Posts Tagged ‘lens’

Buying Lenses :: Please learn from my mistakes.

Feb 21, 2010 bebelanLuarBiasa

Not really sure where to start. I was sceptical, then I was in joy, then I feel stupid, then I was angry.. mad… and then I feel numb. And now I was like… I don’t know.

Mind you, very long bebelan. I suggest you read till the end. You will learn something. I’ll try to summarise the whole thing.

I had a Canon EF 24-70mm sticks in my head for quite a long time. This morning we (Bal and I) went to Boeing to sent our Canon 17-85mm lens and Canon 350D for service. 350D is ancient but for me it is a sentimental treasure. We always chose to sent our lenses and cameras body to Boeing instead of going to Peremba Square because we simply like to be there. We ask selling price for Canon 24-70mm. They offer RM5400. That time I’m still not planning to buy, my pocket was not ready yet.. :D .

Then we went to Lowyat. The plan is to survey price for original copy of Window 7 Professional. But there a whole floor of camera and lens outlets. So we wandering around and asking for Canon 24-70mm price. The price not much differ. Until we found I outlet. They offer lowest price. Not so cheap but my pocket tickles.

Then they offer me to test Sigma lens, almost the same specification but the price cheaper than the Canon one. Mind you that we both are avid Canon user so we are not familiar with Sigma lens models and price. They offer Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG MACRO for RM4100. Wahh… cheaper! cheaper!.. I said to myself(Sigma user please don’t laugh). So bla.. bla… wah almost same quality… bla bla.. cheaper… bla bla good also… bla bla. Then I buy the Sigma one for RM4000 plus a Canon filter for RM350 (RM350!!!!!).

Then Bal and I went home happy happy. Deep inside my head and heart I feel a bit uneasy because we never use lens other than Canon. But I tell myself to relax and wait till we are home, then I will read reviews from internet. Now… that sounds really stupid isn’t it? Buy first, read review later.

We were home at about 1 pm. Out of the blue, we decided to rearrange our ‘home office’, so we did. I already forgot about reading review. About 5.30 am, I start to googling around about the Sigma lens. I found few things, and I’m annoyed. We enter Shashinki’s online shop… we found something very disturbing. The amount we pay is almost the same selling price for Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Autofocus Lens. The one we buy cost RM2095 at Shashinki. Damnnn….

I took a look at the receipt, if I pay RM4350, WTH only state RM2000 on it. Why I don’t check it earlier at the shop. Then I called Boeing, they told me their price for EX DG HSM is RM3600 something and EX DG Macro is RM2100 something. I’M DUPED!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I called the sales person from the shop for explanation. Thank God he gave us his number, voluntarily. Maybe because we mention that we are planning to upgrade our camera body. Yada yada… of course he pass to his manager. I said I want to trade or change the model to the supposed model with that price. Hard to believe that their cost price for the lens model is RM3850, as they say. And they told me that they only have EX DG Macro and there is no EX DG HSM. Oh.. who they think they are talking with. Yes I’m stewpide sometime but that’s not permanent. Honestly my hands and my words tremble because I was angry but I want to stay calm.

After hanging up, Bal and I agreed with an idea. So I called again and told them I want to returned the Sigma lens, than pay some more for the Canon 24-70mm. I even offer to pay more than the price they offer. After few calls and negotiations, they agreed but told me that I had to pay some fee to undo the Sigma warranty process.

If I keep the Sigma lens… I lost about RM1900 and I have to tolerate the quality. If I want to take the Canon lens… I have to pay the balance, which is okay.. plus the fee (RM350, as they say) and I got the Canon lens quality. So I chose to take the Canon lens.

About 6.45pm we went back to lowyat. Arrive at the shop about 8pm. Bal hand him his credit card but he say we have to pay cash. WHAT? Another trial to failed us to return the lens? Fortunately we got the money. While Bal went to the ATM, I just sat there waiting and hoping everything will be fast and ok. I have to buy another filter since the previous one not fit, of course cannot return back. Bla… bla… yada yada…. we go home. I told my new Canon lens this… “You must help me make lots of money. You are the most expensive lens I have for now so you must help me.”

Just now I look at the receipt. The amount wrote there should be RM5510, but I see RM5430. What The Fun! Pau me again! Haihhh….

The moral is… before you buy any camera or lens please think thoroughly. Don’t buy on impulse. Study the market price. Ask around, read reviews. Don’t hesitate to try at any chances. If you did buy, please check for details. The item, the receipt, the warranty and make sure you know you can reach the person in charge. Please, don’t act stupid like me (uhhumm.. I hope this time only).

Total I spend today is about RM6240. So my lesson fee for today is about RM750(remember the filter for sigma and undo warranty process fee). Damnnnn.

So guys, please don’t terasa hati if I won’t allow you to borrow my Canon 24-70mm. It rip me to almost total pokai to have it. In case you want, you may try next 3 to 4 years from now… wahahaha. Want test when I’m around should be no problem.. :D . But the best choice is pray for me to be successful and got lots of money so I can buy many super best camera and lenses. When that happen, I can offer you to borrow any. But as usual… you break it, you pay for it.. :p.

Anyway… the good thing is, now I already have Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens… yey!

You might want to read the reviews (among others)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM

Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG MACRO

Oh.. want to know which outlet?…. cannot here…. heheh.

I Love Boeing! (boing boing boing…)




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sudah test 70-200 mm (Sigma and Canon)

Aug 25, 2008 bebelanLuarBiasa

Tadi pegi teman Tanglong jap. Beli kamera kat Boeing Sungai Wang. Nak tau ape jenis.. sesiapa yang kenal Tanglong tanyelah dia sendiri… heheh.

Sambil tunggu Tanglong dan urusannya, aku tengok2 la lens2 kat kedai tu. Tak nampak plak Canon yang best2 (Kak Lia cakap minggu lepas ade fair so banyak stock abes) tapi aku nampak Sigma 70-200 mm f2.8. Sambil menyelam… kalau air sedap minum la sekali. So aku cakap ngan kak Lia (staff kat situ) aku nak test Canon 40D ngan Sigma 70-200 tu.

So aku pun test aa… kemain la beratnye. Test punye test.. waahhhh best jugak. Gamba hasil pengsnappan pun lawa, aku test beberapa aperture setting… zoom sume.. mmg best. Harga kat kotak dlm 4+++, tapi kak Lia kate boleh dapat bawah 4000 rasenye. Dalam otak aku cam nak test yg Canon lak… tapi cam tak nampak kotak dia pastu cam ade sikit segan la nak mintak lagi.. wahahaha. Tapi aku rase dia tgk muka aku pun dah tau…

“Nak test yang Canon punye?” kak Lia tanye.

“Nakkk!!!” jawab aku ngan sengih2 kerang.. :p.

Rupenye ade je kat bawah kaunter tu.. wahaha. So aku pun test aa… lens tu mmg cantik, tapi berat gak aa. Canon 70-200 mm f2.8 USM. Snap snap snap… tengok kat screen display, wuwuwuuw. Snap snap lagi, then tgk kat screen display… wuwuwuuw. Bencinyee….

Memang ade beza. Aku tak pandai la nak hurai ape yg beza sgt. Tapi berdasarkan ape pengalaman yang aku ade selama amik gamba ni, Canon dslr guna Canon punye lens lagi besttt la rasanya. Gamba lagi cantik (aku tak maksudkan composition atau angle yee). Harga kat kotak 5+++, tapi boleh dapat 4+++. And yang ni takde image stabiliser (IS), kalau ade IS harga 6+++… wuwuwuuw. Tapi yang takde IS ni pun gamba dah ok, cuma kalau nak guna lens ni utk cover event berjam-jam and kene zoom2 plak… better sediakan tripod sebelom tangan anda bengkak atau parkinson.. wahahah.
K lah… kena berusaha lebih sket ni utk dapatkan at least RM5000 untuk beli lens ni. Haih… beli.. cari duit… pastu beli… cari duit lagi… utk beli dan cari duit lagi…. duit yang simpan mane?…. wahahaha.




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Perjanjian lisan

Jul 24, 2008 bebelanLuarBiasa, bergambar

Bal–>> berat sekarang 84kg, turun 4 kilo pertama Ee akan bagi RM50 untuk setiap kilo, pengurangan sekilo yang seterusnya akan dapat RM100 setiap kilo (limit 75kg). Tapi bila dah turun kena maintain… kalau tak kene penalti.

Ee–>> berat sekarang 65kg, kalau dapat turun jadi 58 or 59 Bal akan belikan lens dengan kos +-RM1500-RM2000. Penurunan berat seterusnya akan dibincang kemudian perlu atau tidak.. wahahaha.

Ni perjanjian lisan aku ngan Bal. Hehe..
Nampak macam berat sebelah (aku untung), tapi sebenarnye same jek sebab kalau beli lens… same2 pakai, hihu.

Harap2 kali ni kami serious nak turunkan berat badan :p. Banyak kali dah berazam tapi melaksanekannye tak jugak.. hihi. Aku takdela rajin sgt nak diet, tapi… kalau boleh dapat lens cam tetibe jadi rajin la plak.. :D .

Kebetulan ujung ming lepas anak sedara aku lepak kat umah aku. Dia dok belek gamba aku mase kurus sket. Dia cadang soh aku jadikan gamba ni inspirasi… wahahaha. Oooo susah tu, time tu aku makan banyak camne pun badan camtu jugak. Tapi boleh la jugak aku jadikan gamba ni penanda ukur… :p. Sila abaikan rambut konon2 tu ye… tu aku saje tambah.. hihi.

Aaa.. alang2 aku snap gamba lama ni, aku snap sekali gamba mase kecik. Masa kecik aku boleh dilihat sama ada pakai skirt style camni atau pakai tshirt ngan selua pendek apek… hehhe. Aku rase banyak lagi gamba aku masa kecik… tapi dah merata kat kakak2 and abang2 aku rasenye. Maybe derang nak kenang kecomelan aku masa kecik kot… tihihihi. Skang dah tak comel… wuwuwuwuw.

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