feedback on bower products?

[tevo]

i've seen mixed reviews on bower products, whether it be flashes, lenses, grips, etc. any thoughts? may be making a fairly large (for an unemployed young person) equipment purchase.

 

[jterry85]

I have the Bower SLY650C Long-Range 650mm-1300mm f/8 Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon and I like it so far. I've only used it for some shots of the moon but the shots I have taken came out well.

 

[TOUS_O]

Off brands usually have poor quality management although Bower/Samyang/Vivitar seem okay to many people. I have only experienced with their lenses but not other items you listed above. Their MF lenses do yield amazing quality for the price you pay however, they are MF after all and in a high dymanic situation these lenses are simply USELESS (maybe it's i am slow). LOL!!!

 

[KmH]

Bower just re-brands as Bower, 3rd party maker gear.

So, it depends who made whic ever piece you are looking at, that is branded Bower.

For example, the following are all the same lens (made by Samyang Samyang 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye (Canon EOS) - Review / Test Report) with different branding:

Bower Extreme Wide-Angle 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye Lens for Canon

Vivitar - Fisheye lens - 7 mm - f/3.5 - Canon EF

Rokinon FE8M-C 8mm F3.5 Fisheye Lens for Canon (Black)

 

[tevo]

thanks much, i have decided against purchasing a bower product just have to wait for B&H to get the d7000 grips back in...