I'm curious how many new adopters there are that have already placed pre-orders for the 1DMKIV, either locally or online. Has anyone heard a real date when they start shipping besides December? I've got my order in online, no locals are taking pre-orders.


Matt

Yep. Pre-ordered at Amazon.com, 12:30 AM EST US on Oct. 20. No news on delivery except the original indication of late December. Amazon order status says I'll be e-mailed when they have an estimated delivery date. I ordered it with overnight shipping. Can you tell I want it as quick as possible?

Looking forward to field reports from owners using in real life! ...but not an early adopter on this one.

I had good luck being an early adopter on the 40D and 50D. Canon spent 2.5 years perfecting a better AF system. I heard they tracked down all the 1D Mark III AF detractors and got their thumbs-up on the 1D Mark IV AF. So, I feel pretty confident that it'll fly.

Fidelity wrote:
I had good luck being an early adopter on the 40D and 50D. Canon spent 2.5 years perfecting a better AF system. I heard they tracked down all the 1D Mark III AF detractors and got their thumbs-up on the 1D Mark IV AF. So, I feel pretty confident that it'll fly.

That sounds resonable and very likely true +1. Maybe I just better sell one of the kids now...

I bought a 1DMKIII new in November of 07, its now two years old and many clicks that have made me allot of money. I'm confident that Canon won't lay an egg on the 1DMKIV, but if they do they will fix it, and I will still have my 1DMKIII to use while they fix it.

Matt

When you consider how the III went, I am not sure why anyone would be an early adopter of the IV. Too much risk for me and I am generally a risk taker.

Now, if Canon realizes that many peope share my view on this and they offer some type of great loyalty program discount for registered MIII owners, I might jump on board.

It is not just a matter of the AF, but the overall quality process that worries me. When was the last time Canon released any pro or prosumer camera that did not require at least a firmware fix in the first six months?

nathanlake wrote:
When you consider how the III went, I am not sure why anyone would be an early adopter of the IV. Too much risk for me and I am generally a risk taker.



I agree with that, however, there is another side to it which is important to me and probably many other folks as well: the price.

I am fully prepared to wait a couple of years or so, in which time not only that the camera should become a well known and field-proven performer, but the price on used MkIVs should also decline to the level where I would feel justified in buying it.

Until then, my two MkIIN's and a 1DsMkII should be fine.

I think the price will drop to ~$4500 in the spring.

EBH

EB-1 wrote:
I think the price will drop to ~$4500 in the spring.

I'm hoping to have $500 worth of fun with it by then.

Fidelity wrote:
EB-1 wrote:
I think the price will drop to ~$4500 in the spring.

I'm hoping to have $500 worth of fun with it by then.


And I'm hoping to have made at least $5000 with it by then.

Matt

Fidelity wrote:
Yep. Pre-ordered at Amazon.com, 12:30 AM EST US on Oct. 20. No news on delivery except the original indication of late December. Amazon order status says I'll be e-mailed when they have an estimated delivery date. I ordered it with overnight shipping. Can you tell I want it as quick as possible?

If you want as quick as possible, better find another place besides amazon.

nathanlake wrote:When was the last time Canon released any pro or prosumer camera that did not require at least a firmware fix in the first six months?

As quality issues go, firmware fixes are relatively innocuous, IMHO. I can just download it and put it on my camera in a matter of minutes. I expect that little issues here and there will crop up as cameras get into thousands of hands. These downloadable firmware fixes make it easy to update the camera. I remember I had an ERR 99 once on my 50D when I first got it. Firmware 1.0.3 was downloaded and installed, and never had that problem again. I just installed 1.0.7 today just for the heck of it. Not a big deal. I'm just glad some of these problems are solvable so easily rather than just having to live with them.

stiksandstones wrote:If you want as quick as possible, better find another place besides amazon.

I heard about the 7D delay at Amazon. However, I got better than expected results last year with the 50D from Amazon. I got holiday (August) delays from Adorama the previous year (2007) when I ordered the 40D. Also, I have an Amazon Prime subscription that lets me get most items 1-day shipping for $3.99, or 2-day for free. We'll probably put a thread on here in December entitled "Who has received their 1D Mark IV?" I'll weigh-in on that.

Fidelity wrote:
EB-1 wrote:
I think the price will drop to ~$4500 in the spring.

I'm hoping to have $500 worth of fun with it by then.


Sure, but I don't have use for one until August. There is no hurry.

EBH

Fidelity wrote:
nathanlake wrote:When was the last time Canon released any pro or prosumer camera that did not require at least a firmware fix in the first six months?

As quality issues go, firmware fixes are relatively innocuous, IMHO. I can just download it and put it on my camera in a matter of minutes. I expect that little issues here and there will crop up as cameras get into thousands of hands. These downloadable firmware fixes make it easy to update the camera. I remember I had an ERR 99 once on my 50D when I first got it. Firmware 1.0.3 was downloaded and installed, and never had that problem again. I just installed 1.0.7 today just for the heck of it. Not a big deal. I'm just glad some of these problems are solvable so easily rather than just having to live with them.


I am guessing that you do not rely on that 50D to generate revenue, or else that ERR99 would be more of an issue.

nathanlake wrote:
Fidelity wrote:
nathanlake wrote:When was the last time Canon released any pro or prosumer camera that did not require at least a firmware fix in the first six months?

As quality issues go, firmware fixes are relatively innocuous, IMHO. I can just download it and put it on my camera in a matter of minutes. I expect that little issues here and there will crop up as cameras get into thousands of hands. These downloadable firmware fixes make it easy to update the camera. I remember I had an ERR 99 once on my 50D when I first got it. Firmware 1.0.3 was downloaded and installed, and never had that problem again. I just installed 1.0.7 today just for the heck of it. Not a big deal. I'm just glad some of these problems are solvable so easily rather than just having to live with them.


I am guessing that you do not rely on that 50D to generate revenue, or else that ERR99 would be more of an issue.

Hopefully if he does, he has a backup, as all Professionals should have. Equipment breaks, even new equipment. I for one like to have the best of what they have to offer, so I can make the $$$ and not worry about the what ifs. Hell I've been a crash test dummy all my life, why stop now.


Matt

Hey Matt!
I am trying the local road again. I am first on the list at my favorite store, but I sure wish I had a more exact date than late December. I guess a watched pot never boils, but HS BB is going to start with or without my MkIV.
May the camera Gods be with all of us early buyers :-)
Greg

nathanlake wrote:
When was the last time Canon released any pro or prosumer camera that did not require at least a firmware fix in the first six months?

More to the point when was the last time Nikon Canon or Sony did?
It is partof the standard developement to maturity of modern digital equipment.
I think people have a hard time understanding that modern digi SLR's are "very sophisticated" pieces of digital gear and no amount of pre release testing will cover every possible combination of circumstance..ever.
I mean i fly a 100Million USD aircraft that has been in service for 20 years and its still got problems.
People need to get used to the fact that forking out 5Grand does not nor will ever buy you a bullet proof perfet piece of gear.
Get used to it..

My 1D Mk III works great (my 3rd one). I'll wait awhile and let the dust settle before I jump on a Mark IV.

PetKal wrote:
I agree with that, however, there is another side to it which is important to me and probably many other folks as well: the price.

I am fully prepared to wait a couple of years or so, in which time not only that the camera should become a well known and field-proven performer, but the price on used MkIVs should also decline to the level where I would feel justified in buying it.

Until then, my two MkIIN's and a 1DsMkII should be fine.

Except that your used cameras may drop in price the same amount as the 1D-IV does during that time.

I've preordered at a few places, and one place (in Australia) tells me they're expecting for mid-November?? Unlikey.

dehowie wrote:
nathanlake wrote:
When was the last time Canon released any pro or prosumer camera that did not require at least a firmware fix in the first six months?

More to the point when was the last time Nikon Canon or Sony did?
It is partof the standard developement to maturity of modern digital equipment.
I think people have a hard time understanding that modern digi SLR's are "very sophisticated" pieces of digital gear and no amount of pre release testing will cover every possible combination of circumstance..ever.
I mean i fly a 100Million USD aircraft that has been in service for 20 years and its still got problems.
People need to get used to the fact that forking out 5Grand does not nor will ever buy you a bullet proof perfet piece of gear.
Get used to it..


Agreed. I'm not too fussed about having firmware updates in the first few months. I trust that Canon would not release this camera with such a major f*ck up like the last one, so it should be smooth sailing.

Fidelity wrote:
Yep. Pre-ordered at Amazon.com, 12:30 AM EST US on Oct. 20. No news on delivery except the original indication of late December. Amazon order status says I'll be e-mailed when they have an estimated delivery date. I ordered it with overnight shipping. Can you tell I want it as quick as possible?

I saw the release just before midnight central time, and I placed my Amazon.com order early the next morning. I suspect I'm still pretty high on the list. I checked Amazon when I saw the release, but they hadn't posted the camera yet. I went to bed. I thought I'd sleep on it, but I woke up still wanting it. Merry Christmas to me. I have heard that Canon now have a strategy to put new cameras into the hands of the smaller dealers first so the larger ones (B&H, Adorama, Amazon) don't create a vacuum for the little guys. It sounds noble, but not the quickest ROI.

David

I wonder how many people will pre-order the MKIV. I guess most of sportshooters are waiting for the real results instead of pre-order that camera. They are not interested in new firmware updates, submurror fixes ect...
Canon has not fixed the problem with the 1DMKIII yet.