Canon RF 70-200 F4L IS USM Delayed until March 2021

There has beeen rumors that the Canon RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM was delayed, especially when it missed it's targetted release date.

Now we have confirmation that the release is delayed until March.

Canon Japan has released a statement;

Regarding the "RF70-200mm F4 L IS USM" announced on November 4, 2020 and scheduled to be released in late December, due to production reasons, we cannot prepare a sufficient supply amount for the release. Therefore, we have decided to postpone the release in early March 2021.

We would like to inform you and deeply apologize.

■ Scheduled release date

(Before change) Scheduled to be released in late December 2020
(After change) Scheduled to be released in early March 2021

We apologize for the inconvenience caused to the customers who are waiting for us, but we will do our utmost to launch it, and we appreciate your continued patronage.

It's difficult to figure out what could be causing the delay.  It could be still supply chain issues with some of the basic core parts for the lens, but you would think Canon would have a significant amount of inventory of the basics.

However, for whatever reason, the lens is delayed.  It begs to question, is the entire lens production schedule "shifted" by 4 to 6 months now?

• Canon Japan
• via Nokishita