Where do you buy your Cameras/Lenses from?

[ianh]

Hi all, I was looking at several different lenses on eBay as I'd expected them to be much cheaper as they were 2nd hand yet I noticed that people were bidding upto 95% of the original RRP on virtually everything I was interested in.

Needless to say if seems like I'm destined to spend virtually full price of 2nd hand then I'd rather just buy it new instead but other than Jessops or The RainForest I don't really know any other reputable shops (got my 2 new lenses from the Rainforest).

I'd seen a few that sold from HK like DigitalRevs but the risk of a hefty customs bill puts me off TBH although any feedback from anyone who has bought from them would be appreciated.

Cheers......................IanH

 

[ianh]

apeksdiver - A Canon 600D but I'm thinking about a 7D when the 7D Mk2 comes out next year (which should drop 7D prices hopefully) as I shoot for a rally team.

 

[ianh]

Cheers for the info folks!

You should be looking at around a third off with used lenses if you are buying privately - possibly up to half if the lens has been around a while.

That's exactly what I though but of the 2 dozen plus auctions I'd watched (to gauge prices) virtually every item went for 95% of the new price for both cameras and Lenses, which in the case of the camera's I can't understand, I mean some had 25000+ shots and looked well worn yet were sold for £30 less than the New price! I didn't know if it was the Xmas rush (& daft ebayers) that'd bumped up prices or whether that was about right in the photography world.

 

[ianh]

Well just back from visiting all the shops in Swindon and what a huge waste of time that was as none of the 3 shops I went into (T4, Great Western and Jessops) had any of the 5 things I wanted to either buy or look at.

Although, being Christmas, I can understand them being a little busy and I should have phoned them all 1st but what I found strange, from a "keep the high street open" point of view, is that they all recommended that I use their internet shops to order everything instead as none would get a restock until January.

I wanted to buy a Canon 70-200 F4, Tamron 17-50 F2.8, 2x UV Filters and look at the Canon 7D.

 

[ianh]

KD - The Jessops in Swindon had a really odd mix of cameras and lenses. It had a 5DmkIII and 70-200 F2.8 II or 1100D with kit lens but nothing inbetween and it had the Non-VC version of the Tamron I was after on the website at the same price as the VC. As much as I'd love to be able to buy from local shops I think the interweb is going to get my money

 

[ianh]

Energize - My basket at ******* was £550 cheaper than the same bits from Amazon or nearly £750 cheaper than Jessops, although that does include the 5% off for using BACS rather than paypal! I just wish the UK high street could compete, even if it was only say 15-20% more expensive I'd probably still prefer to do that but sadly it's just nowhere near