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Now that the US dollar is still staying down (much like the Australian cricket team ), I have started to contemplate on this filter.

Maxsaver.net $83 (free delivery) which is quite a nice price but they have no stock.
BHphoto $93 (Delivery is $50! which is a bit much really)

Does anyone know where to get my hands on this ND at a fair price?

Anyone keen to combine and save on shipping? (is this possible with BH?)

surenj wrote:Does anyone know where to get my hands on this ND at a fair price?

Have you tried Gerry Harvey? No? I didn't think so.

surenj wrote:Anyone keen to combine and save on shipping? (is this possible with BH?)

77mm is the magic number - I would be keen

Gary, who the hell is Gerry Harvey?

biggerry wrote:77mm is the magic number - I would be keen

I will be in touch.

I have the ND400 filter already and love it ... so happy to add this one to the bag as well so count me in

You guys could just support the local distributor....mainlinephoto

Cameron, the local distributor hasn't adjusted the prices to reflect the dollar.

Funny - I had been thinking of some ND filters too and had a number of MaxSavers pages for various 77mm B+W filters up in Chrome from a couple days ago (including the bigstopper).

Had anyone considered one of those variable ND filters however (because I was also looking at ND4 & ND8's as well)?

I notice there are a number of Fader ND (ND2 to ND400 (2 to 8 stops)) on eBay from $70 to $147 (the http://lightcraftworkshop.com/ one being $145 from their official eBay store) - certainly a lot cheaper than the SingRay ones.

surenj wrote:Cameron, the local distributor hasn't adjusted the prices to reflect the dollar.

It's possible that the local distributor hasn't brought any while the dollar has been so high.

I bought a B+W filter off Scott from Mainline Photo prior to Xmas. Offers great service. Please note that I have no affiliation with this vendor.

They do not re open until Monday 17th January, 2011.

Mainline website:
http://www.mainlinephoto.com.au/

Mainline do run an ebay website, most probably down at the moment due to being on holidays.

Beware of ebay sellers who supply B+W filters without brass rings, in other words 'fake'.

aim54x wrote:You guys could just support the local distributor....mainlinephoto

Wink wrote:

surenj wrote:Cameron, the local distributor hasn't adjusted the prices to reflect the dollar.

It's possible that the local distributor hasn't brought any while the dollar has been so high.

Although at close to twice the US price, still not great pricing anyway!

surenj wrote:Cameron, the local distributor hasn't adjusted the prices to reflect the dollar.

If I hear that argument any more I think I am going to lose my mind.....if only everything was ordered in real time...

Scott offers a good product at a fair price with the added reassurance of an unconditional lifetime warranty and human service. Maybe you dont value such things, but some people may. A 77mm "big stopper" (10-stop ND) or a 2, 3, 6 stop ND will set you back $159, sure it is more than B&H but is it that much more if you are only getting one?

You have just missed out on a 10% discount on online orders that ran until Xmas. Scott runs a small family business that specialises in boutique products with a focus on service, his pricing in general is very competitive (have a look at Voigtlander lenses!).

Although I dont have any official affiliation with Mainline Photo, they are a supplier that I use a trust.

However as someone who works in retail I DO take offence to your comment, especially since it is directed at one of the suppliers that is making an effort to be competitive. Maybe you should try working in retail and have a firsthand look at how competitive the local retailers are being.....it is the big players who should be doing more, and even then the source of the problem is mainly due to the logistics of the system

Everyone, please .....

aim54x wrote:Scott offers a good product at a fair price with the added reassurance of an unconditional lifetime warranty and human service.

Which, surely, is a very important consideration.

We each are entitled to place whatever value we wish on this aspect of our purchases. I have long been critical of the (total absence of) service that we get at stores like Hardly Normal, and I find the current arguments that Gerry Harvey is presenting in trying to support his position as a poor, down trodden, impoverished multi-millionaire to be laughable in the extreme.

That said, the smaller bespoke traders that we see are able to provide us with something different and of value, and if you feel that is a worthwhile endeavour, then support them. If not, fine, but please, let's try to avoid dissing those who are trying to do the right thing.

aim54x wrote:

surenj wrote:However as someone who works in retail I DO take offence to your comment, especially since it is directed at one of the suppliers that is making an effort to be competitive. Maybe you should try working in retail and have a firsthand look at how competitive the local retailers are being.....it is the big players who should be doing more, and even then the source of the problem is mainly due to the logistics of the system

Cam, I for one will always try and support local companies and organisations, to come to think of it, all my new gear has been bought in aus at brick and mortar stores (DD, DCW) - I appreciate the ability to goto a store front and talk to peeps who know their stuff.

There is however a pain threshold for me, for example, I am looking at the D7000, I can save around 300 bucks if I get it online grey, this kind of difference I can live with given the overall cost of the body, however looking at something which is double the price makes it very hard to swallow.

I'm very much a tightarse, but I've always bought my B+W filters from Scott at Mainline photo as well. Yes he's not the cheapest, but his service is second to none - and I'm a repeat customer. With the current price differential he's more behind the overseas traders than normal, but I'd still strongly considering buying from him given how many fake B+W s there are around. If I did go grey I'd consider only reputable overseas traders to avoid the fakes.

As Cameron touches on above, Scott regularly has discount coupons so keep an eye on his site. And FWIW I have no connection with him or his business other than as a satisfied customer.

biggerry wrote:There is however a pain threshold for me, for example, I am looking at the D7000, I can save around 300 bucks if I get it online grey, this kind of difference I can live with given the overall cost of the body, however looking at something which is double the price makes it very hard to swallow.

I feel the same.
I brought my 100-400 from a store in Melb because it was only a bit over $100 dearer than grey. I also wanted it straight away.
My most recent lens was the 70-200L IS II and buying that grey saved me around $700. Similar saving on my 7D at the time of purchase. I can't ignore savings like that.

I ordered some Lee filters late last week from the UK. B&M stores here are more than double the price.

Someone can't use the term "grey import" without someone else using the term "local warranty".
The way I see it is that I've saved more than enough to be able to pay for a repair that would've normally been covered under warranty and still be in front.

Being in retail sucks. I did it for 8 years.
I used to sell marine equipment, boats, motors etc etc and the level of competition is ridiculous. We just couldn't match the prices of the big players. We would've been selling at a substantial loss.

Anyway...
Are you after a screw on filter Suren?
I see that Lee now does a 'big stopper' too. That would be a slide though, yeah?

I am not keen on the look of MaxSavers.net (personal choice here, yes half the price, but a HK dealer that has been questioned over the Alloy filter issue), and AUD 159 vs USD 93+50 is not that much difference in my opinion. The reassurance that Scott will replace any B+W filter (with a valid invoice from Mainline or a Mainline Authorised Reseller) means he will get my business. A group buy from BH will make the pricing better, and they are a safe option.

Dont expect an importer to fluctuate pricing with the exchange rate. Stock can be ordered and paid for anything up to 6 months in advance so a change in the exchange wont see a change in pricing for awhile.

Someone can't use the term "grey import" without someone else using the term "local warranty".
The way I see it is that I've saved more than enough to be able to pay for a repair that would've normally been covered under warranty and still be in front.

That is true, and I often use that justification to purchase grey. I have purchase the following "grey" as they pricing is significantly better than the better than retail pricing that I often have access to:
-SB-900 (40+% saving) - DWI
-SB-800 (40% saving) - DDP (back when they were well priced)
-Tokina 10-17 Fisheye (50% saving) - Poon
-Nikon 50mm f/1.8D (30% saving) - DDP (very poor student at the time)

Each time I have purchased grey it has either been because the pricing is too good (ie I can fix things and still be in front, or buy two for the price of one) and the seller is known or has a good reputation.

Cameron, Sorry that I have caused undue distress by my tongue in cheek comment.

I did specifically state that I want to take advantage of the dollar.

I was interested in the screw-in BW filter; Until I heard about the Lee Big stopper [Did you know about this one Gerry? This may make more sense for you to get this]

I need to reconsider my options. Please give me a week or so. If you guys want to continue on ordering please do so.

http://www.leefilters.com/camera/news/articles/ref:N4B8F96517C324/

I got my Lee filters etc from http://www.studiokitdirect.com/Catalogue/Lee_Filters.htm.
The sites says they don't have stock of the filter you're after though.

A bit more info about these...

Lee Big Stopper vs B&W Big Stopper.

Initial Thoughts on Lee's Big Stopper.

Just a headsup.

Bigstoppa is back in stock at Maxsaver.....

My 77mm B+W ND 3.0 arrived yesterday... mmm very dark... I've yet to give it a try.

Suren - I assume yours has probably arrived now too?

fozzie wrote:Beware of ebay sellers who supply B+W filters without brass rings, in other words 'fake'.

stubbsy wrote:If I did go grey I'd consider only reputable overseas traders to avoid the fakes.

Ok, so where is the definitive answer on whether the brass ringed items are fakes? I see this pop up everywhere from time to time, but have not seen something that says 'yep them brass ring ones are fake'

biggerry wrote:

fozzie wrote:Beware of ebay sellers who supply B+W filters without brass rings, in other words 'fake'.

stubbsy wrote:If I did go grey I'd consider only reputable overseas traders to avoid the fakes.

Ok, so where is the definitive answer on whether the brass ringed items are fakes? I see this pop up everywhere from time to time, but have not seen something that says 'yep them brass ring ones are fake'

Dont you mean alu ringed ones? The Brass is the real deal!

Remorhaz wrote:My 77mm B+W ND 3.0 arrived yesterday... mmm very dark..

No doubt about it. They make it very clear on the package as well. Look on the third line from the top.

I bought the "B+W 77mm ND 3.0" from maxsaver and am very happy with it.

Scott @ Mainline has them in stock atm....got mine today...new packaging though!

aim54x wrote:Scott @ Mainline has them in stock atm....got mine today...new packaging though!

cool, next time I am gonna compare yours and surens to see if there are any visible differences...

biggerry wrote:

aim54x wrote:Scott @ Mainline has them in stock atm....got mine today...new packaging though!

cool, next time I am gonna compare yours and surens to see if there are any visible differences...

Not a problem! We may be nicely surprised to find that there is no difference. The packaging changed sometime earlier in the year as far as I know. The dark blue is nice and modern looking but it is a box at the end of the day.