Try before you buy in the UK?

[pigasus]

For the past few weeks I've been trying to decide which long lens I should get to use with my D30. I've narrowed it down to either the Canon 100-400 IS or the Canon 300 f4 IS. On paper, the 300 looks a better lens and I'm leaning heavily in it's direction.

BUT ... I have never held either lens in my hands let alone taken photos with them. As the way a lens feels to use is very important to me, I know I shouldn't buy one until I've had a chance to trial them both. I know I could buy them both from Jessops, have a good play and then return them both. But since I have no intention of actually purchasing one from Jessops (I'm hoping to buy secondhand), I wouldn't feel right about doing that.

So what I'm asking is - is there anyone in the UK with one or both of these lenses who might let me have a short (but meaningful :)) experience with it/them? Oh yes, and hopefully not more than 100 miles from Peterborough?

(Hey, Rudi, Australia is too far - even if you do have that fantastic meter to try out!)

[Rudi]

Aaaaah yes, short but meaningful experiences... they're what makes life bearable! :D

Sally, if you cannot get anyone to help out, your other options are:

1) Rent one and then the other to play with for a day (it will cost you, though);

2) Have a long play in a shop that has one (or both) in stock. Granted, it won't be as thorough a test, but it should give you a good idea of how each lens feels in your hands.

[pigasus]

Rudi wrote:
2) Have a long play in a shop that has one (or both) in stock. Granted, it won't be as thorough a test, but it should give you a good idea of how each lens feels in your hands.


I asked my local Jessops (the only "pro" camera shop near me) to get both lenses for me to look at in the shop. That was 3 weeks ago. They tell me that they only stock one of the lenses (the 300 I think) and are waiting for the warehouse to send it to them. But if I want to see the other lens, then I have to pay for it first as a special order. Geesh!

As it looks like I'm going to have to travel to see these lenses in any event, I thought it would be nicer to see them in the "wild" as opposed to in the store. With the added benefit of putting a face to at least one name I've come to know on this forum. :p

[chris maddock]

Sally,

you've got mail - I hope ;-)

KRs
Chris

[davidwalton]

pigasus wrote:
I asked my local Jessops (the only "pro" camera shop near me) to get both lenses for me to look at in the shop. That was 3 weeks ago. They tell me that they only stock one of the lenses (the 300 I think) and are waiting for the warehouse to send it to them. But if I want to see the other lens, then I have to pay for it first as a special order. Geesh!


Hi, I use my local Jessops and they are happy to get in lenses and equipment for me to try out. There is no commitment, and you do NOT need to pay up front!

Seems like you bombed out with a either a lazy manager or staff.

If they can't sell the item, it can easily be passed to any other Jessops as and when called on. This is how they work.