Shopping for Camera Gear

Its time to buy!!

I am not sure if its just me but I know I do enjoy the anticipation of buying some new piece of kit. Usually its because we are heading back to Africa and have a requirement.

Today I will look at the processes behind the decision. Not so much as to what lens should I get though I will touch on that but more on the research that goes into the purchase.

So if you are in the market for some new photo gear then this is for you.

Where to start

From talking to others the hardest part seems to be deciding exactly what lens to get. I have a list I have built up over time so its more so a matter of working my way through the list, justifying it by the requirements of the upcoming trip.

I am focusing on lens purchases for this article but the process can apply to purchasing anything really.

What do I want to do with the new lens?

You should have a good idea of what you want to shoot with your new lens. There is no point going into your local camera shop and asking them, only you know what you like to shoot. It sounds bleedingly obvious but I have had this discussion many times.

• Look at what lenses you have,can they do the job?
• Are they up to the task optically?, there is a reason Pros use L series glass.
• Do you need a faster lens for low light?
• Do you have enough reach with your current zooms?
• Are you doing landscapes this trip and need a wide angle?

Once you have an idea of what you want to do with the lens and what you want from it, start by having a look at a Canon website and see what lenses they have that match your requirements.

Research the lens.

Once you have found the lens or lenses that look suitable the real work begins. Now its time to hit the internet big time. Its a wonderful tool so use it. People love to talk about their experiences with their toys so you will find no end of reviews and comments.

I usually start at Fred Miranda, the review section is excellent. Just about every lens you can think of has a review. This aren't in depth technical reviews but actual user reviews. The actual comments on an individual basis don't matter much because you don't know their standards and everyone is different but it will show you trends. For instance I recently purchased a 70-200 f2.8 IS L, a quick look in the reviews suggests this is a good lens but is heavy.

Hang out at your favourite photography related forums. There is always a section on gear and lenses, where yet more people are posting their experience with said piece of gear. The Gear section of Digital Grin is a good example. This isbut one of many many excellent photography sites. The discussion forums on DPReview are also a great resource. The key to the value of these sites is the volume of traffic, more readers = a wider cross section of opinions.

When I have a gut feel for the lens I start looking for technical reviews by authors/photographers I like. A very good source for all things photographic is Luminous Landscape. Michael Reichmanns site is chock full of informative and interesting articles and reviews. I am also a big fan of Andy Rouse so I usually check out what he has to say. His reviews are scattered about on his Blog and on the Warehouse Express. You need to read alot of your chosen sources reviews to gain your own insight into whether their opinions usually mirror your own,

By the time you wade through the copious amount of information on the internet you should have a fairly clear picture of the lens in question.

Research the price

This part is a hairy topic as everyone has their own polarised opinions on this. I will say that if you are comfortable with purchasing items over the internet then there are some significant savings to be made.

We started out on the Canon website, this gives their idea of the retail price which is usually rather inflated. It gives you a very rough idea of whether the price is in your range.

From there its time to search your online retailers.
Do I recommend buying a lens online??

Maybe!! If research suggests that the lens in question is usually free of manufacturing defects then I will consider it. Its not that you cannot return your lens if bought online but its considerably more difficult than going back to your local camera shop.

Before you buy online, research the retailer as much as you can, read their return policies, their shipping charges and delivery time frames. Make sure you know whether the item is a "grey import" as it is often the reason for the price difference. Not that there is anything wrong with Grey imports, you just have to be aware of the fact and what it means to your warranty.

Once you have found a good price on the internet then go to your local camera shop and see what they have to offer. Do not expect them to match the internet price. You are paying the extra for being able to try the lens in the shop (every lens is different), the ease of return should it prove to have an issue.

Once you have checked all the available prices then you can weigh up the pros and cons and then jump in. The key here is research, do your homework thoroughly before any purchase.