Chinese new year is coming.. well, it's right now and tomorrow (I know it's short notice), but I'm going out to check out the festivities. Darling Harbour with the dragon boat races, Chinatown with the markets and Belmore Park (the park outside Central station) has lots to see and do. (My goodness, it sounds like I work for the Sydney Chinese community council or something!!!)
Also people from www.dchome.net (chinese site) want to have a gathering in early March so let's make it a big one.
Well a report... Zane and I went to Chinatown but I was there since 11 something and got a bit of the action thought not a lot. It wasn't all that "wow" except the dragon dancing etc. The ladies dancing outside the Dai Liang Dumpling store (not a good restaurant btw) was... umm... interesting. Well, I'll post the pics as soon as I get them ready and you'll see what I mean.
Next Sunday, there will be a parade on the streets. More details on www.sydneychinesenewyear.com.au. I'll be away next weekend so I won't be able to attend.
Happy Chinese New Year to those that are celebrating it!
Edited by SmellyTofu on Feb 07, 2005 at 01:53 PM GMT
rwwlee, get your 70-200 before the rally. It's really on and I'm definitely going to that one (Hopefully I can get to work there at least as a freelance photographer for the company.. hehehe). I've never been to a rally but the first one is late April (I think 23-24 Apr are the dates) in Canberra.
Can you bring me back a 70-200 as well? hahaha!
That site is very handy... I printed a copy of that last time I was in HK in Sep 04.
The DC Home site is always unstable and people there are not extremely helpful. Hope you are not the moderator of that site
I got my 70-200 IS for $11500 in Hong Kong last November. It's one of the gray stock without the HK warranty which we don't need. you may want to consider this. PM or email me if you need more info.
Hi Zane, i'm only new to the dchome site as well. The dpreview.com forum is pretty good though if you want questions answered.
Don't i get international warranty if i get the standard priced lens from HK? i'm not sure, never bought any lens from hk. Do you know which stores would let you really test out the lens if u decide to buy one, don't want to get a bad copy and find out only when i'm back!
Aren't u going to hk as well in april Dicky? maybe we can go shop together?!?
I'm thinking of getting a fast prime, probably 24mm, they cost a fair bit though.
No, I'm not going back. My gf's parents are but I don't want to bother them to test a lens with their film body (best to be able to see it on screen or immediately on photo paper). Also the shop that Zane is talking about is "water" stock and it's not in the mainstream areas (TST area) so harder for an "older" guy to go (if u know what I mean).
Man Shing when I was there last time let me test anything I liked. The Tommy guy is gone according to dchome but he was a great guy. But Man Shing don't sell "water" goods. The Citicall shop in Mongkok and Wing Shing suck. Those sales people are so cocky and rude. I'd never shop there ever again. All lenses have international warranty. I'm not sure why "water" goods should be any different.
No offense, but I think dpreview is the worse and is full of people that only want to complain and predominately have people with no clue what they are talking about.
24 or 28mm f2,8 is good value for money though I couldn't find anyone that stocked the 24mm f2,8 in HK.
I think you get international warranty for both HK local stock and the so-called "water" stock. If you are not familiar with purchasing photo equipment from HK, you tend to shop from the biggest, namely Man Shing and Wing Shing in Mongkok. But if you are, then you may consider buying from shop called Tin Cheung in Tsim Sha Tsui. It's located in the Tung Ying Building at the cnr of Nathan Road and Granville Road (from memory, getting out from B2 exit at TST MRT station to Nathan Road, turn right and there's a 50m walk to Tung Ying Building). Tin Cheung sells both local and water stocks at very low prices and they are pretty friendly.
Prices for
24-70 2.8, 16-35 2.8 are HK$8800, 10-22 is $4800, 70-200 f2.8IS is $11700.
I bought mine at a marginally lower price from a water stock wholesaler called Salon, also in TST, but they are not quite friendly until you buy the third lens from them.
Tin Cheung and Salon are the one which people on DCHome will recommend, so ignore what your relatives say about how camera shops in TST rip people off. Locals have bad impressions of TST, esp Tung Ying Building which I can't understand. From my experience dealing with people there, you should be fine. Any other info you need, pls feel free to contact me.
Thanks! The "water" stock would not have warranty of any sort, that's why they're cheaper. I'm happy with the standard price lens, which are still much cheaper than getting them here. I could get you a copy of the 70-200 as well, though even if they let me test it, not sure whether i'll know it's a good copy, without a baseline to compare with.
Actually thinking of getting the F/1.4 24mm, which is almost as much as the 70-200 IS, need the speed to do the indoor stuff. Need to think about this one.
Thanks Zane! Will have to think about what lens i'll need! Actually was thinking about the 10-22, but not sure how long these EF-S lens would hold their value, sooner or later full frame sensors will come at much more affordable prices. Bought the 17-85 because i'll probably use it most as a walk-around lens.
I got a 17-85 to sell.. can't use on a 10D. Honestly, I should have got the 17-40 f4L instead of this though in the end, I did buy a 17-40 from CCC in the city here. Tommy didn't pressure me into getting either lens but still.. I made the choice but it is a wonderful walkabout lens. So much so it was the only one I brought to Japan.
I'm sure water stock has warranty worldwide. It's not an issue really because it is supported globally. Well, it says so on my warranty card.
Zane, if Salon is friendly, I'll buy 3 lenses off them to be friendly (even though I only need 2 at the moment).
hehe...my 17-85IS is sitting at home doing nothing. if you get a good price selling let me know
Yeah, I am also pretty sure that water stocks get international warranty which is honoured by Canon Aust, but check with Canon before you buy anything from me
I wouldn't recommend Salon because they won't let you test the lenses until you bought 3 L lenses from them Seriously they are not retailers of photo equipment, and they only stock Canon lenses (popular ones), Nikon, Leica and that's about it. They won't bother ordering Sigma lenses or some other accessories for you until you bought your third L lens from them. That's why I recommend Tin Cheung - pretty friendly people - rare in HK
Think about Sigma 20 1.8 and 24 1.8 if the 24L is unaffordable. I also like to get a 10-22. I put the 16-35 on my EOS 3 at the moment and I love that perspective
Zane Yau wrote:
hehe...my 17-85IS is sitting at home doing nothing. if you get a good price selling let me know
Yeah, I am also pretty sure that water stocks get international warranty which is honoured by Canon Aust, but check with Canon before you buy anything from me
I wouldn't recommend Salon because they won't let you test the lenses until you bought 3 L lenses from them Seriously they are not retailers of photo equipment, and they only stock Canon lenses (popular ones), Nikon, Leica and that's about it. They won't bother ordering Sigma lenses or some other accessories for you until you bought your third L lens from them. That's why I recommend Tin Cheung - pretty friendly people - rare in HK ...Show more →
I got a guy offering me $500 and $400 for it. I told them to go eat banana.
Anyway, need at least 70-200 when I can. Hope to have it before the Rally of Canberra la.
Yeah i agree we definitely need the range of the 70-200. It costs a fair bit more here, so will definitely get it overseas. How do you guys test the lens at the store? do you bring your own laptop to see a 100% crop?
I've been to a waterfall trail at blue mountains a few weeks ago, quite a few waterfalls (some decent size) there to get some good shots of. If people are interested i don't mind going again. Will try posting some shots on a site to show u guys.
!!!
