Could it really be this cheap?

[Fedgrub]

Hi all,

I started a thread a while ago about the 5D MKII, and was suggested the 7D for a few reasons. Anyway, I've decided to get a 7D and am currently shopping around.

http://www.canon.com.au/en-au/For-Yo...SLR-Cameras/7D

I've read that grey market lenses are covered by an international warranty, but bodies are not, so I am thinking of buying my body in Australia and get a grey lens.

But... The grey market prices are confusing me, and some of the sites don't make me feel very confident. The prices are very low, but it's making me worried about what I'm getting for that. Can anyone confirm that there are no differences between the following?

http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/prod6341.htm
and
http://www.eglobaldigitalcameras.com...is-lenses.html

There's no differences from what I can see, just looking for some reassurance that I'm not missing a feature or a pitfall in grey market lenses.

Thanks!

[William]

$420 is a big saving , But how come ? I'll be interested as well

[JM Tran]

too big of a price difference and too good to be true, digital camera warehouse is well known but I have never heard of the latter....However, I had a look at their other products, and they are in accordance with grey-import pricing. Could be a website typo with the cheap price for the lens you posted as I have seen on some sites in the past.

[davearnold]

I bought my 7D through digital camera warehouse, and took extended 5 year (factory + 4yrs) warranty option .... would buy lens's grey, but never a body.

I know people who have bought lens's through eglobal with out a problem, but postage can be expensive, and then difference between local "grey" (e.g. DDP) prices is then minimal.

If you are ever looking at a unknown seller google "seller's name" reveiw and read what comes up.

Cheers

[PH005]

Can I just say Fedgrub, That the lens you have posted here is not of a high enough standard to go with a 7D. I just sold one of these lenses, 2nd hand, and would rate it as a kit lens.

[Fedgrub]

Thanks for everyones feedback.

Can I just say Fedgrub, That the lens you have posted here is not of a high enough standard to go with a 7D. I just sold one of these lenses, 2nd hand, and would rate it as a kit lens.

Good point. I am only looking at this one because it is a kit lens, and it will be cheaper to import it to go with my 7D body to complete what I would otherwise buy as a whole package from DCW. Which lens would you recommend?

[ving]

nothing wrong with grey gear, but i havent used eglobal before

[Bennymiata]

I've bought most of my camera equipment, including bodies, lenses, flashes, filters etc through grey marketers, and every piece has been perfect.

The savings are huge, so you can buy even more stuff!

As a matter of fact, on Monday, I ordered a genuine battery grip for my Canon 60D from a grey marketeer and paid only $143.87 (including freight) and DCW sells them for $236.00.
A substantial saving!
I received it today and have just tried it out, and it seems to be perfect too.
Defintely is the real deal, as the box and instructions and warranty card are all ridgy-didge.

The companies I mainly use are Top Buy and Dino Direct, but there are many others out there too.

[PH005]

Thanks for everyones feedback.



Good point. I am only looking at this one because it is a kit lens, and it will be cheaper to import it to go with my 7D body to complete what I would otherwise buy as a whole package from DCW. Which lens would you recommend?

By the way, The 18-135 is not a USM lens either. As a walkabout for the 7D ? The 24-105 F4L would be a nice start . The debates on lenses are long and many.

[Fedgrub]

I've bought most of my camera equipment, including bodies, lenses, flashes, filters etc through grey marketers, and every piece has been perfect.

The savings are huge, so you can buy even more stuff!

As a matter of fact, on Monday, I ordered a genuine battery grip for my Canon 60D from a grey marketeer and paid only $143.87 (including freight) and DCW sells them for $236.00.
A substantial saving!
I received it today and have just tried it out, and it seems to be perfect too.
Defintely is the real deal, as the box and instructions and warranty card are all ridgy-didge.

The companies I mainly use are Top Buy and Dino Direct, but there are many others out there too.

Thanks for the recommendations!

By the way, The 18-135 is not a USM lens either. As a walkabout for the 7D ? The 24-105 F4L would be a nice start . The debates on lenses are long and many.

Just read a couple of reviews, it looks good but expensive. Totally missed it being a USM. I'm used to clunky focusing sounds from my 18-105mm nikkor lens so I guess that part wouldn't bother me too much. Maybe one day I can afford that beast!

[etherial]

Big price difference hey. The site I often frequent and one I bought my 7D amongst other things from is Digital World International. They have the lens you ask about here for $329 so it seems to me Digital Camera Warehouse is over the odds on this one. I bought my 70-200/2.8IS from DCW and picked it up in Melbourne, they were priced quite well. Ironically it is the only part of my equipment I have bought in Australia retail, and I had issues with it and had to send it back! To their credit they had it fixed and it is now my favourite lens.

[smallfooties]

just out of curiousity, have you ever tried to get your local shop to give you a good bargain?
I don't know if i was lucky or not... but when i was shopping for my 105mm... i went to all the shops that i knew about to enquire about pricing... after going to a few of them... i finally stopped at this particular shop in the city...
i told them that another shop was offering me at a lower price... the guy after thinking for a bit... decided to beat that price... and i ended up saving close to $200.
So i don't know if it's worth you trying? So you don't have to get grey imports?

[dulvariprestige]

Have you thought about a 17-85, it's got IS and USM, these can be had for a good price new and 2nd hand on ebay.

[Boofhead]

Big price difference hey. The site I often frequent and one I bought my 7D amongst other things from is Digital World International. They have the lens you ask about here for $329 so it seems to me Digital Camera Warehouse is over the odds on this one. I bought my 70-200/2.8IS from DCW and picked it up in Melbourne, they were priced quite well. Ironically it is the only part of my equipment I have bought in Australia retail, and I had issues with it and had to send it back! To their credit they had it fixed and it is now my favourite lens.

+1 for Digital World International. I purchased my 70-200 from them and it was great service. Bought my 7D locally when it was on sale at Hardly Normal on 40 months interest free.

[Fedgrub]

just out of curiousity, have you ever tried to get your local shop to give you a good bargain?
I don't know if i was lucky or not... but when i was shopping for my 105mm... i went to all the shops that i knew about to enquire about pricing... after going to a few of them... i finally stopped at this particular shop in the city...
i told them that another shop was offering me at a lower price... the guy after thinking for a bit... decided to beat that price... and i ended up saving close to $200.
So i don't know if it's worth you trying? So you don't have to get grey imports?

I asked DCW for a cheaper price, and it was a firm no. I haven't tried Teds or Camera House yet. There is a small store in the Brisbane CBD that I want to try too.

Have you thought about a 17-85, it's got IS and USM, these can be had for a good price new and 2nd hand on ebay.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will check it out!

+1 for Digital World International. I purchased my 70-200 from them and it was great service. Bought my 7D locally when it was on sale at Hardly Normal on 40 months interest free.

Nice, I will check out DWI. I was thinking of getting it from Harvey Norman on their interest free too. Were they happy to price match it? They're always heaps more expensive.

[PH005]

Fedgrub. Try out Photo Continental on Logan Rd, Upper Mt Gravatt. I bought a lens off them a while back and they matched the DWI price. It was quite a saving. Just let them know exactly what you want, and the best price that you can get it for online. They will ring you back with their price. I found them very good to deal with.

[Fedgrub]

Fedgrub. Try out Photo Continental on Logan Rd, Upper Mt Gravatt. I bought a lens off them a while back and they matched the DWI price. It was quite a saving. Just let them know exactly what you want, and the best price that you can get it for online. They will ring you back with their price. I found them very good to deal with.

Wow, that's great. It's a bit of a drive, but if they can meet the online price, it would definitely be worth it. Thanks!

[Boofhead]

Nice, I will check out DWI. I was thinking of getting it from Harvey Norman on their interest free too. Were they happy to price match it? They're always heaps more expensive.[/QUOTE]

No price match as it was already on special at quite a good price. I did get them to throw a memory card in though!

[unistudent1962]

Have you thought about a 17-85, it's got IS and USM, these can be had for a good price new and 2nd hand on ebay.

If I were you I'd steer clear of the 17-85.
They can develop a known fault where they hunt for focus and bring up the generic Err01 or Err99 message.
It typically occurs at wider focal lengths with the aperture wide open.
Mine developed the problem 14 months ago.
A trip to Canon service cost me $300 to have it repaired.
The problem is now back again, and I'm not planning on wasting any more money on it.
Canon couldn't care less, so now I'm stuck with a 50-85 f5.6 IS USM manual focus brick!!!!

[peterb666]

I am pretty certain the 18-135mm is sold as a kit lens with some models of Canon. If this is a debundled kit-lens, then the price is plausable for a grey market lens.

The price at DCW will be for the same item when sold as a separate.

I have never heard of eGlobal, but if you can pay by credit card, you shouldn't have any problems as you would be able to get your money back if your lens doesn't turn up. If you have to pay by bank transfer or some other method, I would look for alternative suplliers.