Where to find best deals on lens'?

[Nolan]

I am in the market for Nikon 105 mm f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S VR Micro and retailers are selling it for anywhere between $799 and $1150... (You can see that here) How do you guys go about purchasing your gear for the best price. I am finding the some stores are just unreasonable...

Thanks for the help.

 

[Big Mike]

B&H Photo Video Digital Cameras, Photography, Camcorders
Digital cameras, all other cameras and everything photographic from Adorama Camera

If it's much cheaper than either of those places...it would be a red flag for me.

 

[mjhoward]

^ This... or buy used. You can get that lens for around 700 used.

 

[Nolan]

B&H Photo Video Digital Cameras, Photography, Camcorders
Digital cameras, all other cameras and everything photographic from Adorama Camera

If it's much cheaper than either of those places...it would be a red flag for me.

Only if those stores were in Toronto instead of NYC. Anyone know of any stores like this is Toronto area?

 

[Big Mike]

Those are two of the biggest photography stores in the world, both in NYC. But, they will usually have much lower prices than what you will find anywhere in Canada, including shipping. It's even better right now because our dollar is close to par with the US dollar.

In Toronto, the biggest store I know of is Henry's...although I've never been impressed with their on-line prices.
Many Canadian retailers will price match other stores in Canada. So what I do, is check the price at places like Henry's, The Camera Store, Vistek and then have my local chain, McBain Camera match the price.
Of course, if I can get it a lot cheaper from B&H, I just order it and have it shipped.

 

[djacobox372]

Ebay. They're buyer protection is very good these days--I feel just as confident buying from them as any store.

My favorite tactic is to look for someone selling a camera with the lens I want--I then resell the camera and whatever else I don't want. I often get lenses for half their going price this way.

I'm curious, are you planing on using that lens for only macro work? The reason I'm asking, is that you might be just as happy with a manual focus ais version of the same lens, which sell for around $200 used--macro photography is typically done with manual focus anyway.

 

[mjhoward]

I'm going to be getting the Tokina 100mm Macro when it comes back in stock.

 

[Nolan]

Ebay. They're buyer protection is very good these days--I feel just as confident buying from them as any store.

My favorite tactic is to look for someone selling a camera with the lens I want--I then resell the camera and whatever else I don't want. I often get lenses for half their going price this way.

I'm curious, are you planing on using that lens for only macro work? The reason I'm asking, is that you might be just as happy with a manual focus ais version of the same lens, which sell for around $200 used--macro photography is typically done with manual focus anyway.

Yeah thats the idea. Macro is what I want to do with it. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Nolan]

Ebay. They're buyer protection is very good these days--I feel just as confident buying from them as any store.

My favorite tactic is to look for someone selling a camera with the lens I want--I then resell the camera and whatever else I don't want. I often get lenses for half their going price this way.

I'm curious, are you planing on using that lens for only macro work? The reason I'm asking, is that you might be just as happy with a manual focus ais version of the same lens, which sell for around $200 used--macro photography is typically done with manual focus anyway.

I like your idea, I will look into it.

 

[Nolan]

I think I just found a solution... NIKON AF-S VR MICRO-NIKKOR 105mm f2.8G LENS/D3/D200/NEW on eBay.ca (item 290516612211 end time 27-Jan-11 07:33:52 EST) Thank you for the help.