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UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals) (Viewed 671 times)
inkblot 


Location: Toronto




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Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
< on 10/13/2010 3:05 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
This may be better suited to the Photography forum, but i decided to err on the side of caution.

I have been looking at picking up a Tokina 11-16mm lens for my Nikon recently and have been debating purchases online - some within Canada, some not.

I have been wondering: have any of you purchased from dealers online (Ebay, Adorama, etc)? If so, did a lack of warranty that would apply to Canada sway your decision at all? Is there a price point at which you would refrain from doing so?

Also, for folks local to Toronto; given that I'm sort of new to SLR photography and haven't had a chance to develop a good relationship with stores locally, can you give some insight about your preferred stores? (I missed the sale Aden had on this lens in August- it's still marked as 'on sale' on their website, but priced exactly the same as many other dealers in town. It's sort of off-putting.)

Nikon D90, Tokina 11-16mm F2.8, Nikkor 18-200mm F3.5-5.6, Nikkor 50mm F1.4D | inkblot photo | flickr
fiend 


Location: East Van
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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 1 on 10/13/2010 3:38 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've never purchased from eBay or the like, but I do buy camera gear online from Vistek and have found their staff very solid when I've been into the Toronto location. I just wish they had one here in Vancouver.

delusional 


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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 2 on 10/18/2010 9:41 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Vistek or Henrys are a good place to start, youll probably find the cheapest prices at both aswell

http://vistek.ca/
http://www.henrys.ca/

rob.i.am 


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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 3 on 10/18/2010 10:22 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I use wishabi.ca to find the lowest Canadian price and have Henrys (or Vistek) match it. I also bought a camera when in NY (Lumix LX3). I saved about $120 and I'm not worried about the warranty.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rob666/
hilite 


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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 4 on 10/19/2010 12:40 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've purchased quite a few lenses from ebay, including the similar Tokina 12-24mm.

Look for the large Power Sellers. Not just some Joe-Shmoe selling a single lens.

I fully trust
Citiwide & HKBNS

And when you finally disappear, We'll just say you were never here.
swizzler 


Location: Ontario
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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 5 on 10/19/2010 1:22 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX is nearly impossible to come by at any retail store in Canada. I bought mine in May off of eBay and it came within a week. I paid $565 and had it shipped free. The seller that I purchased from had a 7 day exchange policy if the lens was defective. The reason I got mine a bit cheaper is that the instruction manual is in Japanese.

I wouldn't worry too much about getting a bad copy. This lens has amazing build quality and it's very robust.

Since I got mine it's been mounted 97.2% of the time. It's awesome.


Hope this helps.

Canon EOS 5DMKII | EF 24-105 f/4L | EF 17-40 f/4L | EF 50mm f/1.8 II | Yashica Electro 35 GS
yokes 


Location: Toronto
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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 6 on 10/19/2010 1:30 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
My favourite Toronto store is Downtown Camera. Excellent prices and service. Kind of place that remembers your name (they know mine).

"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel
olive 


Location: hamilton
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good plan, poorly executed.

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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 7 on 10/19/2010 1:32 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
kijiji. because being a poor student sucks!

Sorry, what was that you were saying about forever alone?
dynastar666 


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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 8 on 10/20/2010 5:09 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
You could also try the Fred Miranda forums or one of the Nikon specific forums. I find that they are the best place to purchase used lenses (I've bought and sold over $14k in gear on http://photography-on-the.net/ without any problems).

I shoot photos.
www.flickr.com/photos/dynastar666
www.developingpictures.org
dinanm3atl 




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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 9 on 10/20/2010 4:56 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Have you considered the Tokina 12-24 f/4? Just as sharp and half the price. Same build quality. I say that because I shot with a friends 11-16 f/2.8 and it is nice. However it is 1 stop faster for twice the money and no additional IQ/Sharpness. When I thought about what I shoot(inside a building on a tripod during UE) I realized that the extra money isn't worth it for just 1mm extra.

YMMV.

swizzler 


Location: Ontario
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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 10 on 10/20/2010 11:59 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by dinanm3atl
When I thought about what I shoot(inside a building on a tripod during UE) I realized that the extra money isn't worth it for just 1mm extra.

YMMV.


I have to disagree. When I was looking at getting an UWA lens I considered the Tokina 11-16, Canon 10-22 and the Sigma 10-20. Sometimes when I'm shooting in tight spots I kick myself when I just need that extra little wideness and wish I had another mm. The reason I settled on the Tokina was the f/2.8 aperture, build and image quality.

To be honest, if I could be guaranteed a perfect copy of the Sigma 8-16 I would get one in a heartbeat.
[last edit 10/21/2010 12:00 AM by swizzler - edited 1 times]

Canon EOS 5DMKII | EF 24-105 f/4L | EF 17-40 f/4L | EF 50mm f/1.8 II | Yashica Electro 35 GS
dinanm3atl 




Durty South

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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 11 on 10/21/2010 4:21 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I will have to disagree with you

Looking through the view finder and resulting pictures it just isn't worth twice the costs IMO. With live view and a tripod I can set the camera in a corner. Farther into a corner than I can stand. I haven't missed 1mm yet.

Plus the money went to other lenses. I would rather have a 12-24 f/4 AND a 50 f/1.4 than just a 11-16 f/2.8. The build quality of the 12-24 is the same as the 11-16. I swear some of the same parts are used.

I won't buy anything but Canon and make exceptions for Tokina. Tamron and Sigma are just too flaky. Seems it takes up to 3 or 4 swaps to get a decent copy.
[last edit 10/21/2010 4:23 PM by dinanm3atl - edited 1 times]

inkblot 


Location: Toronto




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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 12 on 10/22/2010 6:18 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Thanks for the input!

The reasoning behind my lens choice mostly had to do with finding i really wanted a wider angle for the majority of my subject matter (i have the 18-105mm kit lens and have been borrowing a Tamron 28-75mm F2.8) but also had to do with me taking a liking to the lower stop on the Tamron.

I didn't realize Henry's and Vistek did price matching - had they discussed this on their websites perhaps I would have chosen differently. While I've made some purchases at Vistek in the past, i do find their list pricing rather high. I don't mind Henry's, but their price for this lens was a bit higher than what Aden and Downtown were offering. In the future I will keep it in mind to call about price matching instead of just going by list price.

I did end up picking this lens up from Downtown before the meet last weekend and didn't experience any issues. The folks there were pretty helpful and I would probably go back again.



Nikon D90, Tokina 11-16mm F2.8, Nikkor 18-200mm F3.5-5.6, Nikkor 50mm F1.4D | inkblot photo | flickr
swizzler 


Location: Ontario
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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 13 on 10/22/2010 9:39 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
How are you liking the lens? I love mine.

Canon EOS 5DMKII | EF 24-105 f/4L | EF 17-40 f/4L | EF 50mm f/1.8 II | Yashica Electro 35 GS
inkblot 


Location: Toronto




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Re: Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals)
<Reply # 14 on 10/22/2010 9:46 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I love having a wider angle to work with and the lower stop. I'm not a patient person and i have shaky hands, so being able to take shorter exposures with lower chance of blurriness was a big thing for me. I also enjoy the fact that this lens is a lot more sharp than both of the lenses i was using recently. More likely than not, it will be my main lens for exploring, with my kit lens as secondary and the Tamron going back to my Dad. I think between the two I'll have a decent range for the kinds of shots I like to take.

Nikon D90, Tokina 11-16mm F2.8, Nikkor 18-200mm F3.5-5.6, Nikkor 50mm F1.4D | inkblot photo | flickr
UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > Buying lenses online (and a question for Toronto locals) (Viewed 671 times)



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