Lens options UK.

[Mark Thorpe]

Hi guys,
Just looking to find out where you all go shopping if not online and abroad. I've decided, like many, to opt for EF lenses with the Birger mount for my RED. That said I've been looking around the UK and am just shocked to see how much more the lenses are price wise in comparison to the U.S, almost double in some cases.

Where are you all looking for lens options? UK or abroad? South Africa potentially as expensive as the UK for electronics / luxury items etc. Seeing as I'm going to be heading down there soon I thought what the heck and am going to buy a new DSLR (Canon 400D) before heading south so I can use the lenses for both cams.

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Mark.

[Mark Thorpe]

In fact where do most of you shop around the London / Bristol region? I am now looking for accessories for my Z1 as I need to do some land shooting. Matte Boxes, Filters, Wireless Mics, etc. Anyone know of a one stop place all under one roof?

Cheers,
Mark.

[Russ Campbell]

Hey Mark. South Africa is expensive. I am ordering all my lenses, matte boxes, tripods, etc from the US or Hong Kong. UK prices are really high. When are heading out to SA?

Cheers,
Russ

[Mark Thorpe]

Planning to be down there by the end of this month. The scientits won't be ready for me until January so six weeks or so of getting all the beauty pick ups etc. Stuff I won't get time to do once the main UW shooting starts in earnest.

Tell me about the UK being expensive!!

Definitely plan to hook up when I get down there.

Best,
Mark.

[PaulClements]

With the pound to dollar rate there's only one place to look at the moment. I chatted to a company about their Cooke 18-100mm a few months ago, priced at £10,000. You can pick them up in the US for $10,000 - about £4,800 - No contest.

The problem is checking them in person of course.

Paul

[Mark Thorpe]

Hi Paul,
Was looking more for an outlet for Z1 accessories etc. Hoping that the Birger mount will actually materialize so I can use EF lenses with my Red. Same scenario regarding double costs etc with most things at the moment.

Cheers,
Mark.

[PaulClements]

Sorry Mark,

I read it casually and just added my thoughts as to the PL mount lenses. No idea about Z1 lenses but I would still probably go as far as shopping at BHphoto or similar for Canon glass.

The 24-70mm can be got for £534.50 delivered from BH although this is before Import TAX and VAT. Other than Ebay the cheapest I can find it in the UK is £735 from a very quick look (Though I believe this is an import anyway). If import tax is 10% (Which I would think is high) the cost including VAT would be £649 - A saving of £86.

Paul

[Mark Thorpe]

Combine that price difference with gear like Matte Boxes, 4x4" Filter Set, Wireless Mics, a Boom Mic, Tripod and a whole tip load of tapes could mean a quick trip to NY. The saving on exchange rates and shipping would even it all out. Hmmmm.

[PaulClements]

Hmmm

Fancy a combined trip Mark? We could pick up a bunch of gear for other users and bring it through... would be bloody funny turning up to customs with thousands of pounds worth of gear for them to sort out.

Paul

[Simon Blackledge]

I'm in NY 4th>8th Jan 08 Paul.. with dslr.. need a lens? thinking about getting another body along with a 85..

lemme know
s

[Mark Thorpe]

Paul,
We got empty backpacks, 3500 miles of empty space ahead, I've got my iPod Touch, I'm wearing dark glasses, Let's go!!

I'm up for it!
Mark.
PM: If you wanna go for it. It will have to be spur of the moment, looks like I'm heading down to SA pretty damn soon after calling the office today.

[PaulClements]

Mark, if I had the products lined up ready to look at I'd go tomorrow. The simple fact is I don't know what I need right at this moment!!!

I will have a think about it over the next couple of days though and look about for stuff over Cali way that might be of interest. Could be useful to post to the other UK red group to see if there is anyone wanting other gear too.

I'm thinking we need a speedboat and some white suits with the sleeves rolled up Miami vice style... of course it won't look half way as cool on the Severn Estuary :)

Si, if I need anything getting January I'll be sure to give you a shout. Besides hopefully we'll be meeting up fairly soon so we can discuss... did you get my PM a few days ago?

Cheers fellas

Paul

[Mark Thorpe]

Thats a big Negatory on your PM Red Leader. My 10/20 is that I am ready to fly the black goose to the big apple on a replen mission. The eyes on the ground tell me to expect a large delivery around January and I want to make sure we are prepared. I'll never live down the farce that became known as the 'Mersey Mishap'. I was on another force at the time but the nightmare fills my daily thoughts, haunts my every move, that poor pony.....I'll never forget. I'll tell you about that if we get partnered on this op.

By January I will be in climes anew. This is my last gig before quitting this freeze down...:cold: .....the pressure is just too much.

Go get 'em 'Croquet'

hehehe

P.S B&H is in NY.....www.bhphotovideo.com

[PaulClements]

I just don't know how to respond to that... seriously I actually haven't a clue :) funny though none-the-less.

Ok I'll PM instead!

Paul

[Simon Blackledge]

pm: not sure dude.. head in a spin currently.. lol.. will have a look.. :-/

[Fergus Meiklejohn]

I'm counting on the Birger mount. I'm thinking Canon not least because the 14-24 Nikon lens won't take filters. But until Erik resurfaces I think we should all hold our fire..
I think that lenses are expensive here mostly because of the VAT and import duty ($%$^%$%&$$£^%!!! Taxman...:ranting2: ) If we don't import it, can we claim the cost against tax?
I have been wondering about theose ebay dealers from Hong Kong, who claim to be able to legitimately sell us the things tax free, but what if the lens is a dud? How will we return it to Hong Kong or B&H?

Hey Cam Diver, you dive around these shores?? :cold: :cold:

total respect...

[PaulClements]

Perhaps if we were over there Fergus we could actually test the individual lenses and post the test shots to those who've requested the lenses. Any anomolies with any given lens would soon be spotted if there is a group of people looking at the tests.

VAT can be claimed back easily enough - not ideal but it doesn't bother me too much... It's a shame it even exists though.

The Hong Kong dealers probably don't declare the correct value on the lens. Some slip through some don't I guess. Interestingly in Europe you should be covered by the warranty regardless of where you bought it, or so I believe, perhaps someone will correct me. As such importing it represents less of a risk than it might to others???

By the way, Mark have you ever dived out of Madagascar? Talking to a friend and she wants to go there and drag my Red and I along to shoot some underwater footage.

Paul

[Mark Thorpe]

Hi all,
Paul, have PM'd you. For me the place to go in NYC will be the B&H Superstore. Check their website I sent you the link above: www.bhphotovideo.com

Fergus, I hear you mate. If people go out and buy Canon and then no mount!! Total bummer. Just from a courtesy standpoint I feel someone should give the nod, just to assure potential clients its safe for them to go ahead and spend $000's on lenses. Some people may have different priorities but given the length of the silence then personally I am a bit concerned. I've not dived in the UK that much but I have dived in South Africa, just out from Capetown in a wetsuit......in 9 degrees Celcius. Me plums have never been the same !!

Fingers crossed on everything. I'll have to admit I've been blinkered by going Canon so haven't really looked into Nikon options. What are the mount options there? Manufaturer? Kick me if its blatantly obvious.

Cheers,
Mark.

[JohnF]

I think that lenses are expensive here mostly because of the VAT and import duty ($%$^%$%&$$£^%!!! Taxman...:ranting2: )

The amounts that VAT and customs add on to camera products does not equal the sometimes doubling of price... I've never had a good answer to this point other than profiteering!

(unless there's an odd tax bracket - like video cameras with analogue in's come under a different tax bracket than those without)

I remember a trip to San Francisco in 1989 when I just froze in front of a camera shop near Union Square, the prices where so cheap compared to the UK.
At that time I could have bought a complete stills kit - body, a selection of lenses and flash for the "body only" price in the UK (even when adjusted for a 1:1 exchange rate)

The advantage with buying in the UK is one of warranty and with Canon they have pretty good servicing facilities here in the UK.

JohnF