Updating Our Wish List

I am sure you, like us, have a long wish list, and without the aid of a witches wand to make your wishes come true, we have to research and make sure we get the best buys especially in the current financial situation.

With the annual Focus-on-Imaging show upon us this weekend we have taken the opportunity this week to update all of our price comparison articles, and in addition to this we have also added a number of new ones in relation to the Canon Digital SLR range.

FOCUS-On-IMAGING 2009 - 22nd-25th February 2009 - NEC Birmingham
10am-6pm except last day when it closes at 5pm

This weekend is the 20th anniversary of this popular photographic show in the UK. It is on for 4 days and will be attended by both professional and amateur photographers alike. For professional photographers and those in the trade it is free entry, you can register online in advance, and hopefully you have done this after we mentioned it in a previous weeks issue. However if not for all others wishing to attend the entrance fee is £6, there is also a parking fee of £7 payable by all. This is the major show of the year, and if you are going to visit one show only then this is the one not to miss.

We have a short Preview Guide for this years show, taking a look at what will be on display and what to look out for should you get the chance to visit. For example on the Nikon stand you will get to see all DSLR models and handle them if you're lucky, their stand is always busy. They also have a programme of seminars scheduled. On display will also be the new AF-S DX 35mm f1.8G lens which goes on sale 6th March.

This year there are over 200 exhibitors and there are always show offers on offer and it may be a chance to pick up a bargain, but it is worth doing some research prior to going to make sure the offer deal you see is in fact the best deal you can find. A warning if you are intending to go along with a shopping list, make sure you have done your research before hand, and also limit your budget, there is always much on offer to tempt you.

We have also re-written our articles on Comparison of Nikon DSLR Cameras and Nikon Flash Guide by adding the latest models, and greatly expanding them, given that these articles are less than a year old it was surprising at just how much we needed to change.  The camera article now covers all the models which have been released to date and takes a look at what to consider when trying to choose which one is right for you. The flash guide now includes the SB900, but we have also updated all the other information. At the same time we have updated the article on flash guide numbers.

As part of your research into the best priced deal, you may like to check out our pages on price comparisons for Nikon kit and the following have been updated:-

Nikon DSLR's Price comparisons across suppliers

Nikon Lens price comparison across UK dealers

Price Comparison across UK suppliers for Sigma Lenses

Tamron Lens Price Comparison across UK suppliers

Price Comparison across UK Suppliers for Nikon Flash Systems 

In addition to this we have also taken the opportunity to add some articles based on the Canon range of products. Including price comparison charts for the Digital EOS camera range, EF lenses, and their flash guns. We have also put together a glossary of the technical terms they use on their lenses - Canon Lens Codes.

See the following links for fuller details:

Canon DSLR Price Comparisons across suppliers

Canon Lens Price Comparison across suppliers

Canon Flash Price Comparison across suppliers

We haven't produced a complete set of analysis for Sigma and Tamron lenses for the Canon cameras as often there are both Nikon and Canon fits for a lens and the prices are usually about the same. So when looking for these Canon fit lenses use the Nikon Sigma and Tamron analysis and then check to see if there is any difference is price with the suppliers you have choose to look at. In most cases the list price is the same, it may just depend when they had stock in and at what price.

On the subject of price it was recently announced by a number of the photographic manufacturers, that prices would increase this year, after all we're in a recession so we can all really afford the price increases can't we? When doing the research on the price comparisons I found the the RRP or SRP as some call it had increased across all the manufacturers. For some items it was smaller varying amounts of less than £300, and some of this when compared to our December price check is probably due to currency fluctuations and that the prices had been adjusted to take account of the VAT reduction our Government brought it. However some, like Sigma have had significantly higher rises. I'll give you a couple of examples:

And now for a lens very few can afford the Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX DG which launched in Feb 2008 and seen at the Focus On Imaging show last year for the first time. It is a large lens and you definitely need a tripod to handle it. Anyway February 2008 it was priced at £16,999.99, June 08 it was the same price, by December 08 it had come down in price a little to £15,659.56 but this week on their website it is listed with a RRP of £23,999.99, that's a whopping £8,000 increase.

Of course many of the suppliers websites haven't seen the same level of increases probably due to the fact they are getting rid of stock they already hold, they haven't had a chance to update their prices since the announcement or they are concerned we won't buy from them if the prices increase by too much. Just another example of when times get tough prices go up, not to the benefit of the customer but to the benefit of those holding the purse strings.

Each of our comparisons links back to the previous one we did so you are able to see the historic as well as current prices over the last year.

Geotagging with the GEOPIC II

Custom Idea Ltd who sell the GEOPIC II Geotagging unit for Nikon cameras have announced this week a price reduction and you can now get your hands on one for £129.99 including VAT. This device has no internal batteries to recharge and has a number of power saving features and three modes of operation. We have an article looking at Geotagging and how we might use it in our photography. If after reading this you feel it might be something you want to purchase then this link GeoPic II Geotagging Unit for Nikon Cameras will take you to the model which we have and is used nearly all the time now on one of our Nikon D300 cameras.

What To Look Out For at Focus 2009

Nikon DSLR's Price comparisons across suppliers

Nikon Lens price comparison across UK dealers

Price Comparison across UK suppliers for Sigma Lenses

Tamron Lens Price Comparison across UK suppliers

Price Comparison across UK Suppliers for Nikon Flash Systems 

Canon DSLR Price Comparisons across suppliers 

Canon Lens Price Comparison across suppliers 

Canon Flash Price Comparison across suppliers 

Canon Lens Codes