Where do Canadian members by Lenses and gear

I typically go to Henry's, but find them really pricing.
I don't find much of interest from Canadian vendors on ebay, and I'm leary about US orders cause I'm not sure how much chipping or custom costs will be.

Any fellow Canadians care to share the ideal places to buy lenses and gear?

try this http://www.photography​-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=208120

Generally, B&H have lower prices than any Canadian retailers,and not by an insignificant amount either. Here and there you might find an exception to that, however uncommonly.

B&H carry an on-hand inventory which I estimate to be bigger than what all Canadian retailers taken together would have. Thus I have never encountered a need for a backorder with B&H.

All items shipped buy B&H to me have been unopened/untouched by a human hand....minty fresh outta Canon factory.

B&H ships the equipment well padded and secured, no chances are taken with equipment integrity in shipping.

A few returns I have had with B&H were handled with expediency and due professionalism.

All in all, I recommend B&H unreservedly, to Canadians and Americans alike.

I have bought twice from B&H and it wont be my last either. Other then there I buy my gear used and save a bundle.

Take B&H for example. I bought a 430ex flash from them for $230 US, here in Canada it is $400! Even with shipping I saved about $100.

Used I buy from POTN members or FM members and I have had mostly good experiences do it that way. But buyer be warry and if your gut tells you not to trust the person selling, then go with it. I didnt listen to mine once and I was burned on a somewhat working lens.

I've shopped Henry's, why?
You can try out the gear on the spot and I've yet to not find an item OOS in the 5 Henry's locations that surround me (I don't mind a little drive). C/S is high and immediate attention if you have a problem. I noticed an imperfection on the inside of the rear element of my 50 1.4 within a few weeks of buying it, Henry's exchanged it on the spot. Same with my 17-85 when I asked about dust behind the first element, they blew my mind when they said they'd exchange it 8 months after I bought it!

My husband works for Toyota and the employees get a discount (% dependent on the item) so that helps and usually equals out B&H prices considering shipping plus I get to take the new toy home However, I wouldn't hesitate ordering from B&H if there was a significant price discount.

I bought my EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM from Hit Camera & Video Ltd in Toronto. Their price was much lower than Vistek's and Henry's, in fact almost identical to the B&H price at the time. As another example , Hit Camera carry the 5D bodies for $300-$500 lower than Henry's and Vistek.
No doubt, there are some benefits in walking into a brick&mortar store which carries equipment demos one is interested in.

However, I challenge you to find any of these lenses on the shelves of any Henry's store: 16-35, 24L, any T/S, 35L, 85L, 135L, 180L, 200L, 300 f/4....etc, etc....not to mention any supertelephotos. And if you happen to see a copy in their store, I bet you a nickel to a doughnut that is a return.

Worst place hands down I think is Mcbains in Edmonton. Henry's is pricy but this place beats henrys as being the most expensive. However that is on Canon gear. I did a search and compared B&H prices with McBains when I bought a Sigma lens and basically they were a lot closer to the same price. So maybe it isnt these stores that are a rip off, its Canon Canada that is ripping us off?

Petkal what fees do you need to pay when you order from B+H? I'm assuming duty (3% is it?) and GST... doesn't that melt a lot of the savings? Unless you smuggle

BTW I typically go to Simons here in Montréal http://www.simonscamer​as.com/

Petkal wrote in post #2148365
I bet you a nickel to a doughnut that is a return.

"It's dollars to doughnuts these days..."

cjm wrote in post #2148403
Worst place hands down I think is Mcbains in Edmonton. Henry's is pricy but this place beats henrys as being the most expensive. However that is on Canon gear. I did a search and compared B&H prices with McBains when I bought a Sigma lens and basically they were a lot closer to the same price. So maybe it isnt these stores that are a rip off, its Canon Canada that is ripping us off?

Probably both are ripping us off. I had a recent conversation with the Hit Camera owner on that very subject. He buys his stuff from the US....thus he is able to have relatively low/competitive prices. The gear he sells comes with the regular Canon USA/Canada warranty.

montreal wrote in post #2148413
Petkal what fees do you need to pay when you order from B+H? I'm assuming duty (3% is it?) and GST... doesn't that melt a lot of the savings? Unless you smuggle

BTW I typically go to Simons here in Montréal http://www.simonscamer​as.com/

There is no import duty on any photography equipment we'd normally be interested in. Thus you only pay PST-GST, as per the shipping destination Province.
UPS/Fedex have their brokerage fees included in the shipping charges for expedited/express shipment types. I have not tried any other shipment methods (yeah, tried the USPS parcel thingumabob once and never again.)

Petkal wrote in post #2148436
There is no import duty on any photography equipment we'd normally be interested in. Thus you only pay PST-GST, as per the shipping destination Province.

Thanks... didn't know about the duty thing. But if I have to pay 6% GST + 8% PST + shipping, the savings are pretty much gone for me... I'd rather take the metro to Simons... Too bad about the taxes

Permagrin wrote in post #2148420
"It's dollars to doughnuts these days..."

I seem to have dated myself there, eh ?

The Camera Store in Calgary also stacks up well for prices if you want to order in Canada. www.thecamerastore.com

I am a fan of The Camera Store in Calgary too. The prices are competitive, the sales people are knowledgeable, the will ship anywhere in Canada for $10 and there is no PST in Alberta.

B&H prices are often lower, but by the time you add exchange, shipping, brokerage fee and PST the prices are not that much better than The Camera Store on many items. If you have to return the item or get warranty repairs it is much more difficult if you have to ship it back through customs and have to try to get your PST and GST back.

I still buy some things from B&H or Adorama, but I always check to see if The Camera Store can come anywhere close to the price first.