Do you buy in store or Online?

[TL88]

Do you buy in store or Online? (Sydney)

And where do you go and trust online for good prices and service?

[ameerat42]

Check out the online prices (EBay even if you look out) and then perhaps, go to a local store...
Camera House, Paxtons, Georges Camera Store...

Usually people go to local stores for local warranty, while online goods are often covered by a
return-to-supplier (where they might get it fixed elsewhere than the lens coy, eg Sigma, Canon.
But this is not necessarily a bad thing.

The last price I gave you for the Σ lens is from the local distributor, CR Kennedy. They have stores
in most capital cities.

Housekeeping: remember, as a new member you can't name companies for 30 days and 50 posts.
Also, don't forget to give feedback to others.

[TL88]

Thankyou I had just emailed to check if I could even put a post up like this up

[thegrump]

am ... I also am looking for a bigger lens. I looked at the store you recommended, it seems they do not stock Nikon. the lens I am looking for is 70-300 or 500 ( maybe ). They have this in Sigma, but not with the Nikon mount.

[ameerat42]

TG. Which store? I can't remember. Was it CR Kennedy's?
Hmm! You're right about that 70-300mm lens. They do not have it in
Nikon mount. I don't know if it comes in Nikon mount.
(Wait! They do: http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/dg-...ame?show_all=1)

Two that do come with Nikon mount are listed on their website as the 50-500 and the 150-500.

Now 3 things...
1. These two lenses are BEASTS, and they burden you when you're carrying them around.
2. Their prices are now through the roof! I got the 50-500 for $1200ish (but the $A was high then).
3. They do not (seem to) have the current 150-600 lenses listed. The are above are AFAIK now
superseded. If anything, they should be once clearance prices. It might do to ring your local
branch and befriend a salestype.

And 3 good things...
1. All the 50,150-500/600 lenses are DG specced for FF use.
2. All have OS and quite effective too
3. For mine, and reports on the Σ forum and as well here, all have pretty good IQ.

Finally, 3 neutral things...
1. Look at other brands.
2. Look at other suppliers for the Σ lenses, because CRKs do price match.
3. You'll have to supply a 3rd thing

[J.davis]

TG - check out the CR Kennedy ebay store, this is where I have bought my Sigma and Tokina lenses from (full Warranty)

http://stores.ebay.com.au/dcxpert/Ni...=p4634.c0.m322

[thegrump]

am ... what do you think of this one http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/vie...63-dg-os-hsm-c ....for my Nikon D3100. I have no idea of all the technical jargon or this https://sigmaphoto.com.au/lenses/150...-apo-dg-os-hsm

[ameerat42]

There are 2 versions of this lens: the C - shown in link - and the S (for sports).
AFAIK, the S is weather-sealed, and costs a good slab more.

They are also different in optical design, having different numbers of lens elements/groups.

A person (or two) on AP has one... Can't remember who now...

On the Σ forums, there have been reports that the S version is marginally sharper, but I have not seen/looked for
any evidence. I know that the person here likes his C version.

What do I think of it? I haven't given it much thought. But I doubt that you would be making a great mistake in
getting one on the basis of IQ etc. Such a lens is rather specialised - for fairly long-range photography. For that
reason I went for the 50-500. (At the time it was that or a single 150-500 which was a couple of hundred cheaper.)
Yes, I have got used to its weight and everything, and it is fairly well balanced. I hope the 150-600 is as well. The thing
is I hardly ever change the lens from the camera, unless to put on the likes of a 30mm or the 8-16. With the 150-600
you will be changing it more often, I reckon.

I will say, too, that the Max Magnification for the new lenses have dropped a tad from mine. Now 1:5, against mine: 1:3.1.
This is the "macro" factor that is often cited for such lenses. Really, it's more a "close-up" factor.

Finally, when I first read about these lenses and look at their specs and... so on and forth, I concluded that I was NOT missing out
on much at all by having my 50-500. The magnification at full zoom is 20%, or 1/5 more than mine, but that's nothing much. And the
restricted wider FOV at 150mm was a real "no goer" FOR ME. Now this is my opinion only, but I reckon mine suits me better than one of
the 150-600s would.

Finally, if you do get one, don't bother about getting a teleconverter. I did get one and hardly use it. Main reason: two stops less light.

Look on this page (US site) for info on all the lenses: http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/telephoto-lenses

- - - Updated - - -

PS: I didn't see you link for the 150-500, but the answer relates to it as well.

[J.davis]

TG check out my bird pics, Nikon D750 + Sigma 150-600 C, also it will work on your camera. If you get this lens, also get the USB Dock to allow full adjustment of all parameters.
I have it attached to the camera at all times.
As for buying, I price matched a shop in WA with The Good Guys who are local. Bought it on the Free Credit thingy.

[danny]

When I first started buying camera gear I would only buy online from Grey importers. Companies such as DWI have great prices and deliver in insane short periods. This was because I was chasing the cheapest stock I could find. HOWEVER, now I only buy through local shops. So why the change? it came down to service primarily and recently prices have been so similar between the two it is hard not to buy through a local shop. And if you are talking lenses like Tamron, there is actually no difference at all.

I have used Georges in Sydney many times and found them great. Although their prices aren't flex-able, they are the cheapest around so they don't need to drop it anymore then what they already have. I would even drive up to pick things up, or they are happy to post out to you. The HUGE benefit is that when something goes wrong, like it has once before, I can walk into the shop have a chat with someone who knows what they are talking about and resolve any issue.

But then...
I did what I thought I would never do. I bought my most recent body, a D750, from JB HI FI This is because, a friend of mine suggested that they will price match, which they did. The camera cost me a $100 more then if I had of waited for it to arrive via HK and only a couple of dollars more than what I could have got at Georges.

What I have learnt (in my humble experience) is although imported may be cheaper, it is usually not by much. And if you can find a camera place that has knowledge and experience it is only reasonable to think that they are going to charge a little (sometimes very little) amount more then a faceless product via a computer.

[Mark L]

^ thanks for getting back to the original question Danny.
I'm not far off buying more equipment and you post has helped me.
It's a bit different know to nearly 5 years ago when I got my camera from USA . Au$1.10 then. A bit lower know. Makes a huge difference.

[Cage]

Do you buy in store or Online? (Sydney)

I do both.

For cheaper items, ie without a motor and a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), I'll buy online, and often from overseas, because of price.

However for dearer items, like cameras and expensive lens, I prefer to buy locally, for the peace of mind that a manufacturers warranty gives me. As I live a 400k round trip from Sydney, I buy from Australian accredited retailers online, and sometimes at around the same price of the 'Grey' importers.

My last two lens purchases were both Tamrons, a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm f2.8, and both came from Ted's Cameras at very little difference to the imported price, but with local manufacturer's warranty, and they will 'Price Match', within limitations.

My last two cameras came from Ryda.com, who also are accredited local Nikon retailers.

Now I'm in no way suggesting that the above mentioned retailers are the cheapest, but on the day they were the cheapest I found, and I shop hard.

My starting point for a local purchase is usually one of the sites like staticICE and 'Google' or 'Bing' are your friends. For the cheaper stuff I usually do the fleBay thing.

[Morgo]

Usually if its under $1000 I'll hunt around for the best price online overseas.

Waiting for sales and promos can save you hundreds too buying locally. Bought some Fuji gear and end up with $700 in cash backs, got one lens half price at $200. JB hifi 15% off saw me with a 5D III 2 years ago for around $2900

Over $1k in value I go to stores or buy from online stores somewhere in Aus. Usually go into camera house and jb hifi ( I like to fondle stuff as well ) and buy from online Aus stores like camerapro.

[Cage]

am ... what do you think of this one http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/vie...63-dg-os-hsm-c ....for my Nikon D3100. I have no idea of all the technical jargon or this https://sigmaphoto.com.au/lenses/150...-apo-dg-os-hsm

@ Grump,

Both the Sigma 150-600C and the Tamron 150-600 will work on your camera, but I'd check to be doubly sure, image wise they are very similar, and either will be a huge step-up from what you have been using.

[ameerat42]

At 1:5 "Macro" that both sport, you can't even call it close-up. Min close focus for the Tamron is 2.7m,
and I think it's the same for the Sigma. (Just step back through that wall, would you please)

[Lance B]

I buy my cameras and lenses from authorised bricks and mortar stores simply because I want to make sure that I can get good service for warranty if ever required, it's just not worth the risk to buy on-line from unauthorised grey market sellers. I find that the local bricks and mortar sellers prices are generally as cheap as on-line sellers or at least very close. Other minor cost items I may buy from on-line stores, but even then it depends on what it is.

[Brian500au]

With the strength in the USD the pendulum has moved. A few years ago the US was far cheaper to buy camera gear - but this was due to the strength of the Australia dollar against the USD.

I do a lot of buying a selling - both online, bricks and mortar and second hand. Australian prices for Canon bodies and lenses are very competitive in the world market. We are talking less than a 10% prices difference between Australia and a non Australian distributor. Remember if you bought from B&H in the US then it is considered a grey market item when it is imported into Australia.

In October last year I bought a 100-400 lens from Georges Camera store in Sydney. I was very impressed with both their customer service and flexibility to match a competitors genuine price. Admittedly it was a little more attractive to me because I could claim back the GST as I left the country but that really just made it even more competitive to the second hand market in Singapore.

This week I was working in Melbourne and decided to look at a Canon 7DII. I knew the price online and the secondhand price in Singapore. I priced the three brick and mortar shops in Elizabeth street and once again they were very competitive with the world market. As an example, I negotiated a price, JB HIFI were less then $100 more expensive than a grey market import from HK on ebay. Added I can reclaim my GST when I leave the country, Australia for me is a very attractive place to buy camera gear at the moment.

To answer the second question re the 150-600 "C" or "S". I do own the "S" and although it is a superb lens, it is difficult to hand hold for any period of time - I always use it on a monopod or tripod. At 600mm I think this is a good idea anyway, but with the "C" you have the choice one way or the other.