Berlin: Decent Lens prices?

130r

Hello everybody, I have a canon 350 and am looking to get a 10-22mm efs, a 70-300mm ef and probably the 50mm f1.8 as well as a decent tripod.

I have been told that Germany is a great place to pick up photographic gear at much lower prices so Im wondering if anyone can confirm this and maybe make some suggestions of places in Berlin city centre (ill be there in 2 weeks).
Ive tried the listed resellers of the canon website but very few have either web sites or web sites listing prices.

Thanks all.

Tactical

I've heard the opposite about purchasing in Europe (excluding the UK)

Have you tried Warehouse Express (www.warehouseexpress.com) in the UK?

They have some pretty competitive pricing.

For example, a Canon EOS-5D bundled with L-series lens comes in at a seriously low price, less than the conversion equivalent of €2800. A second hand Canon EOS-5D body without lens in Ireland was recently quoted to me at €4300 by a photographic dealer.

They well may be worth some research on the lenses before making the trip.

TelePaul

Tactical wrote: »

A second hand Canon EOS-5D body without lens in Ireland was recently quoted to me at €4300 by a photographic dealer.

WHAT?????

Tactical

Seriously!

You don't want to know what they quote for a new body or even a new L-series lens.

A very reputable well known dealer in Munster too.

I nearly fell over and had to ask that it was actually a used 5D body and not a new 1D of some flavour. I was assured that it was a very clean used 5D.

oeb

I saw a Nikon D80 with the kit lens for 1299 in Kerry last weekend. That's more than 500 Euro than what it can be got for in the UK. I'm sure that can be justified.

Ricky91t

oeb wrote: »

I saw a Nikon D80 with the kit lens for 1299 in Kerry last weekend. That's more than 500 Euro than what it can be got for in the UK. I'm sure that can be justified.

Kerry do have very expensize prices as their is no decent photography shops around to keep prices down abit

challengemaster

Hence why I've just ordred my 70-200 f/2.8 L from Kea-photo

oeb

ricky91t wrote: »

Kerry do have very expensize prices as their is no decent photography shops around to keep prices down abit

You would think that there is a bit of competition though. In Killarney alone there is 3 shops that deal in decent equipment (Not decent prices though). And for all I know there might be a few other places with a digital slr or two lying around.

Creamy Goodness

challengemaster wrote: »

Hence why I've just ordred my 70-200 f/2.8 L from Kea-photo

they are unreal, he posted my 70-200 f/4.0 on monday night, and i was woken up by fed ex man this morning.

130r

Nice one Tactical,
they have the 10-22 usm for €616.9 converted compared to dab at 636 and pixmania pro at 644.

Does anyone have anything German for comparison?
I met a French security guard while out taking photos of the marine science building in Oranmore. He was into cameras and said he used to go out to Germany for his lenses. Said he saved packets on his L series lenses. I was out in Cologne last winter and picked up a ixus 80 for €189 with 2gig card and cashback. That was from a small touristy shop on the main square.... the infamous "Galway Camera Shop", had the same camera for €290. Maybe a bad comparison.

Maybe Im totally off

crazydaize

Saturn is a huge electronics retailer in Germany. They have several stores around Berlin city centre.

How's your German? (these are in-store off-the-shelf prices)

http://www2.saturn.de/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/main?catalogId=16052&storeId=16551&categoryId=44695&langId=-3&parentCategory=44694&topCategory=44682&ok=T_PRODUCTS&uk=uwg

They have a good selection of Canon/Nikon/Sigma lenses. Not sure how the prices compare though.

130r

Thanks crazydaize. My German is shocking, however if I can figure out who are the big low cost stores then I figure Ill just ring them up. Our continental friends have great english bless them:o I was in a Mediamart in Cologne which seemed reasonable. Anyone know of any other big chains or great camera stores in Berlin ?

BanzaiBk

I lived in Berlin for a while and to be frank the prices can be worse than here at times. Saturn have "reasonable" prices, but nothing at all like internet prices imo. I was interested in a 70-200 2.8 while I was there and was quote €1500, I later bought from Kea Photo for 900 pounds sterling. Media Markt was good for normal electronics, I never saw dslr equipment when I was there though.

nilhg

List of international price comparison sites here.


I've bought several pieces (camera and other computer related stuff) from computeruniverse, and found them great, english language version of the site too.

130r

thanks guys, looks like Germany isnt looking too hot after all, computeruniverse has the 10-22 at €680. € 619 from warehouseexpress is leading the field so far. Any suggestions for uk / Ireland sites outside of dab4work, pixmania pro or komplett?

The other main lens I'm interested in was the 75-300mm canon usm IS. This is probably a more pressing requirement than the wide angle as I shoot lots of long range rural stuff for 3D photo montage. Given that its all off a tripod and with my imaginary German savings shot to all hell, maybe I should consider ditching the image stabilisation for the cheaper version. What do you all think? If I go that way with or without the usm?

130r

thanks guys, looks like Germany isnt looking too hot after all, computeruniverse has the 10-22 at €680. € 619 from warehouseexpress is leading the field so far. Any suggestions for uk / Ireland sites outside of dab4work, pixmania pro or komplett?

The other main lens I'm interested in was the 75-300mm canon usm IS. This is probably a more pressing requirement than the wide angle as I shoot lots of long range rural stuff for 3D photo montage. Given that its all off a tripod and with my imaginary German savings shot to all hell, maybe I should consider ditching the image stabilisation for the cheaper version. What do you all think? If I go that way with or without the usm?

challengemaster

http://myworld.ebay.ie/kea-photo/

GL HF.

Tactical

130r wrote: »

The other main lens I'm interested in was the 75-300mm canon usm IS. This is probably a more pressing requirement than the wide angle as I shoot lots of long range rural stuff for 3D photo montage. Given that its all off a tripod and with my imaginary German savings shot to all hell, maybe I should consider ditching the image stabilisation for the cheaper version. What do you all think? If I go that way with or without the usm?

Def go the USM route, faster & quieter focussing.

The image stabilisation is always a handy feature to have but can be considered optional.

Given you are using a tripod and it seems you want the lens for a specific purpose you may well save a few Euro by ditching the image stabilisation (but keep the USM) as if anything it could potentially start to oscilliate causing problems where none existed to begin with. Turn off this feature if using with a tripod.