The Canon rumormill is currently buzzing over the fact that dozens of lenses have disappeared off of Canon’s EOS (SLR) Camera Systems Web site and are now in the discontinued product archive. I first noticed the missing products while researching Canon’s last flagship 35mm film body, the Canon EOS-1v, which was also moved to the archive.
Rumors range from the plausible to the utterly absurd; the gamut is run from possible price increases going into effect after Canon’s current rebates expire on 16-Jan 2010 through the prospect of a full-line refresh of every single EF lens due to reports of the upcoming Canon EOS-1Ds Mark IV having a square sensor all the way up to Canon getting out of the lens business completely.
I’m selfishly hoping for price increases due to my recent acquisition of a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM and pile of Canon Speedlite 580EX II units. At least my Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM and Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM aren’t on the list.