Best place to buy a lens from?

[james_tigerwoods]

I've been pondering this for a while now as I've been thinking about a new lens - however, my hand has been forced and I'm going to have to buy a new "base" lens as my 18-55 is flaky.

I've done a bit of research and, for what I use it for, the "best" alternative is, well, another 18-55 - the Nikon 18-55 AF-S VR, specifically.

I've looked at the 18-105 (poor build quality) and a 24-120 (I think it was - but that gets a really bad write up) - but the 18-55 VR gets a good write up and it'll complement my 55-200 VR nicely.

So, the 18-55 it is. However, where is a good, reliable (and cheap) place to get this from? There are a few websites I know of and I can get this lens for as little as £110, but I'm not sure of them - does anyone have any suggestions*

* Mainly because I want to order it today for delivery tomorrow and I've left my bloody credit card at home

[firstinch]

Warehouse Express is normally fairly competitive when it comes to pricing. Whats wrong with the 18-105 build quality? I use mine instead of the stock 18-55 and cant see any difference in quality.

[ian in lancs]

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/ will tell you the cheapest in the UK and has links to non UK suppliers

[james_tigerwoods]

firstinch said:

Warehouse Express is normally fairly competitive when it comes to pricing. Whats wrong with the 18-105 build quality? I use mine instead of the stock 18-55 and cant see any difference in quality.

I've read Ken Rockwell's review of it and that's where I get the "build quality" point from - I've also used it and found it a heavy lens to use.

[ian in lancs]

I have kept and use extensively the 18-105 as a walkabout lens on my D300s. When I say walk about I mean mountains and associated rough walking/scrambling. I don't agree about your build quality comment. Very sharp, versatile lens. I have certainly sold enough prints taken with it to pay for it!!

[james_tigerwoods]

ian in lancs said:

I have kept and use extensively the 18-105 as a walkabout lens on my D300s. When I say walk about I mean mountains and associated rough walking/scrambling. I don't agree about your build quality comment. Very sharp, versatile lens. I have certainly sold enough prints taken with it to pay for it!!

Ah, in that case, the 18-105 is more of an option then - I can only go with what reviews say about it.

It'll cross in to the 55-200 which might not be that bad a thing really.

[ian in lancs]

james_tigerwoods said:

firstinch said:

Warehouse Express is normally fairly competitive when it comes to pricing. Whats wrong with the 18-105 build quality? I use mine instead of the stock 18-55 and cant see any difference in quality.

I've read Ken Rockwell's review of it and that's where I get the "build quality" point from - I've also used it and found it a heavy lens to use.

Ah, Ken Rockwell.... Take with a pinch of salt! I assume he means it isn't made with 'old school' materials! Industrial plastics are used in far more demanding places than a camera lens. F1 and my specialist subject aerospace. Its a non issue. In fact I'd prefer plastics rather than metals to be honest. Lighter, cheaper to manufacture to the requiste tolerances and less temperature sensitive to name a few advantages. Camera bodies are made from it too. Nikon or Canon wont turn out crap and risk their reputation. My 18-105 has been used in temeratures from -15c to +40c for example without a flinch.

[ian in lancs]

james_tigerwoods said:

ian in lancs said:

I have kept and use extensively the 18-105 as a walkabout lens on my D300s. When I say walk about I mean mountains and associated rough walking/scrambling. I don't agree about your build quality comment. Very sharp, versatile lens. I have certainly sold enough prints taken with it to pay for it!!

Ah, in that case, the 18-105 is more of an option then - I can only go with what reviews say about it.

It'll cross in to the 55-200 which might not be that bad a thing really.

Mine's paired with the Nikon 70-300mm and those three (D300s, 18-105 and 70-300) are what I take on trips and use the D700 mainly in studio's and commercially.

[Gad-Westy]

ian in lancs said:

james_tigerwoods said:

firstinch said:

Warehouse Express is normally fairly competitive when it comes to pricing. Whats wrong with the 18-105 build quality? I use mine instead of the stock 18-55 and cant see any difference in quality.

I've read Ken Rockwell's review of it and that's where I get the "build quality" point from - I've also used it and found it a heavy lens to use.

Ah, Ken Rockwell.... Take with a pinch of salt! I assume he means it isn't made with 'old school' materials! Industrial plastics are used in far more demanding places than a camera lens. F1 and my specialist subject aerospace. Its a non issue. In fact I'd prefer plastics rather than metals to be honest. Lighter, cheaper to manufacture to the requiste tolerances and less temperature sensitive to name a few advantages. Camera bodies are made from it too. Nikon or Canon wont turn out crap and risk their reputation. My 18-105 has been used in temeratures from -15c to +40c for example without a flinch.

On top of all that, the 18-55 VR has a plastic mounting as well. I can't imagine there is any real difference in build quality, perceived or actual.

[Beardy10]

These people look pretty competitive for lenses http://stores.hdewcameras.com/StoreFront.bok

They are imports but lenses come with an International Warranty so Nikon UK will apparently honour the warranty (though I haven't checked that myself yet). They are 10% cheaper than anyone else for the lens I am looking at.

[james_tigerwoods]

Just spoken to CameraWorld and this - http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_35_1p8g_... - has been suggested....

I could live with the flaky 18-55 and get this - What to do???

[ian in lancs]

james_tigerwoods said:

Just spoken to CameraWorld and this - http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_35_1p8g_... - has been suggested....

I could live with the flaky 18-55 and get this - What to do???

Not the best advice! - Don't do it! The 35 angle is wide and although cropped on a DX format will still distort perspective; especially close up.

[james_tigerwoods]

ian in lancs said:

james_tigerwoods said:

Just spoken to CameraWorld and this - http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_35_1p8g_... - has been suggested....

I could live with the flaky 18-55 and get this - What to do???

Not the best advice! - Don't do it! The 35 angle is wide and although cropped on a DX format will still distort perspective; especially close up.

This brings me back to the 18-55 then!

The 35mm was within budget - Actually it's the same price as the 18-105m whereas the 18-55 is at least cheaper.

[bradders]

I bought a 24-120 f4 before Xmas, and it's an absolute belter - not sure why anyone would have given it a bad writeup.

Is there another 24-120 perhaps??

[james_tigerwoods]

bradders said:

I bought a 24-120 f4 before Xmas, and it's an absolute belter - not sure why anyone would have given it a bad writeup.

Is there another 24-120 perhaps??

Yep - it's that lens. Possibly. I think...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/10-worst.htm

[bradders]

james_tigerwoods said:

bradders said:

I bought a 24-120 f4 before Xmas, and it's an absolute belter - not sure why anyone would have given it a bad writeup.

Is there another 24-120 perhaps??

Yep - it's that lens. Possibly. I think...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/10-worst.htm

Nope, that's the f3.5-5.6 he is talking about there.

If you are looking at Rockwell as the point of reference, this is the one...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/24-120mm.htm

Having said that, Rockwell says he prefers the 28-300mm, but I am extremely happy with the results this one gives - took it as an "only" lens to France over New Year and it performed brilliantly.

Edited by bradders on Wednesday 12th January 17:21

[ian in lancs]

bradders said:

james_tigerwoods said:

bradders said:

I bought a 24-120 f4 before Xmas, and it's an absolute belter - not sure why anyone would have given it a bad writeup.

Is there another 24-120 perhaps??

Yep - it's that lens. Possibly. I think...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/10-worst.htm

Nope, that's the f3.5-5.6 he is talking about there.

If you are looking at Rockwell as the point of reference, this is the one...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/24-120mm.htm

Having said that, Rockwell says he prefers the 28-300mm, but I am extremely happy with the results this one gives - took it as an "only" lens to France over New Year and it performed brilliantly.

Edited by bradders on Wednesday 12th January 17:21

As I said Rockwell and Thom et al need to be taken with a pinch of salt. I don't think Canon or Nikon have a bad lens in their current lineup - they wouldn't dare! And the R&D resources they have are the best. The competition is fierce! But they do have lenses at different price points. At a given price point they are optimised to that perceived user. If you want professional quality at amateur prices you wont get it. Rockwell is comparing all lenses to that ideal. In the real world either Nikon or Canon are fine. Pick the zoom range you want, the greater range will reduce quality because you're asking the lenses to do more, move elements about and be optically perfect in every position. A tough call. A fixed focal length is easier to optimise - hence better qualities.

Paying more gets faster lenses, better glass and coatings and ability to fit full frame cameras. All things pro's are prepared to pay for. They also have shorter zoom ranges 24-70 instead of 18-105 for example to get those optical qualities.

[Cheburator mk2]

HDEW Cameras - got my EOS 5D Mk2 from them as well as all my lenses. Yes, they are imports, but you do get the manufacturer's 1yr warranty, which Canon would honour. Did not get the cash back offer, but hey-ho, at the prices that I paid I could not care less. By far the cheapest supplier of photo stuff in the UK. Moreover, a mate of mine, who is a pro - most of you have seen his pictures in various car magazines - has been using them for 3 years. If they were a shady, fly-by-night operation, I doubt they would have survived. Btw, I have no affiliation with them whatsoever...

[Whitefly Swatter]

You could ald ask fellow PHer Kerso

I have purchased a couple of lenses from him and saved a few quid

[GetCarter]

As stated, Rockwell is kinda' out there and not in our universe. I generally read what he says and do the absolute opposite, and it serves me really well. Bless him.

I'd certainly recommend Warehouse. Not quite the cheapest, but safe, and on the ball.