Canon CPS is changing for the better? We talk to Frankie Jim, the man in charge of Canon’s Professional Services in the UK, to find out what’s changing and assess if these changes happening are for the better or worse?
“Canon CPS has been around supporting users as a trusted partner for over 40 years. The changes to the previous offering that reflects the changing landscape. Becoming more diverse was needed to continue to offer key services to photographers as well as moving into newer areas and offering more relevant benefits.”
So firstly, as a long-time Canon user (both professionally and personally,) I’ve used CPS services in the past to get my Camera serviced and my lenses cleaned and repaired. I’ve attended experience days held by Canon (I got my hands on the 5D Mark IV at one of their test and experience days and subsequently bought two of them). I can say without a shadow of a doubt that my experience has been fantastic, and as a business owner, knowing that they have my back with quick turnaround and loan gear if fast-track servicing timings couldn’t be met was of key relevance to me, especially if I needed my kit back in time for a shoot. The chart below shows what's currently included prior to the upcoming changes.
But things are about to change as Canon moves CPS to become a paid service, bringing things into line with the way CPS works in the US, moving away from their free-to-join service in these countries: United Kingdom, Ireland, Deutschland, Österreich, België, Belgique, Nederland, Luxembourg, Portugal, España, Danmark, Suomi, Sverige, Norge, France, Italia, Polska, Česká republika, Slovensko, Magyarország, Latvija, Lietuva, and Eesti.
Most of the feedback I got in the forums and speaking to other photographers prior to speaking to Canon was negative. “I can’t believe Canon are deserting their important clients like this.” “They are only interested in the money.” These are just some of the comments I heard from speaking to photographers (both professional and amateur).
I’m finding out that the reality couldn’t be further from the truth as CPS now essentially reorganizes with two different frameworks. CPS for registered business owners is a paid service, and Canon Club will then exist for enthusiasts offered as a free-to-join community.
Let’s Look at CPS Business First
As a platinum member of the previous iteration of the service, I have four camera bodies, seven lenses, and a printer covered by the service. More equipment registered meant more points and access to a higher membership level with increased benefits.
I currently have to pay for the repairs or servicing of course though, and while I do get a 10% discount on maintenance, there’s no included servicing or repairs within this offering. There are, of course, invites to events (the spaces do go quickly though), and while I’ve never had the need to use the help desk thankfully, knowing priority support is available is great should I need it.
In its new format, you can pick and choose which pieces of equipment you want to add to your portfolio, meaning you can choose at what level you want to pay to cover. For example, if you’ve previously registered for platinum, you can now just register for any plan below that level, and depending on the offer on the plan you choose. If, for instance, you only actually need to send a maximum of two bodies away a year for servicing or repairs, then maybe silver or gold would be a better fit for you. There’s now more choice for members. With all plans, you still get included delivery from service, but Canon has added next business day pickup an unlimited number of times, which is going to be key to a fast turnaround of kit if you’re a professional.
Depending on the plan you choose, every single time you send your kit in for service, you’ll get a discount. There are also complimentary business coaching sessions planned on licensing, social media, contracts, etc. for customers that require just that little bit of assistance or to refresh their knowledge. These benefits are totally focused on adding value for the business clients and not necessarily relevant to enthusiast photographers, hence the divide being even more important.
The new CPS also has an inclusive maintenance allowance, which you can use for sensor cleaning and focus matching (previously, this would have cost you about £266 for a body and lens). This differs according to what you want plan you choose. So, from as little as £100, the first time you service your kit, you're going to get the value of your plan price back in included maintenance. That, to me, seems an incredible value for money service, especially given all the additional benefits Canon is offering just by being part of the new CPS framework. The pricing can be seen below in euros, but I've been reliably informed by Canon that in the UK, the pricing will be as follows: Silver £85 excluding VAT, Gold £170 excluding VAT, Platinum £300 excluding VAT.
For those current CPS members who are thinking of switching over (it's currently only live in Ireland at the moment, as we wait with bated breath in the UK for the 28th of March). When you register your business, you need to include the current email address from your current CPS account, which will then allow Canon to transfer the contents from the old to the new CPS. This is going to save you a great deal of time and effort entering all those serial numbers back in! Once the account has been validated within 24-48 hours, all the data will migrate across with one click. Then, it's worth curating your list and removing equipment you don't need covered or own anymore and adding in anything you do want to be covered.
There's also an option for bigger corporate organizations and media outlets that are using lots of Canon cameras. For that, they have an extended line of support and help, as seen below.
Canon Club
This part of CPS is designed specifically as a community for enthusiasts, new photographers, hobbyists, students, and customers who want to learn more about photography and get professional advice about their kit or any potential purchases from Canon leaders and ambassadors in their specific genre by attending masterclasses, webinars, entering competitions with the chance to work alongside a Canon ambassador and improving their skills through the use of a new online community dedicated to supporting growth through engagement. Improvement will come via feedback and critiques through the forums with the ability to create their own groups.
“It’s about providing information and touchpoints for enthusiasts to ensure that they feel energized wanting to shoot but also have the ability to share, gain that feedback, and continue to improve their photography." Frankie assured me that they have quite a few webinars in the pipeline that will highlight and correct any misinformation out there, covering not just the basic usage but the advanced controls.
For those members that still occasionally want access to the “fast track” services, they can still get access to this through the fast track express services offered.
Really, this feels like it’s going to be a more focused version of what we already see with Facebook groups with support from professionals, rather than answers based on opinion and guesswork. While I personally think that Facebook is a great place to get help from other photographers in groups related to your chosen genre, there can be a lot of negativity out there, which can put off new photographers from asking questions, resulting in growth and improvement at a slower pace.
A safe space with support from professionals can only be a good thing. If the platform is easy to use and good enough, then I think people will move to adopt it if there are enough people supporting it and taking charge of their own personal development.
From the outset, I think this is an interesting thing Canon is doing. The very fact that the fee you're going to pay you'll get back in credit against maintenance makes it great value, plus there are so many extra benefits that are going to be worth the cost of this alone. I personally would love to see more trial and experience days, current Canon Ambassadors being involved in the next generation of creators' improvement, and more online webinars and coaching sessions. This, I think, evolves Canon from being a supplier of cameras and equipment that does support and a little teaching online to being a global leader in teaching, improvement, and developing the next level of content creators that we see on every news and media outlet. That becomes the product. It then becomes that you'd buy a Canon camera because of the included support and learning rather than thinking of those as an afterthought after having purchased a piece of equipment.
I, for one, will be keeping an eye on the launch date, which is currently set at March 28, 2023.
