Cheap canon lens shops in Las Vegas?

[CraigDouglas]

My parents are going to Las Vegas next week and I've asked them to get me a lens (Canon EF 100mm F2.8 macro USM) but they could really do with knowing whereabouts to go to get it for me. Since the closest I've been is florida, so i'm not much use so really looking for opinions from someone nearby?

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. If it's possible to reserve stock there that would be even better.

Thanks
Craig

[thomascanty]

I don't know if it's cheaper than anyone else, but Sahara Camera (http://www.saharacameracenter.com/) is a pretty good store. They're on (surprise) Sahara Blvd., a mile or two from the Strip.

[stathunter]

Cheap Canon --- oxymoron

[_aravena]

Cheap & Las Vegas don't normally go hand and hand either. Except their weddings

[CraigDouglas]

Thanks for the link Lonnie, thats the kind of thing I'm after :) Any more suggestions would be warmly welcomed :D

Regarding cheap, it's all relative. Try purchasing a lens in the UK!

[_aravena]

^Oh heck no. When I was younger, like 9yrs ago my day went to the UK and got Beanie Babies. Yes, I admit, aniwho...to get Britannia he had to buy 12 first. Then he had to do it all over again for my grandpa. I still hear that story on how much he spent.

Now all I can think about is what glass I could have got.

[thomascanty]

Thanks for the link Lonnie, thats the kind of thing I'm after :) Any more suggestions would be warmly welcomed :D

You're welcome. And, I just remembered the name of the other one I've seen recommended before. Lamb Camera, at 4229 W Sahara (Phone: (702) 876-0966). They don't appear to have a web site, though.

I've been to Sahara Camera a few times, but I haven't gone to Lamb yet. I'm headed to Vegas in just two hours. Maybe I'll drop by Lamb at some point during this trip and check them out.

[CH3NO2]

Theres also Casey's Camera on Tropicana Avenue not far off the Strip. There lens prices are higher than ordering online of course, being local.

[20droger]

Cheap & Las Vegas don't normally go hand and hand either. Except their weddings
And you get what you pay for!

[thomascanty]

And you get what you pay for!

Reno is only 500 miles north! :lol:

[hawk911]

I was just out there, and anything on the strip was normally priced, and in some cases higher than B&H or Amazon.

[20droger]

Reno is only 500 miles north! :lol:
I live in Arizona, so Laughlin is the closest.

For Vegas, it's "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!"

For Laughlin, it's "What happens in Laughlin should've happend in Vegas!"

[thomascanty]

I live in Arizona, so Laughlin is the closest.

I went to Laughlin once. I won't be making that mistake again. What a lousy resort town! Yuck! I was glad to leave... I'd rather make the drive to Reno. Besides, Reno is close to both Lake Tahoe and Virginia City!

[20droger]

Yeah, but Reno's such a long drive. I know I could fly, but with all the airport delays (both ways), it's as fast to drive. And a lot less stress and no personal-privacy violations.

But I agree about Lauglin. Yea verily! It suckketh!

[deadpass]

You're not gonna find a lens in vegas cheaper than you'll find it online, Casey's Camera is a rip off for lens, however you can get a large rocket blower there for 8 bucks.

[CraigDouglas]

Well we live in the UK and my parents are visiting Las Vegas for a week so there isn't really the option of ordering online.

Thanks for all the suggestions :)

[CH3NO2]

For Vegas, it's "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!"

I think 99% of the people that live here can not stand that phrase. Makes me cringe everytime I hear it. If my tv was small enough for me to pick up by myself I would throw it out the window when those commercials are on.

[StewartR]

Well we live in the UK and my parents are visiting Las Vegas for a week so there isn't really the option of ordering online.Yes there is the option of ordering online from the USA. But - surprisingly - it might not be worth it.

You can order from reputable dealers like B&H and they will deliver to the UK. They currently have the EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194451-GREY/Canon_4657A006_100mm_f_2_8_USM_Macro.html) at $449.95, plus shipping to the UK costs $41.75, for a total of $491.70. At today's amazing exchange rate of £1=$2.10 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7082668.stm), that comes to £234.14.

According to Camera Price Buster (http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/index.html), the best UK price seems to be £260.00 from CameraWorld (http://www.cameraworld.co.uk/ViewProdDetails.asp?prod_code=PON06F000073). So you'd save £25+ if you bought direct from B&H, and if your parents could pick up the lens from a shop in Las Vegas for between $450 and $500 then you'd save between £20 and £35 compared with the UK price.

BUT - Buying abroad means you are required to pay VAT (17.5%) and import duty (6.7%). This applies whether you buy it online or whether your parents buy it in a shop out there and bring it in themselves. Of course, in the latter situation they might not get stopped at customs, but then again they might....

In this instance, paying the VAT and import duty more than wipes out any savings. So it's only worth asking your parents to buy it if they're happy to not declare it at customs and risk the consequences. Personally I wouldn't for a £20-35 saving.