Help with New Lens..

[Gareth Forwood]

Originally Posted by Tony G

Might be a silly questions, but , are there any places where you can trial a lens over a weekend? thought I asked...never know

Hi Tony,

I too was looking at getting the Bigma lens (see this topic) but decided instead to get the 100-400mm Canon. Before I bought the lens, I tried it out from AU Photographer - I have hired from this guy a few times now, and have always been pleased with the service. You can pick things up in Manly, Sydney, or if that is too far he will courier them to you (at your expense).

Hope this helps.

Gareth

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by Gareth Forwood

Hi Tony,

I too was looking at getting the Bigma lens (see this topic) but decided instead to get the 100-400mm Canon. Before I bought the lens, I tried it out from AU Photographer - I have hired from this guy a few times now, and have always been pleased with the service. You can pick things up in Manly, Sydney, or if that is too far he will courier them to you (at your expense).

Hope this helps.

Gareth

Thanks for the Link Gareth. I missed that thread as I have been away for a while and need a lens as I will be going away for a few more months again. Some good info there.

Did you end trying out the Sigma or just ended up with the canon. I might take advantage of hire to try it out. I might try the extender as well to see what the out come is there. DCW (discount Camera warehouse) told me to get an independant lens rather than an extender as the quaility is much better.

If there are and Sydney spotters wanted to also try out a hire lens if they a buying soon and are not sure which way to go, let me know and we can organise a couple of hours at KSA. Or possibly owners could bring theres down for a display.

[Gareth Forwood]

I only tried out the canon, and I also got the 2x extender - I thought it was pretty useless for aviation because you lose the autofocus, better for stationary shots. I tried to find somewhere to hire the sigma, but could only find American companies.

[Lee G]

I just gave Paxton's a call and enquired about the price on a Canon 100-400 L. They said the price had gone up again last week and their best price was $2350!!!!

Time to look further afield - again $2100 looks to be the cheapest brand new.

Does anyone have further information on where to get this lens from for under $2000?

The other thing I was thinking is that if there are a few of us who are looking at cameras and/or lenses, that we could combine our purchase power and in bulk, push the price down as a group - any comments or suggestions appreciated.

[David Knudsen]

Originally Posted by Lee G

Does anyone have further information on where to get this lens from for under $2000?

Probably nowhere in Australia, unless someone has some stock from before the major price rise in November. Canon's wholesale price to camera stores is now over $1900ex GST.

Just remember if you buy the unit overseas, Canon Australia will not warrant it, even if it is sold with whats claimed to be an 'International Warranty'.

[Greg McDonald]

I was at Teds Camera House in Sydney today and, thinking about this thread, priced both lenses in question. The Bigma is currently going for $2195 and the Canon for $2350.
To show you how much these have gone up in price, my son bought the Bigma lens in early January this year and got it from Teds for $1695!!

[Lee G]

Just in case anyone is interested, looks like more price rises on the way again (no wonder nobody has stock in store - their all holding back until the end of March!). I was told that there will be a $500 increase to the Canon 5D Mk2 kit as of 1 Apr.

Various other places have backorders from Canon on the 100-400L but nobody seems to be able to get any stock.

Sounds like Canon are hanging out until the prices go up - some serious price gouging going on IMHO!

[David Knudsen]

Originally Posted by Lee G

Various other places have backorders from Canon on the 100-400L but nobody seems to be able to get any stock.

Sounds like Canon are hanging out until the prices go up - some serious price gouging going on IMHO!

Because of the Aussie Dollar, its been quite favourable for a lot of people from overseas to buy Canon Cameras and Lenses in Australia, especially from the US and Asia. Canon estimates that since November, about 1 in 3 lenses and 1 in 5 DSLRs have been exported, including one store in New York that purchased 3000 lenses from a Brisbane retailer, hence the need for price rises, since Canon Australia only makes up for just over 1% of Canon's global sales, its hard enough for them to get stock from Japan as it is (Canon do not want their products exported from Australia, but are powerless to stop retailers from doing it!)

Here are the details of Canon's price rise, apparently its only Digital SLR's and Ink that will cop the price rise on the 30/Mar

Model-CURRENT RRP-NEW RRP-% Increase

1DsIII $ 11,999 $ 11,999 0%

1DIII $ 6,499 $ 6,499 0%

5DIIPK $ 5,799 $ 6,299 9%
5DIIB $ 4,299 $ 4,799 12%

50DPK $ 2,799 $ 2,899 4%
50DK $ 2,599 $ 2,599 0%
50DB $ 1,899 $ 1,899 0%

40DK $ 1,999 $ 1,999 0%
40DB $ 1,299 $ 1,299 0%

450DPK $ 1,949 $ 2,099 8%
450DEK $ 1,749 $ 1,799 3%
450DTKIS $ 1,499 $ 1,599 7%
450DKIS $ 1,199 $ 1,249 4%
450DB $ 1,049 $ 1,099 5%

1000DTKIS $ 1,349 N/A
1000DTKB $ 1,049 $ 1,199 14%
1000DKIS $ 999 $ 999 0%
1000DKB $ 949 $ 949 0%
1000DB $ 849 $ 849 0%

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by Lee G

I just gave Paxton's a call and enquired about the price on a Canon 100-400 L. They said the price had gone up again last week and their best price was $2350!!!!

Time to look further afield - again $2100 looks to be the cheapest brand new.

Does anyone have further information on where to get this lens from for under $2000?

The other thing I was thinking is that if there are a few of us who are looking at cameras and/or lenses, that we could combine our purchase power and in bulk, push the price down as a group - any comments or suggestions appreciated.

There is a site on ebay with a price tag of about $2100 if i remeber correct ( they guarantee an aussie product). I keen for a multi-by Lee and if anyone else wants to join in. I will have to do it within the next two weeks though otherwise I 'll have to wait until later in the year as I will be going away for a while.

[Mark D]

I bought the 100-400L just before Red Bull last year from d-d-photographics but their price is $2259 now. I think I paid $1850 or so...
bugger...
But it's a good lens Tony!