in March. I could see the XSi being discontinued, though ive not heard of anything to that effect lately.

The T1i is a fairly new camera: they're not killing it off.

It sounds like the store bought more than they could sell and need to get rid of them to at least recoup their losses.

[Doug Pardee]

Originally Posted by Mocha

In today's newspaper, a national camera store advertised a 20% off clearance sale for all Canon DSLR cameras, limited to stock on hand. I have been researching and saving to upgrade from a Canon advanced point and shoot to either a XSi or T1i. Does this sale mean that Canon is getting ready to upgrade, possibly putting these cameras out of my price range?

The XSi/450D was discontinued a long time ago. Canon has been having trouble clearing out their stock in a bad economic year. Look toward the bottom of Canon's list of discontinued equipment: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...ategoryid=2091 The T1i/500D is the current model in the main Digital Rebel line, and undoubtedly replaced the XSi/450D on the production lines a year ago.

Canon generally doesn't tell their retailers anything secret about what's coming up; it would all come out on the forum boards if they did.

The usual expectation of Canon-watchers is that the lower-level cameras are "refreshed" with a new model every 18 months or so. The T1i/500D has only been out a year, so it's not really due. We could presume that sales of that model have also been slow, especially with competition from the older XSi/450D which some people believe has better image quality. My personal guess is no new Digital Rebel this spring, and maybe not even at Photokina in the fall. Just my guess, with no real knowledge behind it.

New models wouldn't put the XSi/450D and T1i/500D out of your price range. Prices on the older models tend to stay stable until they're almost gone, then drop off a bit as the dealers want to free up the shelf space.

maybe the store is clearing inventory for tax purposes?

Quite likely. It's been a bad year, and DSLRs are a luxury item. Anything that didn't sell over Christmas is going to be a drag on inventory space and on accounts payable.

I can't imagine that this store is planning to discontinue selling Canon cameras.

Probably not. Some stores are known for preferring one brand over another, and for not carrying some of the lesser brands. A private operation might well want to concentrate on one brand, but I can't see a national chain dropping either Canon or Nikon right now.

[inkista]

+1 what Doug said. Except that the XSi isn't discontinued. In the dRebel line, the previous model stays current (at a lower price) when a new model comes in--Canon knows that some people are willing to go back one generation for less cost, and there's no additional development/retooling costs in keeping a camera in the line. If you check the Canon website, the XSi is still listed among the current models. When the T1i gets "refreshed," chances are good that the XSi will then slide off the list, and the T1i will take its place and still remain available, and the T2i or whatever they're going to call it will be the "current" model.

New product announcements tend to happen in the spring and fall (usually March and September, but it slides around), clustered around the big tradeshows most notably PMA and (in even years) Photokina. The recent flurry of announcements we just got was because of CES (Consumer Electronics Show). PMA is scheduled to be held Feb. 19-23 at the Anaheim Convention Center, so we're expecting the press releases to start flying around/before then. Most rumors say first week of February.

But announcements don't necessarily equate to release. The cameras themselves might not hit shelves for a few more months.

Now, the fact that Canon isn't attending PMA 2010 might make a difference in their announcement timing. It might not (given the economy, everybody's cutting back on trade shows). That PMA was moved from Las Vegas to Anaheim indicates the size of the show is smaller than it used to be. And, of course, there's the internet. Probably just handing a review camera to dpreview does more PR work for you than attending PMA and at much lower cost.

One more thing. Canon also cycles its rebates the same way. There's one for the spring, and one for the fall. The fall/Christmas rebates have ended. So, waiting until the spring rebates kick is another thing to keep an eye on. I tend to follow Bob Atkin's website for the rebate info.

[Mocha]

I knew I could count on the people here to give me the answers I needed. Thank you for taking the time to set me straight. I was afraid any upgrades would have been out of my price range and the current models would no longer be available unless I bought quickly. (Poorly worded in my O.P. Sorry 'bout that). This will give me time to watch for good pricing. 20% off is good, but I think I am going to watch for package deals.

Thanks, also, for the head's up about the trade shows and marketing patterns. I have so much to learn. Thank you for being here!

Now, for your thoughts on which camera to buy. . . . .but those questions are for another thread ! Again, thanks for your help!

[OsmosisStudios]

Keep in mind: if you're always waiting for the "newest and best" body, you'll wait forever and never actually pull the trigger on something.

[PhotoNewt]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Keep in mind: if you're always waiting for the "newest and best" body, you'll wait forever and never actually pull the trigger on something.

Couldn't agree more with the above advise.

Since this is likely to be your first dSLR, don't wait until you are able to afford the latest and greatest, analyze your needs and choose a model that fits those needs now. Entry level dSLR's from Canon and Nikon are capable of producing excellent images, what will enable you to extract the best image quality possible out of your body is the lens. High quality lenses is what you should be saving your money for. Since all current EOS bodies share the same basic mount, you can use all avaiable EOS lenses all Canon body with the exception of EF-S lenses which are not compatible with full-frame Canon bodies (usually the Canon xD series).

You can buy a body now and even if that model is discontinued, it will mount all EOS lenses (and compatible third-party offerings) allowing you to learn DSLR photography. When you are ready to upgrade, you will be able to continue using your expensive lenses on the more advanced body as well (with the above caveat about the EF-S lenses).

So, in my humble opinion, if the lower priced soon to be discontinued XSi fit your needs and budget, I would recommend that you buy it now, and use the extra cash to start your lens and accessories collection.

[epyonxero]

There are rumors of Canon releasing a 550D and a 60D this year.

Canon prepping 60D and 550D / 600D with articulating displays? -- Engadget

[Doug Pardee]

Originally Posted by epyonxero

There are rumors of Canon releasing a 550D and a 60D this year.

There are always rumors.

Given Canon's historical routines for releasing cameras in those two lines, it's quite reasonable to expect a "60D" early this year—the 50D is almost a year and a half old. Besides, it never did become the camera to have—a number of people considered the 40D to be better.

The XS/1000D is even older than the 50D, and it's possible there'll be some kind of "refresh" on that camera given the stiff competition in the low-cost DSLR market.

The T1i/500D is newer than the other cameras, not even a year old yet, and Canon still has unsold units of the XSi/450D in stock. I don't see Canon putting out a "550D" until later this year, and maybe not until next year. But it's all just reading tea leaves. The T1i/500D has the same problem as the 50D: a number of people think that the older XSi/450D is a better overall camera.

The Engadget page talked about "pre-PMA" timing but, as inkista noted above, Canon is not attending PMA this year. If Canon does make any pre-PMA announcements, it'll probably be because the other manufacturers are announcing stuff. If I were in charge of Canon's Marketing department, I wouldn't make any big pre-PMA announcements. The other manufacturers have a long lead time between announcement and delivery. Before they are able to deliver actual products, Canon can make its own announcements ahead of the CP+ show (March 11-14). And they'll have the advantage of knowing what everyone else had already announced. So, I'm going to guess that we won't hear anything from Canon for PMA, but I'm not going to put any money on that.

[inkista]

If a 550D gets announced this year, and I think it's very likely, given the usual patterns, it'll be announced in Sept/Oct. at Photokina, as it was announced in March 2009 (+18 months = Sept. 2010). Probably along with a 1DsMkIV, G12, and S90-successor.