If you’ve been patiently waiting for stock of the new Canon EOS R7 or another of its mid-range mirrorless cameras, you might be waiting a little longer – Canon just announced that it will prioritize stocking its full frame cameras for the rest of the year. .
On a declaration (opens in new tab) regarding its second quarter 2022 financial results, Canon said that “we have increased the proportion of full-frame mirrorless cameras, for which we prioritize production and sales”.
This explains why it is still very easy to find stock for cameras like the Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6, but less so for mid-range cameras like the new EOS R7. In the US, both the EOS R7 and EOS R10 were slated for a vague “late 2022” release, while in the UK both cameras are still out of stock.
We’ve asked Canon for estimated availability for both cameras and will update this story when we receive a response. But Canon’s comments on its financial results shed light on its plans for the rest of 2022, along with reasons why it’s been difficult to buy its mid-range cameras.
The camera giant admitted that this year “product supply was insufficient to meet demand” due to “global parts shortages since last year and the Covid lockdown in Shanghai”. Unfortunately, that meant camera body sales “remain below last year’s.”
On the bright side, Canon says it expects camera production to pick up “from the second half of the year” but its focus will be on full-frame mirrorless cameras and RF lens sales. What about the Canon EOS R7 and EOS R10? The statement simply says “we will release the EOS R7 and EOS R10”, despite both being announced in May.
While it’s possible to pre-order the Canon EOS R7 and EOS R10, neither Canon nor the third-party dealers are giving an estimate of when the stock might arrive – and Canon’s comments in its financial report suggest it’s best to assume it will be later. than before.
Analysis: Delays are frustrating but understandable
While it’s understandable that Canon is prioritizing its higher-margin full-frame cameras, the ongoing inventory issues for its mid-range bodies are frustrating for amateur photographers – particularly in the current financial climate.
Photographers have been waiting years for Canon to bring some of its latest technology, like autofocus tracking, to its best entry-level mirrorless cameras. And while Canon has at least announced these models, in the form of the EOS R7 and EOS R10 (which we’re currently testing), there’s still no indication when they’ll actually be available for purchase.
Canon’s focus on full-frame mirrorless cameras has also hit the stock of its other mid-range cameras. For example, in the UK it is also difficult to buy the Canon EOS M6 Mark II and Canon EOS RP, which are again at this point affordable for keen photographers who don’t have professional budgets.
None of this is Canon’s fault, of course – most tech companies are dealing with tough decisions, with Meta having to dramatically increase the price of the Oculus Quest 2. For what they offer, the EOS R7 and EOS R10 do for the less (on paper) look pretty reasonably priced – let’s just hope the inventory and production issues subside in the second half of this year, as Canon predicted.
