Canon has announced its lineup of lenses and flashes eligible for instant rebate savings for fall / winter 2009.
This is an instant rebate program too – no mailing receipts and UPC codes an then waiting 6-8 weeks. The rebate applies for purchases on qualifying Canon gear between October 22, 2009 and January 16, 2010.
The specific items are listed below, along with links to product pages for each lens or flash at Amazon, Adorama and B&H Photo. Additionally, Amazon has set up a dedicated page for this rebate program.
Canon Lens Rebates
EF 200mm f/2L IS USM – Save $500 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM – Save $150 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM – Save $130 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM – Save $100 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM – Save $80 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM – Save $80 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM – Save $75 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM – Save $70 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM – Save $50 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
EF 17-40mm f/4L USM – Save $50 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
EF 70-200mm f/4L USM – Save $40 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM – Save $30 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
Canon Flash Rebates
Speedlite 580EX II – Save $50 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
Speedlite 430EX II – Save $30 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
Speedlite 270EX – Save $20 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX – Save $70 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX – Save $50 – Amazon / Adorama / B&H Photo
So what’s with all the rip offs? EVERY SINGLE ONE of these lenses was cheaper last week before the rebates. The 70-200 2.8L IS was $150 CHEAPER WITHOUT the rebate. It was $1,649 at full price and now it’s $1,799 WITH THE REBATE! What’s funny is that all the stores (adorama, amazon, b&h) raised their prices at the same time. That’s a real shame. I don’t know if I should be mad at Canon or the Retailers. If this is Canon, they really don’t like their customers. The Development of these Lenses has been paid for, the factory has been built, the process for production has been in place for years…..So WHY does the price continue to go UP!?! The 70-200 2.8L IS was $1,499 Last November when I bought it.
@TheJBJ – Canon announced price increases to all its gear at the beginning of October. I’m not sure the precise date that the increases went into effect; however, I agree with you that the timing on the rebates is a bit suspect. However, once the rebates are gone, they’ll be even higher…
Eric, I know that they mentioned higher prices, but I still don’t understand why. Also, they said that the prices would be about 10% higher not 18-20%. I’ll be interested to see what the prices are AFTER the rebates as well. The last set of rebates drove the price higher also, and then dropped slightly when the rebates were over. Infact, my example of the $1649 70-200 2.8L IS works for that one as well. During the rebate time B&H, Adorama, and Amazon sold that lens for $1699 WITH the rebate. Then the rebates ended and two weeks later the lens was $1649 at full price. My point is, these online stores work really hard to fix the prices on these lenses but your local camera store can usually get you a better deal. During the last rebate I bought a 24-70 2.8L for $1,050 from my local store while B&H was selling it for $1,199. Basically, the rebates just being used to pad the pockets of the online retailers. I just called down to my local Penn Camera (Northern Virigina) and they have the 70-200 2.8L IS for $1,599 with the rebate, which is $100 higher then last June due to the “price increases”. Even with a 5% sales tax, the lens is $1,679 –> that’s a $130 savings with no shipping cost and you can step into the store today and walk out with the lens.
That’s just what I’ve seen. I think it would be nice to see a graph layout of the prices of these lenses over the last 18 months on your website. That might make a great post that people would read.
We don’t like price hikes any more than you do. Prices fluctuate for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to the wholesale price. This isn’t Econ 101 and there are numerous market conditions which might be responsible for any particular item’s price changes. The idea B&H would lay in wat for a manufacturer’s rebate just to hike a price to scam the unwitting is ludicrous and flies in the face of our 35+ year uninterrupted history of unimpeachable ethics and transparent integrity.
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Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video
@Henry,
You win :)