On 1/14/00, Stanley McManus graciously tried to create a "Canon Equipment Rumour" bboard within the Camera Equipment area of Phillip's LUSENET. Stanley posted this info within a thread created on 1/11/00 by Dan Smith at the Nature Photography forum which dealt with an EOS 3 autofocus accuracy problem. However, I've never been able to find Stanley's Canon Equip. Rumours bboard, but I would like to share what I heard from my local dealer today...

I recently bought a 550EX Speedlite to match an EOS 1V I have on order. Today I took the flash out of the box for the first time and found its battery compartment door was defective, so I returned it to my dealer for replacement. The manager who assisted me happened to mention that it was "their" (as a large dealer with stores in at least two U.S. states) understanding that Canon plans to introduce a new flash in the next month or so that will be more ideally suited to the higher speed fps drives that the EOS 1V and EOS 3 cameras are capable of, as well as offering a higher GN. In fact, this manager actually suggested that I consider taking a refund on the 550EX, and to wait and see how things unfold over the next month or more. (I chose the refund, and will use my 540EZ until this issue is more clear). Have any of you heard this same "rumour"? --> It seems to me that this manager was simply trying to be helpful rather than greedy, because the store would clearly make more $$ if I kept a replacement 550EX and later wanted the newest Speedlite as well (or, if I chose to trade the older unit for the new one).

Finally, I wish to mention a conversation I had with two Canon reps. at a George Lepp seminar on 4/8/00. I happened to inquire about WHEN Canon might introduce a 70-200/2.8L IS, and their most immediate comment was that this was perhaps the most frequently asked question or "wish" they hear from experienced photographers using Canon gear. Of course, they were non-committal, but suggested that Canon is very aware of this issue, and that such a lens may be offered within the next 12 months.

After careful consideration, I've chosen to post these "rumours" because if they prove to be correct, those of us with finite, set-aside, "strategic" discretionary camera equipment funds, may want to observe from the sidelines a little while longer before spending.

Your civil comments are invited and appreciated.

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), April 16, 2000

Answers

I've done some telephone legwork with this flash question, and I now believe the flash rumour is currently unfounded. Moderators, please delete this question of mine.

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