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Archive 2008 · Lens opinion

sse1990
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p.1 #1 · Lens opinion

I have in my possession a Canon EF 28-135MM/3.5-5.6 IS USM that was lent to me to try it out and see if I like it. Along with this lens comes a Marumi 72mm Circular Polarizing CPL Filter, a Canon EW-78BII hood a Soft Focus Filter, and lens hood for the 18-55mm kit lens.

I know that if I went and bought this lens alone new it is 649$ CAD, then add the hood and the filters, along with the hood for the kit lens.

He is asking 600 for it. I know I have seen the lenses on here for around the 325-350 range new, but without filters and hood. By the time I pay duty and get the extras, am I any further ahead buying it online here?

This lens looks like it just came out of the box, he takes care of his equipment very well. He wants to upgrade.

Any thoughts?

May 13, 2008 at 03:20 AM

Rockies Photo
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p.1 #2 · Lens opinion

How much is duty? The cost of buying the hood is between USD $40 & $50. A UV filter runs about USD $25. CP Filter is approx USD $60. Used Market for the lens is approx USD $300. So call it $450 USD for everything. Unless Duty/ Tax is another $150, then it would be cheaper to buy here. I had this lens for several years, and it did the job until, I could afford better. It is a decent investment though.

May 13, 2008 at 03:30 AM

sse1990
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p.1 #3 · Lens opinion

I did a bit of quick checking online and it looks like I might also get nailed for taxes, since we pay 13% tax here. If the item is under 20$ you get away with no tax and no duty. So maybe after taxes shipping duty and whatnot, I might not be too much further ahead, plus I have access to the lens quickly, and do not have to worry about shipping.

I just don't wanna pay more than I need to.

May 13, 2008 at 03:42 AM

TrojanHorse
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p.1 #4 · Lens opinion

Why don't you present him with your research and see what he says... He probably doesn't have quite the same level of detail backing his opinion of what the lens is worth.

May 13, 2008 at 05:21 AM

Lance Couture
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p.1 #5 · Lens opinion

Duty will depend on HOW it is sent.

If you choose to use some "gough and screw you" service like UPS/FedEx, you will get absolutely DRILLED for their brokerage fees.

If he ships it via USPS w/ a tracking number, the most I have been dinged for is GST and $5-10 handling from Canadian Customs.

Tips n Tricks.. just PM me.

I've bought a LOT of gear from the US lately, much of it via this board.... ;D

Edited on May 13, 2008 at 05:27 AM

May 13, 2008 at 05:25 AM

sse1990
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p.1 #6 · Lens opinion

He has looked at pricing, he has seen the ebay sales, and whatnot, and his opinion is that since it is in the US with duty and with what he is offering, it will end up around the same. Also that this lens is from Canada and is most likely still warrantied where as if I get a US lens the warranty may not transfer over.

I am going to play around with it for a bit more and go from there. I may end up getting a lens from this forum ( since I trust most of the sellers on here from what I have read), and then get the extras like filter and whatnot from ebay or another source.

I guess I can't complain all that much as I got my new Rebel XTi with kit lens for 649$ just before the XSi came out when the regular price is still sitting around 749-799$ CAD.

Edited on May 13, 2008 at 05:30 AM

May 13, 2008 at 05:30 AM

Pinhead338
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p.1 #7 · Lens opinion

I have bought 4 lenses at different times from the US and as long as you do not use the ripof services: (UPS/FedEx) you will not pay any duty. The most you will pay will 5%GST+prov.tax+$5 handling charge. And in some cases you won't even pay that. I just bought two 75-300 lenses for my brothers and the package came through the border without charging anything. Then today I got my 70-200 f/4L and 300 f/4L lenses and I just paid GST+$5 handling (I live in Alberta) This was still cheaper than the great Canon rebates that are on now. HTH.

Dan

May 13, 2008 at 05:45 AM

jcolwell
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p.1 #8 · Lens opinion

Used and new photo gear from the US comes into Canada duty free. The most you will have to pay, in addition to shipping, is a "handling fee" and GST or HST, or whatever sales tax is called in your province. If you ship UPS Ground, there is a high handling fee of about $35, FedEx is a bit less. If you ship UPS Expedited, the fee is much lower, but the shipping cost is higher. In all cases when you ship by courier, you pay the fee and tax. When you ship by US Postal Service (USPS), there is a good chance you will not have any additional charges at all for items with declared value below $200, and I've received two items so far this year with values around $300 each, and no tax was charged, they just showed up in my superbox.

The lens is worth from about $285 to $325, depending on condition. You should get a hood for the 28-135. A new Marumi CP filter costs $38 on eBay (incl. shipping). It doesn't say that it has multicoating, so I wouldn't use it even if it was free. I use B+W CP filters, they're expensive, but they're worth it.

May 13, 2008 at 09:28 AM

DogsBollocks
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p.1 #9 · Lens opinion

He is taking you for a ride.

$600. If you add another $300/$400 you can get one of these:

17-55is
24-70L
24-105L

His 28-135is is version 1 image stablizer technology. Let him keep it!

If not I can sell you a 28-70L with Hood for $850 to your door.

May 13, 2008 at 09:39 AM

sse1990
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p.1 #10 · Lens opinion

I appreciate all the responses. I know my next upgrade will be a flash, I don't like the one on the camera, I find it too close to the lens.

As for the lens upgrade, I know I will want to do that soon. I like the zoom, but don't want to go to a HUGE lens. I will really have to look at what I want to upgrade to.

I want a zoom, the 135 seems pretty good. I am probably going to be doing portrait, nature, landscape ( I can use my kit lens for that), not planning on any sports events. The less I pay the better, cause then I can get away with it, if ya know what I mean, lol. With a wedding coming up and looking to buy a house, a lens is not high on the priority list, well to some it isn't .

May 13, 2008 at 08:32 PM

Esquire08
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p.1 #11 · Lens opinion

The filter and hoods aren't worth the extra cost. Do you really shoot with the 18-55 kit lens? I would expect you to ditch that lens once you have the 28-135.

Is Marumi a good filter company?

I wouldn't pay more than $350 for the 28-135 + hood. Forget the 18-55 hood as you won't use that lens once you have the 28-135.

May 14, 2008 at 03:42 AM

sse1990
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p.1 #12 · Lens opinion

I just got the camera around the beginning of April. Previous to that I had a Canon S3 IS. So I have the kit lens and that is pretty much it. I am just reading some more posts and I may not go with the 28-135 just yet as I may go with a few other lenses.

I want to start building my lenses but I can't see spending a small fortune on them as I am only doing this for fun and not making any $$$ at it. I do plan on taking a few courses as they become available at one of our Colleges. Then again if I can get the lens in the 300$ range I may still pick it up.

May 14, 2008 at 03:49 AM

Esquire08
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p.1 #13 · Lens opinion

sse1990 wrote:
I just got the camera around the beginning of April. Previous to that I had a Canon S3 IS. So I have the kit lens and that is pretty much it. I am just reading some more posts and I may not go with the 28-135 just yet as I may go with a few other lenses.

I want to start building my lenses but I can't see spending a small fortune on them as I am only doing this for fun and not making any $$$ at it. I do plan on taking a few courses as they become available at one of our Colleges. Then again if I can get the lens in the 300$ range I may still pick it up.

Some people around here scoff at the 28-135, but I can assure you it produces some great pictures for its price and range.

Too many l-coholics.

May 14, 2008 at 04:07 AM

ShaneEngelking
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p.1 #14 · Lens opinion

don't waste your $ on that lens. It is slow, and the lens creeps. I owned it for a few weeks and i must say, out of the dozen or so lenses i have owned it is the worst. Better to get a Tamron 17-50 2.8 or 28-75 2.8. Better image quality, faster, and cheaper.

May 14, 2008 at 04:10 AM

sse1990
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p.1 #15 · Lens opinion

OK so after a bit more reading....so much to read on here....Here is what I am thinking I should do for lenses to get going.

SIGMA 70-300MM F4-5.6 DG $189.99CAD for zoom
CANON EF 50MM/1.8 AF II $129.99CAD For portraits
Upgrade my kit lens for the TAMRON 17-50MM XR DI-II F2.8 $499.99CAD eventually

Is this a good way to start? Would I be missing the 50-70 range this way?

May 14, 2008 at 04:41 AM

Esquire08
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p.1 #16 · Lens opinion

I wouldn't recommend the Sigma. If you want something good, you have to spend the cash. There's a reason it's that cheap. Save that money and get a 70-200 f/4L in a few months. You won't regret it.

50 f/1.8 is good.

Upgrade to the Tamron if you want.

May 14, 2008 at 04:59 AM

mstolpner
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p.1 #17 · Lens opinion

28-135 is a great lens. However I replaced it with 17-55 2.8 IS and I find it much superior in all aspects.

If you are not in a rush you can find used 28-135 sold on this site for around CAD$350 with all the accessories.

Cheers, M.

May 14, 2008 at 05:19 AM

sse1990
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p.1 #18 · Lens opinion

Esquire08 wrote:
I wouldn't recommend the Sigma. If you want something good, you have to spend the cash. There's a reason it's that cheap. Save that money and get a 70-200 f/4L in a few months. You won't regret it.

50 f/1.8 is good.

Upgrade to the Tamron if you want.

I would be looking at a difference of almost 500 by going with the 70-200f/4L. That is the price of a flash and the 50f/1.8 together at least. That is easily more than a few months wait. I guess I would really have to test them out and see if I like the cheaper one to hld me over a couple years till I can afford a good one.

May 14, 2008 at 05:42 AM

Esquire08
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p.1 #19 · Lens opinion

sse1990 wrote:
Esquire08 wrote:
I wouldn't recommend the Sigma. If you want something good, you have to spend the cash. There's a reason it's that cheap. Save that money and get a 70-200 f/4L in a few months. You won't regret it.

50 f/1.8 is good.

Upgrade to the Tamron if you want.

I would be looking at a difference of almost 500 by going with the 70-200f/4L. That is the price of a flash and the 50f/1.8 together at least. That is easily more than a few months wait. I guess I would really have to test them out and see if I like the cheaper one to hld me over a couple years till I can afford a good one.

The 70-300 isn't going to produce a great image for you, but if you're happy with that IQ, go for it. I just think the $200 would sit better in your wallet than spent on that lens.

May 14, 2008 at 05:49 AM

sse1990
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p.1 #20 · Lens opinion

one question. That CANON EF 50MM/1.8 AF II would be more like 80mm on my XTi right, so would I be better off getting a 30Mm so that it would be more like a 50Mm on my body??

I have plenty to learn and have to rely on the members here to help guide me along.

I hope they offer a course this fall at one of the local colleges. They did offer one in Jan of this year but I missed it by a couple of weeks.

May 15, 2008 at 04:06 AM

mweddle
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p.1 #21 · Lens opinion

I'm glad my second lens was a 50mm. It lets me not be so close to people when I take a picture. A little too long for taking pictures inside the house.

May 15, 2008 at 04:12 AM

sse1990
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p.1 #22 · Lens opinion

What body were you using the 50mm on? For the price of the 50mm I am probably going to pick it up shortly, but putting it on the XTi it will work more like a 80mm.

May 17, 2008 at 04:39 PM

mweddle
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p.1 #23 · Lens opinion

I use an XT.

May 17, 2008 at 04:42 PM

PaulCal
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p.1 #24 · Lens opinion

There is no duty to begin with. Only a custom brokerage fee and sales tax depending on the province you live in. USPS is the safest way to go. Many items come thru without even attracting the sales tax. the couriers are the ones you have the most trouble with because the item always goes thru customs. So avoid them. If you are concerned about the sales tax get the sender to put a lower value on the item.

I would say 600 is too much for the 28-135 in used condition

May 17, 2008 at 09:36 PM

Sean Mills
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p.1 #25 · Lens opinion

Paul is correct. There is no duty on photographic equipment. Only GST+PST (or whatever your province tax may be). If it's marked (properly) as USED photographic equipment, you may pay even less.

May 17, 2008 at 09:46 PM


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