US shipments of Canon 1D X imminent, AF guidebook updated
posted Monday, June 11, 2012 at 4:34 PM EDT
Our friends over at Rob Galbraith Online are reporting that the Canon EOS-1D X digital SLR--already globally delayed twice from its original ship date of March 2012--may not be available until July in the Canadian market. According to Rob's article, Canon Canada is asking dealers to identify which orders they've received from Canon Professional Services members who will be attending the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The games are scheduled to kick off from July 27th, and this suggests that Canadian CPS members who are planning to cover the Olympics will be prioritized over other customers in that country who are awaiting stock of the 1D X.
Rob's article speculates that the Canadian delay may indicate a more widespread slip in delivery, so we contacted the company's US branch to clarify the situation. We received the following statement from a Canon U.S.A. spokesperson:
"The EOS-1D X cameras will be arriving in mid-June to select dealers in small quantities and increase gradually over time. They will be here in time for the Olympics and will be available."
For other markets, we note that Canon Japan is currently listing a mid-June delivery date for the 1D X. Canon Europe doesn't appear to have provided any update since its April 12th statement, which also suggested mid-June delivery.
In related news, Canon USA has published an update to the guidebook covering the EOS-1D X and EOS 5D Mark III's new 61-point autofocus systems. If you're planning on shooting with either camera, the updated guidebook will be a must-read...