Parallel Imported Lenses?

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da5id

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#113921 1-Feb-2013 13:29

Been looking at maybe getting some more glass for my bottom-of-the-range Canon 1100D, but gee it is expensive. I notice the Parallel Imported places are way cheaper. I popped into one in the mall the other day and asked them and they said they get their stuff straight from Canon and if there is ever anything wrong with it, that is where they send it, too.

Has anyone had any experience buying lenses from them?

At the moment I only have the lenses that came with the kit, but I'm looking at getting a walk around lens like the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS.

I notice that the Tamron version is wayyy cheaper, but doesn't have IS. Is the Tamron worth considering?

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#754396 1-Feb-2013 13:36

I've bought Canon L lenses from B&H in the USA that Canon NZ serviced without problems. Canon lenses have international warranties.

I'd email Canon to check if this was still the case with parallel imported lenses, if there was a warranty. If not I'd ask if they repair them if you pay for it. If not then it has to go via whoever sold it to you. Parallel Imported (the company) support their products, but may be slower if it's sent overseas for repair.

My experience with Canon lenses is they probably will need repair or calibration eventually, so make sure Canon NZ will service them for you.

IS is useful in longer lenses if you're shooting in low light (inside/evenings), otherwise don't worry too much, especially since with modern cameras even entry level you can shoot ISO3200 it you want quite easily. I wouldn't be without IS/VR on my 70-200 F2.8 but I shoot a LOT in low light.

CapBBeard

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#754458 1-Feb-2013 15:59

Hey there,

Last year I purchased a Canon L series lens from www.smifu.com, and had a very positive experience. They operate out of Christchurch (though are fully online), I believe the guys name was Mark that I dealt with. He was in touch every step of the ordering process and even followed up after the purchase to make sure I was happy with it (something that is rarely seen regardless of parallel importing). I saved myself a pretty significant sum of money (very sharp pricing), and overall couldn't speak more highly of them. They offer their 'own' warranty on goods and though I haven't needed to use it, I dont feel there would be any issues getting things sorted out. After ordering I had the lens in my hands about one week later.

Note though that this seems to be in contrast with what I have heard about many other parallel importers who may be simply looking for a quick buck, and dont really care once you leave the store. I got the impression from Smifu that they were not at all like that, and much more of a customer oriented business.

Anyway I would definitely recommend you give them a look.

In regards to timmmay's comment about international warranties, I have a sneaking suspicion that this may only be true for L glass, so I'd suggest you double check that. I could be wrong but it's worth being sure.

Cheers

Batman

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#754472 1-Feb-2013 16:18

I researched a lot into walkabout super lenses and ended up with sigma 18-250mm here was my summary at that time

Canon 18-200: best image stabilization. worst picture distortion but easily fixed (one button click) if you have the latest canon software. sharpest picture by a hair's breadth. most expensive

Tamron 18-270mm: best zoom. noisiest autofocus (not sure maybe also the slowest but no worse than canon).

Sigma 18-250mm: heaviest/biggest. best autofocus BUT most likely to be wrongly calibrated. thankfully mine is ok. softest picture beyond 50mm (with my 18MP camera I shoot at 8MP and it looks fine: not spectacular; but if I shoot at 18MP it looks horribly soft)

good luck

timmmay

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#754491 1-Feb-2013 17:17

I won't buy anything than OEM lenses any more, ie Nikon lenses on Nikon bodies, Canon lenses on Canon bodies. I've had too many problems with Sigma lenses not focusing properly. I had a Tamron 28-75 which wasn't bad, but the Canon 17-55 was a definite upgrade.

da5id

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#754497 1-Feb-2013 17:31

Thanks for all your replies :)
I think I'm going to have to save a bit more before making a move, in any case, but the opinions of you guys who know what you're doing is priceless to a newbie like me :)

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#754513 1-Feb-2013 18:04

Photography is a costly investment or hobby. Every lens no matter how much they cost had a downside eg the best zoom lens can't do wide angle

and there is no such thing as the best walk about superzoom. I reckon if you want a super zoom get the one with the longest dongle.

If you want quality for similar price to the superzoom I can give a few suggestion

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#754514 1-Feb-2013 18:04

What do you want to shoot?

da5id

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#754516 1-Feb-2013 18:30

I don't know really. The Canon kit I had came with an 18-55MM and a 75-300MM, both without IS.

I guess I just figured it'd be good to incorporate both into one lens with IS (the 18-200MM) and then I wouldn't have to change lenses much. I could just take the camera anywhere with the one lens already on it and be able to shoot most subjects.

I would like a wide angle at some stage, too.

timmmay

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#754517 1-Feb-2013 18:32

I have a lot of camera gear. Seriously, a lot. My walkabout kit is a Sony RX-100. Big sensor, raw, good to ISO3200 ok at 6400, fits in my pocket and cost $930. Love it.

Batman

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#754525 1-Feb-2013 19:27

da5id: I don't know really. The Canon kit I had came with an 18-55MM and a 75-300MM, both without IS.

I guess I just figured it'd be good to incorporate both into one lens with IS (the 18-200MM) and then I wouldn't have to change lenses much. I could just take the camera anywhere with the one lens already on it and be able to shoot most subjects.

I would like a wide angle at some stage, too.

so you want 2 lenses in one and image stabilization ... hmm ...

see this https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=canon+18-200+vs+sigma+18-250+vs+tamron+18-270&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-AU:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&rlz=&redir_esc=&ei=f2ELUbS2FciZiAfCxIDABg

and then check the prices at einfo.co.nz

wide angle you should get sigma 8-16mm but the only reason I can see for wide angle is shooting large camp shots and tight spaces ie property shooting - otherwise things look extremely distorted. NO OTHER REASON.

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#754658 2-Feb-2013 07:10

just realised tamron has a new lens the "Tamron AF 18-270/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD"

only a few bucks more expensive than the canon on einfo.co.nz

google reviews to see if it fits

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timmmay

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#754661 2-Feb-2013 07:42

The bigger the zoom range, the worse the image quality, in general. Though at F8 just about any lens is fine, so long as it can focus.

My main travel lens, when I take a big camera, is the 16-35mm on full frame. That's 10mm on a crop body. I want wider more often than I want longer.

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#754662 2-Feb-2013 08:17

yes but if you want a superzoom you're not particularly interested in the best image quality otherwise you wouldn't buy a superzoom just showing him his 3 options

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#754663 2-Feb-2013 08:19

won't get professional pics but will still be sueprior than most point and shoot

timmmay

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#754664 2-Feb-2013 08:20

Yes it will, especially after processing. I find all DSLR images need processing, preferably from RAW.

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