Going to the USA any of these Lenses cheap enough to buy?

cymatty

cymatty

cymatty

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Hi I have a Canon 350d and I am looking for a replacment to the kit lens whilst away so I went on the net and got a few prices.

Are these any good (both the lens and price)

Canon 28-105 mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM EF Lens £170ish
Tamron 24-135 mm AF For Canon £200ish
Sigma 24-70 mm f/2.8 EX DF Lens for Canon AF £220ish

and finally if I wanted nothing else on holiday :o

Canon 17-40 mm f/4 L USM EF Lens £375 ish
 
They are cheaper, but as a regular visiter to the US I find it more hassle than its worth to buy stuff out there. You will have to either discard or flatten boxes of goods bought in the suitcase... and your bag will 9/10s out of time be searched before its even left the US! (trust me everytime I leave I get a ticket / sticker in my case saying its been searched)

Not to mention every camera shop I went in had a limited stock, and to compete with prices like amazon.com they boost up their prices... In the end you pay the same as UK with Tax and importing if your declare. In my visits no camera shop has matched an online retailer for price!
 
The shop I buy from is based in New York and has very popular website attached to it. The cost of the 17-40mm F4 L works out to be about 325 pounds before tax (about 8% if you buy in New York). I have my stuff shipped to Canada so I only have to pay the 5% tax we have here!!! I always get a kick out of Canadians being able to shop at the US store and pay less tax :)

Definitely be careful when you bring your purchases back if you don't want to get stung. Either bin the boxes or post them back separately. If you must take them back on the flight flatten them out and put them in a friends bag (probably ask permission first!), then just walk separately through customs.
 
I think I know the shop in NY that you went to. I bought a 17-40 in there for just over £300 last year. I just threw away the box. As for customs, well the lens was in my camera bag with the rest of my kit, so not an issue.
 
We'll that was my idea as well just to stick whatever purchase in my camera bag. However not much point if they are not that cheap.

My only other option is to try to find a cheaper web based place and order to the hotel seems a little risky to me though :(
 
cymatty said:
...My only other option is to try to find a cheaper web based place and order to the hotel seems a little risky to me though :(
Click to expand...

I've done this before. The hotel will tell you to head the address with "Hold for Arrival - DATE - NAME"

Always worked out fine for me, assuming the website and the hotel are both reasonable.
 
cymatty said:
We'll that was my idea as well just to stick whatever purchase in my camera bag. However not much point if they are not that cheap.

My only other option is to try to find a cheaper web based place and order to the hotel seems a little risky to me though :(
Click to expand...

This could be tricky as most reputable places will only ship to the card holders address. When I moved over here from the UK I tried to order a few bits on my UK CC (the registered address had been changed to my place here) but they still wouldn't as they knew it wasn't a Canadian credit card. I had to wait to build up a good credit rating till I could apply for credit here before I was able to order online! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
 
Last time I did anything like this, I just packed the flattened box, manuals etc into an envelope and posted it home using normal mail.
 
Well the shop is just round the corner from the hotel if I have to collect it although prices may not be the same.

Now I need more opinions on the Lenses themselves and a bit on price and if any are a good enough upgrade from the kit lens.

Thanks. :)
 
The 17-40mm is a very popular lens and is one of the best quality you can get for a zoom. I really like mine!

I have also owned the sigma 24-70mm f2.8, I found the glass to be high quality and able to produce decent images, but I felt the build quality left a little to be desired.

You should also have a look into prime lenses. I'm really loving them now and starting to use them more then my zooms. I've just purchased a 15mm f2.8 and the 28mm f1.8 :)
 
The sigma 24-70 is good but the price isn't worth getting in the US for. I got my 24-70 from a UK retailer for £230 inc delivery.
 
Cheers guys, I have a nifty fifty and a sigma 70-300mm lens as well as the kit lens if that helps anyones decisions.
 
Just decide which focal lengths you feel you need/what you want to photograph then get the best quality lens you can afford that covers the task :)

If you want someone to tell you what to buy then i'll have a go :) Buy the following:

Canon 100mm f2.8 macro,
Canon 10-22mm f3.5-4.5
Canon 17-40mm L f4
A ring flash or 580 EXII flash with off shoe cord and mounting system so you have the option to use it as a macro flash.

If you still have money pick up a decent portrait lens, the 50mm f1.4 or the 85mm f1.8 should suffice!
 
I purchased a lens while out in the US. I just sent the flattened box back along the receipts from the trip, cost me quite a bit as my only choice was Fed Ex at the place I went to post the parcel.
 
Ok just noticed that they will price match so if they price match any of the following are any of these good buys.

Canon 580exII £180
Canon 17-40 mm f/4 L £320
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM £280
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG £195

Reason I have added some different kit is because my telephoto is my senod most used item and I have no flash as of yet. :)
 
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