All Forum Comments
Comment by Frogfish posted on The new DA 18-135mm lens at 08/10/2010 - 00:09
I've just picked up the Tamron 500 BB off EBay but don't have the Adaptall Pentax mount yet. However those shots from Jon are inspirational and I'll have to go and find that mount soon !
Comment by Frogfish posted on Opteka 500mm f/6.3 Telephoto Mirror; at 04/10/2010 - 20:08
You will definitely be better off selling separately. Difficult to find a buyer for all that as most people on here already have their own kit. You'll make more too by breaking it.
Comment by Frogfish posted on For sale: Pentax K200D plus loads of lenses and accesories at 04/10/2010 - 19:55
I have the F 70-210 and I think it's a very sharp lens. Sharper than the Tamron 70-300 (which I also have) but not as sharp as the DA 55-300. It does well in low light despite it's relatively slow speed and AF is always snappy too.
Comment by Frogfish posted on WTB: Pentax F 70-210/4-5.6 ED at 04/10/2010 - 19:47
dougf8 wrote:
Plus just what do you do when the lens develops an intermittent fault.
Pop back to the shop where somebody else bought it. You have no contract with the retailer and the UK importer will look at it and get a bit sniffy, "sorry mate, grey import".
You are taking on the risk when you import. Purchasing from UK supplier means you get EU and UK consumer protection. Hence the increased cost to the sellers passed on to the consumer.
IF that happens - and I've bought many lenses and *touches wood* haven't had a problem yet - then you've already saved a bundle so ship it back to the USA as 'used item for repair' or for exchange, if you've paid the duty once you're covered. Worst case scenario is you break even, much greater chance you'll still end up ahead.Plus just what do you do when the lens develops an intermittent fault.
Pop back to the shop where somebody else bought it. You have no contract with the retailer and the UK importer will look at it and get a bit sniffy, "sorry mate, grey import".
You are taking on the risk when you import. Purchasing from UK supplier means you get EU and UK consumer protection. Hence the increased cost to the sellers passed on to the consumer.
There are of course other ways around it. It isn't that you won't have ANY guarantee, it's that it won't be a UK one. There still shouldn't be an issue getting it serviced in the UK if you get a Worldwide Guarantee. Are you saying Pentax won't repair their own lenses unless bought in the UK ?
Comment by Frogfish posted on 18-135mm WR at 25/09/2010 - 09:44
johnriley wrote:
VAT. Import Duty. These things add significantly to the imported price. You've also not factored in your other expenses - travel to and from airports, car parking costs in the UK, possibly hotel in the USA, definitely meals....it's not so clear cut and definitely harder work.
Not as much as you would think. VAT. Import Duty. These things add significantly to the imported price. You've also not factored in your other expenses - travel to and from airports, car parking costs in the UK, possibly hotel in the USA, definitely meals....it's not so clear cut and definitely harder work.
Firstly let's look at how much it costs to have the lense sitting on the dock. If we use the US$ price as a base then we can assume a CIF price of maybe GBP200 (US$300 with the remaining $250, of the MSRP US$550, going to cover mark-up and in-country transportation cost). Add VAT at (currently) 17.5% (GBP 35.00) and the Import Duty on lenses into the UK is just 6.7% (GBP 13.40) so you now have your lens legally imported (and you can claim back the VAT if you are registered) for just GBP248.40 . Mark-up in the USA was ca. US$250 and in the UK GBP351.50 .
Alternatively you can buy one direct from the USA :
Cost of lense : $550.00
Transport (ca.) $40.00
Insurance (ca.) $10.00
VAT (@ 17.5%) : $96.25
Import Duty (@6.7%) $36.85
In your hand US$733.10 or (at 1.5 : 1) GBP488.73 . And that's assuming the Customs pick up on the lense in transit, they may not, and no discounts on purchase price in the USA (and again you can claim back VAT if you are registered).
A GBP110 saving off the bat and could be a lot more depending on your VAT registration, US discounts and C&E vigilance !
Comment by Frogfish posted on 18-135mm WR at 25/09/2010 - 07:25
DrOrloff wrote:
What about the DA 12-400 f1.7 WR macro?
Nah ...... that one is not a DA*What about the DA 12-400 f1.7 WR macro?
Comment by Frogfish posted on Wanted: 12-125mm at 23/09/2010 - 20:27
Can't believe no-one has picked this up. Great price and a superb macro / portrait / short tele lense.
Comment by Frogfish posted on FS: Tamron SP AF 90mm 2.8 DI MACRO 1:1 £260 at 22/09/2010 - 16:31
Algernon wrote:
I was surprised to see that one on ebay only managed £188.57 plus £1.72 for 1st class post??? = £190.29 link
Could it be that he had One Negative Feedback (for a £7.67 item) from a buyer who seems to give quite a bit of neutral feedback? For this he got:
"lego was dirty and unsuitable for a child - overpriced as inaccurate description"
I saw that too but opted to go for the charity package of lenses (inc. an AFA) instead. I was surprised it went for such a low price but as Mike said - there may be reasons for that. Poor quality pic and just a little negative feedback (everyone else's was OK though).I was surprised to see that one on ebay only managed £188.57 plus £1.72 for 1st class post??? = £190.29 link
Could it be that he had One Negative Feedback (for a £7.67 item) from a buyer who seems to give quite a bit of neutral feedback? For this he got:
"lego was dirty and unsuitable for a child - overpriced as inaccurate description"
Comment by Frogfish posted on Pentax 1.7x AF Teleconverter at 21/09/2010 - 09:24
I'm sure I read it will be priced at $549.
600 pounds is surely not correct.
Once the discounts start maybe around $450 - 500 after Xmas ?
600 pounds is surely not correct.
Once the discounts start maybe around $450 - 500 after Xmas ?
Comment by Frogfish posted on 18-135mm WR at 21/09/2010 - 08:39
Even then it may be still worth buying from the US as it is $599 dollars (list) there.
The cost is not as much as you would think.
Firstly let's look at how much it costs to have the lense sitting on the dock. If we use the US$ price as a base then we can assume a CIF price of maybe GBP200 (US$300 with the remaining $250, of the MSRP US$550, going to cover mark-up and in-country transportation cost). Add VAT at (currently) 17.5% (GBP 35.00) and the Import Duty on lenses into the UK is just 6.7% (GBP 13.40) so you now have your lens legally imported (and you can claim back the VAT if you are registered) for just GBP248.40 . Mark-up in the USA was ca. US$250 and in the UK GBP351.50 .
Alternatively you can buy one direct from the USA :
Cost of lense : $550.00 (seen advertised - could end up being lower)
Transport (ca.) $40.00
Insurance (ca.) $10.00
VAT (@ 17.5%) : $96.25
Import Duty (@6.7%) $36.85
In your hand US$733.10 or (at 1.5 : 1) GBP488.73 . And that's assuming the Customs pick up on the lense in transit, they may not, and no discounts on purchase price in the USA (and again you can claim back VAT if you are registered).
A GBP110 saving off the bat and could be a lot more depending on your VAT registration, US discounts and C&E vigilance !
True - your warranty will be a US one but return postage isn't much and how often do we need to return lenses ? I haven't ever, not once and I have quite a few !