(Bricks 'n mortar) Stores which allow testing equipment (in Sydney)
Samuel Gundry
42 posts
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Does anyone know of shops in the inner (or outer if it’s really good) Sydney area which allow potential buyers to actually test cameras? I’m in the market for my first SLR. I’ll be buying a macro lens as well. I’ve been reading up and doing my research but now I would like to actually test some of these bodies and lenses out. However, each shop I’ve been into don’t have the bodies working (batteries charged) and all I can ‘test’ is the weight and feel of the body. I would like to, for instance, compare the Canon macro lenses 60mm and the 100mm and (maybe!) the 65mm 1-5x. And compare the equivalent 3rd party lenses. And I would like to compare the mid range SLR (e.,g 7D – is that mid range?) to the lower-end enthusiast level 50D. Don’t think I’m all about Canon. I would also like to check out Nikon too. I’m not sold on the other brands yet though… Thanks for any help. Sam |
Rosemary Scott
972 posts
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Not sure about testing retail stock, but you could consider hiring & test them that way…... don’t ask me where from though! My thoughts only go so far after a long day LOL :)) |
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Rosemary Scott
972 posts
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OK, I’ve got my brain in order now ….. |
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Samuel Gundry
42 posts
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Hmm, not a bad idea, I hadn’t thought or renting the equipment. Although, to get the variation I would like it’d cost a bit I assume. I suppose I could narrow it down to, say, two bodies and a few lenses. Thanks Rosemary. Anyone else had the chance to actually use equipment in a retail store? |
Martin Pot
928 posts
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I’ve used camera gear in various camera stores – and each time, they have always had suitably charged batteries for the cameras. |
Ben Herman
774 posts
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try georges in george st, dodgy business (prices marked up on packaging), but they have let me trial before. |
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Samuel Gundry
42 posts
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Thank Ben, I’ll go hassle Georges and see what happens. I didn’t know it existed having been in Sydney only 3 or so months. |
Martyn Baker
464 posts
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Maybe also try Paxtons, a little further up George St, they might offer testing |
John Robb
1350 posts
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You could always take a day trip to Melbourne and go shopping on the Elizabeth street block – the best array of camera stores (7 of them at last count) in Australia and plenty of mouth watering stuff to try and buy. |
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Samuel Gundry
42 posts
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Ahah, John, very good. I went to Elizabeth St last night and I had much success. One of the shops was no good but the other two I visited were helpful, especially Teds. I managed to try multiple lenses on two bodies. All the shops seem very expensive compared to online, but that will always be the case. I wonder how many people use the stores for browsing and then head home to order them online…? And, no I didn’t make the trip for this purpose – I was already coming to Melbourne! Thanks guys. I’ll still check out the places in Sydney when I return. I suppose I have to be more assertive (and confident) about asking. |
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John Robb
1350 posts
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Good to hear you had some fun down here – yes the bodies and lenses are more expensive in bricks and mortar stores but if you’re prepared to drive a hard bargain then one of the collection can usually do the job. |
JimFilmer
987 posts
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Have been doing some investiagtions of late into pricing – The on-line off-shore stores will send you a dodgy invoice of less than A$1k with the item (assuming you are buying something more expensive) ... so to hopefully avoid GST and duty. However if customs are suspicious they may check and charge you for both duty and GST… and may be willing to add a fine for lack of declaration. |
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John Robb
1350 posts
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Dodging GST is always a good try sort of thing but customs look at things like boxed cameras and lenses and check the going prices. If they find an importer trying to dodge then the customer, as you say, gets pinged hard and the importers name gets put on a watch list. |