where to buy canon lenses..

[fenix]

hey guys, im not too sure if this is the right section to post this. im ready to order my lens from a reputable online store.. do you guys have any advice? im thinking adorama or normancamera.. are they legit? appreciate it

[Andy_T]

Hi Fenix,

welcome to the forum!

there's a thread in the marketplace forum with user recommended shops.

I haven't used them, but from what I read here, Adorama certainly is a legitimate company, also is B+H ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com ).

You might also try out resellerratings.com .

Best regards,
Andy

[Olegis]

Adorama and B&H are the best there is - I dealt with the first a couple of times and my friends dealt with the second more than once. Not a single problem was experienced. Highly recommended.

[dhbailey]

I've never dealt with Adorama, but I have bought tons of stuff from B&H over the years (www.bhphotovideo.com) and have never gotten bad service or incorrect merchandise. And I haven't found their prices to be out of line with other reputable on-line merchants I have researched. You can find cheaper prices all over the place but they aren't from web-sites which inspire confidence in me and I have stayed away from them.

[LouDawg]

I've done business with B&H several times and I highly recommend them. Merchandise is always sent out either the same or next day after order (if it's in stock), depending on what time you submitted the order. Another plus is their huge inventory and fairly resonable pricing.

[aam1234]

Bought two lenses from J&R (through Amazon) and very happy with them.

Would suggest to always check with the link Andy mentioned (resellerratings.com).

[scottbergerphoto]

Bought two lenses from J&R (through Amazon) and very happy with them.

Would suggest to always check with the link Andy mentioned (resellerratings.com).
Absolutely! I often buy standard off the shelf items like lenses and camera bodies from J&R. They have a thirty day, no hassle, no restocking fee return policy. www.jr.com
I buy most of my camera/lighting gear at B&H because they are more knowledgeable, but J&R is very safe.
Scott

[L Pagan]

www.beachcamera.com

[cmM]

B&H!!! Biggest photo/video retailer in the world! 'Nuff said (sometimes Adorama has better prices though, especially on little stuff). And if you have a Calumet Photographic in your area, I would gladly recommend them. A+ service and knowledgeable salespeople.

[levontn]

I have purchsed from both B&H and J&R with no issues.

[xc611]

B&H.

[pcasciola]

My friends and I buy all of our lenses from:

B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com)

Unique Photo (http://www.uniquephoto.com)

Beach Camera (http://www.beachcamera.com)

Unique and B&H usually have virtually the same prices, and Beach sometimes beats them on lenses by 10% or more and we've never had a problem with them after at least a dozen purchases. Beach will even negotiate on price at times. I've been shopping at Beach for years, but they sometimes don't have the more odd stuff in stock, like my 300 f/4L for example, which I got from B&H to save the $70 in sales tax.

Watch out for these cheaper fly-by-night places you may find on Yahoo, ebay, etc. They often sell gray market lenses, charge you tons of shipping to make up the cost, overcharge you on the extra stuff they force you to buy, or worse.

[thomascanty]

Another vote for B&H, here. I'll be placing a large order with them very soon, myself. I've been waiting for State Farm to offer a personal injury settlement from my accident last June, hoping to get enough for a 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS lens. I just got off the phone with my attorney and it looks like I'll also be getting enough to add a 24-70 f/2.8L lens and Speedlite 550EX to the order. I can't wait! I feel like a little kid on Christmas Eve now. :D :) :D

[pcasciola]

Another vote for B&H, here. I'll be placing a large order with them very soon, myself. I've been waiting for State Farm to offer a personal injury settlement from my accident last June, hoping to get enough for a 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS lens. I just got off the phone with my attorney and it looks like I'll also be getting enough to add a 24-70 f/2.8L lens and Speedlite 550EX to the order. I can't wait! I feel like a little kid on Christmas Eve now. :D :) :D

I hope your injuries weren't too bad, but I think I could definitely put up with some pain for that awesome shopping list.:wink:

Best of luck with the new lenses.

[thomascanty]

I hope your injuries weren't too bad, but I think I could definitely put up with some pain for that awesome shopping list.:wink:

I wasn't hurt too badly, but it was enough to have me going to the chiropractor and physical therapist every day for almost two months. I hated it at the time, but now that I know what I'm getting out of it, I guess it wasn't all that bad... :lol:

[pcasciola]

I wasn't hurt too badly, but it was enough to have me going to the chiropractor and physical therapist every day for almost two months. I hated it at the time, but now that I know what I'm getting out of it, I guess it wasn't all that bad... :lol:

That sounds like a fair amount of stuff to go through, but I think the 100-400 will erase most of that memory pretty quickly, and the 24-70L on top of that will turn it to an ear to ear grin I'm sure.

I had a bad motorcycle accident that I actually got over $125K for about 15 years ago, but I wouldn't wish that on anyone. 2 weeks in the hospital, nearly lost my leg, 4 operations, years of crutches and braces. Luckily I wasn't into photography at the time or I may have spent the whole $125K on L lenses and extra EOS bodies. :lol:

[chops]

I had a bad motorcycle accident that I actually got over $125K for about 15 years ago, but I wouldn't wish that on anyone. 2 weeks in the hospital, nearly lost my leg, 4 operations, years of crutches and braces.

That sounds almost exactly the same as to what happened to my father back in 1978. Except, not only did he almost loose his left leg, (it's now an inch and a half shorter!), he got his left arm banged up pretty bad, too.

[pcasciola]

I had a bad motorcycle accident that I actually got over $125K for about 15 years ago, but I wouldn't wish that on anyone. 2 weeks in the hospital, nearly lost my leg, 4 operations, years of crutches and braces.

That sounds almost exactly the same as to what happened to my father back in 1978. Except, not only did he almost loose his left leg, (it's now an inch and a half shorter!), he got his left arm banged up pretty bad, too.

About 1/4" shorter here. I was only 21 when it happened, and I was given the choice of 1/4" shorter by cutting the fibula (rear lower leg bone) or permanent pins.

I like your new avatar, btw. I originally thought someone else had replied to my other digital rebel focus problem thread when I first saw it. :D

[steven]

Most of my stuff is from B&H but I have also purchased from 17th Street Photo and DeltaInternational without any problems.

[chops]

I had a bad motorcycle accident that I actually got over $125K for about 15 years ago, but I wouldn't wish that on anyone. 2 weeks in the hospital, nearly lost my leg, 4 operations, years of crutches and braces.

That sounds almost exactly the same as to what happened to my father back in 1978. Except, not only did he almost loose his left leg, (it's now an inch and a half shorter!), he got his left arm banged up pretty bad, too.

About 1/4" shorter here. I was only 21 when it happened, and I was given the choice of 1/4" shorter by cutting the fibula (rear lower leg bone) or permanent pins.

I like your new avatar, btw. I originally thought someone else had replied to my other digital rebel focus problem thread when I first saw it. :D

Which I guess that makes you about 36, which is two years younger than my father when he got in his accident. He's got pins, screws, bolts, nuts, and I think a saw horse in his leg. I saw a recent x-ray of his leg and it's a wonder he can still walk on it. The doctor did a crappy job and the bones in there just look like a bunch of plinters laying around with hardware thrown in for good measure. It's crazy!!

Anyway, thanks about the avatar. Thankfully, the beautiful 10D and 28-75 F/2.8 lens is covering up most of my ugly mug! LOL :P

[thomascanty]

I had a bad motorcycle accident that I actually got over $125K for about 15 years ago, but I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

At the risk of taking this even further off topic... :)

The closest I ever came to a bad motorcycle accident was when some idiot decided to make a left turn right in front of me as I was heading his way through an intersection. I slammed on both brakes and ended up skidding all the way through the intersection, spinning in a complete 360 in the process. I have no idea how I managed to keep the bike upright and not hit anything.

No, wait. I did get hit on the freeway once. A woman in a bright red VW Beetle changed lanes on the freeway. Only problem was, I was in the lane she changed into. I saw her coming and scooted over, but I did lightly scrape my foot peg on her passenger side door. It wasn't hard enough to make me even come close to losing control.

It sure can be an adventure riding motorcycles. People just don't see them...

[pcasciola]

Yes, sorry, I helped contribute to dragging this thread WAAAY off topic.

Tom, I know, people just don't pay much attention to anything anymore while driving, which is why I don't ride much anymore. I can't believe you didn't go down in either of those situations. I was a wreckless 19 year old when I started riding, and went down pretty hard at least half a dozen times leading up to the big accident. Back then I was pretty sure I was invincible, now I'm only half as stupid.

Chops, funny about the ugly mug comment, because I was thinking the day I would put my face as my avatar would be the day after I get a 300mm f/2.8L or 200mm f/1.8L which will cover almost my entire face on the avatar shot. :lol:

[GPR1]

I have ordered from KEH.com in Atlanta with excellent results.

Greg

[Jon Borcik]

KEH gets my vote also. I've bought several used and new items from them. one lens I bought I tried for a week and sent back since I thought I wouldn't used it much (no hassle return). Great place to deal with! :)

[slin100]

In, oh say, the past 2 years or so since I seriously got back into photography, I've seen the following stores come highly recommended by many:

B & H Photo (http://www.bhphoto.com)
Adorama (http://www.adorama.com)
Canoga Camera (http://www.canogacamera.com)
Samy's (http://www.samys.com)
Delta International (http://www.deltainternational.com)
Calumet Photo (http://www.calumetphoto.com)
17th St Photo (http://www.17photo.com)
Unique Photo (http://www.uniquephoto.com)
KEH (http://www.keh.com)