Yes, weather sealing is a nice touch. I was shooting in some very, very dusty & windy conditions last week at approx 6000 ft. The 24-105L was mounted (with a filter). When we got back to the car, there was alot of dust all over everything. Enough to write my name... I seldom need weather sealing, but when you do - it's a wonderful thing.
Kyle Yates wrote:
Actually it's always slightly misleading when comparing US prices with European one's since in the USA prices are shown BEFORE ADDING Sales and other taxes which might add another 10% or so on the price.
In Europe you usually get the prices with VAT (and other where applicable) taxes added.
However with the USD dropping a bit against the EUR it might make sense to source your supplies from the USA through somewhere like Guernsey which has no VAT.
Cheers
-K
Or Gibraltar.
We have no VAT here, and although for many items import duty amounts to a similar fee to VAT, that doesnt apply to photographic equipment, which is import duty free
The other side of the coin is freight tends to cost a bit more to Gibraltar, couriers are slower because the local branches (franchised) suck, plus they charge every customer a £10 customs clearing fee they only had to pay once for the total of parcels they picked up. We are isolated when it comes to warranties and support as local dealers are a joke (small shops that just ship things and charge you, for something you could do yourself, plus their prices on lenses are extortionate and their stock limited) and customer service its very bad. (I'm always amazed when I deal with American retailers for how helpful they are.)
Kyle Yates wrote:
Actually it's always slightly misleading when comparing US prices with European one's since in the USA prices are shown BEFORE ADDING Sales and other taxes which might add another 10% or so on the price.
In Europe you usually get the prices with VAT (and other where applicable) taxes added.
However with the USD dropping a bit against the EUR it might make sense to source your supplies from the USA through somewhere like Guernsey which has no VAT.
Cheers
-K
No taxes on items purchased out of state. So any US citizren ordering from B&H who lives outside of New York state does not pay any tax.
Kyle Yates wrote:
Actually it's always slightly misleading when comparing US prices with European one's since in the USA prices are shown BEFORE ADDING Sales and other taxes which might add another 10% or so on the price.
In Europe you usually get the prices with VAT (and other where applicable) taxes added.
However with the USD dropping a bit against the EUR it might make sense to source your supplies from the USA through somewhere like Guernsey which has no VAT.
Cheers
-K
To say it once more: My point was the price equality in Finland between 70-200 f/4L is and 50 f/1.2L vs. the fact that the recommended US price of 50 f/1.2L is $350 = 28% more expensive than 70-200 f/4L. Both are relative price comparisions within one country, and have nothing to do with comparing the absolute price levels in Europe and USA.
The remark of Guernsey is very interesting for anyone in EU considering to purchase any of the big white lenses. I know that within EU countries you can buy from whichever country, and don't need to pay anything extra if you take it to your own country. Does that apply also to places like Guernsey, or do you then need to smuggle your purchases through your own customs? Are there mail order companies based on Guernsey?
Koivulehto wrote:
...Are there mail order companies based on Guernsey?
http://www.7dayshop.com Who we are - 7dayshop.com was launched in early 2000, and continues to establish itself as the UK's largest Internet supplier to the photographic enthusiast market.
Perhaps Canon has distribution through an entirely separate company in certain countries. I know in the US , there's a third party between Toyota and it's dealers in several southern states. Is pricing between countries using the Euro uniform?
All local Canon sites have to buy there goods at Canon Europe, who gets it from Japan. But there are also other third party sites that buy from C.E. like "Europa-Foto" and some web-based businesses. And Europa-Foto sells to retailers at extremely low prices (they make a +/- 1% profit on a lot of products, but by volume they make a lot of profit) where local canon suppliers have higher prices (8% ? 15%?) because they have to pay their employees and for things like manual-translations, customer-service, etc.
Another question. Why does online shopping for cameras seem so much less common in Europe than the U.S.? Or is it similar to the U.S. and I have the wrong perception?
DOn't know, but computers and internet are not things that everyone has access to. ANd a lot of peopel are still afraid of buying something they don't see from someone they can't see. There is still a lot of deception on the internet and buying on the net isnt always secure. it keeps getting better, but there has to be some more control before people will buy more. Next to that a lot of people don't have time to shop around so going to a store for some good information about a product also means that people will buy them, just simply because they are there already. Saves time. And information is still worth something.
I've been following this thread and it's interesting in the Buy and Sell forum how many people WTB the 50 1.4 with the complaints about it.
I have one that's a gem from the get go.
Honey Due wrote:
I've been following this thread and it's interesting in the Buy and Sell forum how many people WTB the 50 1.4 with the complaints about it.
I have one that's a gem from the get go.
I was wondering about that too. When/if I do sell my mint f1.4 I'll ask $400 'cause it's a tack sharp gem
That price for a 50mm is a joke. I can't imagine this being worth 1300 more than the 50 1.4. The 85mm L is also over priced IMHO too but Canon is definitely trying to rape us on this one.
That price for a 50mm is a joke. I can't imagine this being worth 1300 more than the 50 1.4. The 85mm L is also over priced IMHO too but Canon is definitely trying to rape us on this one.
The price for a Leica R sumilux is around 2800 new, this one has autofocus, faster glass and hopefully can produce some fantastic images that could be considered in the same league as the leica. Then maybe the price is justified it's a top quality premium AF lens.
