Last Updated on 09/04/2024 by Chris Gampat
The excitement of buying a new camera or lens is immense, especially when the said device happens to be a flagship product. Those who have been waiting for the next-generation camera or lens often place pre-orders. However, there are instances when the makers of such equipment announce a supply shortage. This issue is becoming increasingly persistent in the global supply chain of photographic equipment. For instance, Sigma is one company that has often faced lens supply shortages due to its slow production process, where each Sigma lens is hand-crafted with precision and perfection. But they are not alone. Canon seems to be joining its ranks with the Canon EOS R5 Mk II supply shortage.
Canon USA Responds About EOS R5 Mk II Shortage
According to a report by Photo Rumors, Canon Japan announced the shortage of its newly launched camera, the Canon EOS R5 Mk II. Per the company’s post, users will experience delays in receiving the camera, resulting from “orders exceeding our expectations and also due to the impact of global parts supply.” While Canon Japan apologized, they told the users that they were taking “measures” to provide the product supply. They didn’t exactly say how long it may take; they just added that it will be “as soon as possible.”
A little later, in another report by Photo Rumor, Canon Japan said: “Products are scheduled to be shipped one after another, but it is expected that the new camera body EOS R5 Mark II will take a long time to ship.” However, the publication believes that it could take over six months to deliver. The report notes that this is confusing, as the Canon EOS R5 Mk II was “in stock” when the product was announced in the US.
To clarify, we wrote to Canon USA, asking them about the situation at hand. In an email correspondence, the company confirmed the news, stating:
“Response to the initial release of the EOS R5 Mark II camera has been extremely positive. Global supplies vary by sales company. In the US, we are currently experiencing back-orders of this product, but anticipate the future supply will improve.”
Canon USA, Being attributed to no Rep in Particular
That was pretty much the statement, with no explanation given to us either.
What Could be Causing The Delay?
The Canon EOS R5 Mk II is not the only product facing a supply issue. The Canon EOS R1, Speedlight EL-1, and RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM are other equipment that seem out of stock, too. Per Photo Rumor, this could be a marketing strategy to hype up the device. When one exaggerates, commenting how “high demand” leads to a shortage, those who weren’t exactly tuning in for the camera may also heed it.
Correction: The Canon EOS R1 is shipping in the fall of 2024 according to a Canon rep.
However, as per Canon Rumor, it could be due to a shortage of magnesium. This mineral is used to create Canon’s camera bodies, but they are not the only ones. Other manufacturers like Nikon and Sony also need magnesium alloy to create the gear. With China being the biggest supplier of the mineral, the country chose to cut down on its extraction to safeguard the environment. As the usage of magnesium increases in other industries, it is bound to impact the overall supply.
While this is our hypothesis, we may never know the exact rationale for the shortage of cameras or lens supply. It is safe to say that companies like Canon have considered every aspect of such a problem, as a shortage can impact their complete sales. We are yet to see when the Canon EOS R5 Mark II finally arrives. Our hope is that it is sooner than we anticipate.