Yesterday, my favored local dealer (Cord Camera in Columbus. OH.) stated that they recently received "official" word from Canon on the pricing of the EOS 1V, and that they (Cord) were taking customers' orders for this new camera body, priced as follows: For the EOS 1V alone, ~$1800.00; for the EOS 1V HS ("high speed") kit that includes the power drive booster, ~$2500.00. Of course, these prices are a far cry from the $2800.00/$3400.00 suggested prices quoted at Canon's U.S. website and elsewhere. Why would Canon initially publish such a higher MSRP? By having done so, is Canon cleverly employing the inverse of "bait-and-switch", which might then be termed "switch-and-bait"? (Don't get me wrong--I'm not complaining; rather, I'm simply curious). Cord reps. felt that, at present, Canon was not offering any real price break on the cost of the booster as included with the HS kit, when compared to buying the booster separately, at a later time. I would like to hear your comments on this issue, and I would also like to know how confident you might be with purchasing an early production run.

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), February 19, 2000

Answers

All Canon "list" (MSRP) prices are like that. Typically 50% or more higher than the average retail price. I don't know why. Maybe tax reasons, or maybe some stores actually try to sell them at list, or maybe to make consumers think they're getting a deal. Everyone does it, not just Canon. Nobody buys anything at MSRP, from stereo systems to automobiles!

As for an early model, I don't recall any problems with the EOS-1 or EOS-1n so I can't see any reason why the EOS-1v should be different. Most of the new technology was "field tested" in the EOS-3, so they've probably worked out the bugs by now.

-- Bob Atkins (bobatkins@hotmail.com), February 19, 2000.

I feel I should pass on that the Cord rep. I spoke to was a bit premature, as their buying dept. has apparently NOT received word from Canon yet as to the price of the camera.

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), February 21, 2000.

Cord called me back today and stated that, according to their buying dept., the EOS 1V (alone) will be priced at $1899.00, and they (Cord) are now accepting orders, with the first deliveries expected in late March/early April.

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), February 22, 2000.