Just sold my 20D (gulp)..

[Sheila Smart]

.. and have been looking for the best (non-grey market) price for the Canon 5D. Any suggestions who has a good deal, please let me know. I have no idea what I can do without a camera for the next few days

I know d.d-photography have grey market 5Ds but I really don't want to risk having a problem with warranties etc.

Cheers
Sheila

[nito]

ask birddog and poon from hksupplies. Its grey, but at least you have a local for warranty issues. Oh did I mention the prices.

[daniel_r]

Sheila,

I've dealt with D-D before - they seem pretty good, but I've only used them for some accessory items (never purchased lens or body). Email order, supplied payment details over the phone, next day delivery.

I'm with Nito here - Poon also sells Canon gear though HKsupplies. The service is fast and reliable. Probably worth checking with Birddog - he might let you know either way. See This thread about contacting him.

D.

[Onyx]

Where have you made your other photographic purchases in the past Sheila? I'd start there - if you've given them good business in the past they're likely to look after you on this occasion.

Or if you've bought your stuff from all over the place... ummm, I dunno. I would imagine not many places would stock the 5D, as it's comparatively high end - but I'm sure many will be happy to 'order one in' for you, and unless they have some compelling value-added service, there's no real reason to do business with them IMHO. I don't think you'll get too much of a price diff (given your non-grey criterion), so IMO shop at a place you feel comfortable shopping at, and are happy to do business with. And ask for free memory card(s), extra battery or any other additional deal sweeteners. Make 'em want your business!

[drifter]

Why are you going to the 5 D ? Is full frame the main reason ? I've read a few reviews and no one seems to be raving to much about it .In context of the price of it .

I'm another who has dealt with D D . Great service and price but i have not had to worry about any warrenty issues as nothing has gone wrong ( touch wood ).

[DaveB]

Congratulations Sheila!

I had the opportunity to buy a 5D last month for about the same price as advertised by D-D, but it was Canon Australia stock with local warranty/etc. Unfortunately I didn't have that sort of cash lying around, but it was very tempting.
It was stock that had been "overdelivered" to a camera store (run by someone I know) and they were willing to sell it for cost price. But I know they don't have the camera any more, so the question is whether you can find another store willing to sell at no profit.


Onyx's advice is probably the best, given your requirement for Canon Australia stock. But given the above information about the price that Canon Australia charges dealers, you're unlikely to match D-D's price.

Incidentally, when I bought my 20D I didn't get onto the waiting lists quickly enough and spent months languishing on hold waiting for stock to arrive (my D30 and 10D had each been in the first batches to arrive in the country). In the end I gave up and bought one from Adorama in NY (I had it the next week, and with the grip for the same price I would have paid for just the body locally). The point of this story is that I had some repairs done under warranty by Canon Australia with no questions asked. Having a proper receipt and not mentioning that it was from an overseas merchant may have been the key, but I don't know.


Drifter, all the people I personally know with a 5D are very happy with them, and from the couple of times I've used one I know I'd be very happy with it too. It's not just the size of the sensor: the advances in the camera itself over the 20D all add up.

[Geoff]

Congrats Sheila.
Please read this disclaimer - this is NOT a go or hassle at canon users by any means. Be sure that you are ready to go down the 5D line - I too have heard some people having some issues with it. I will quote a friend of mine (who is a wedding photog) in an email he sent me a few days ago. Just looking out for you Sheila

Geoff,

Yes, I got the 5D, 3 days before Christmas but it went belly up on Christmas Eve. Canon, through L&P replaced it in early January. I then bought a 580EX flash (which I was told was necessary for digital optimisation with the camera) but have had nothing but trouble with with underexposed images where flash is main source of light. All equipment now back at Canon for "adjustment"

Despite above, I just love the camera and looking forward to successful operation when I get it back.

[Greg B]

I have also had successful, albeit low level, dealings with D-D, they were very good.

[Sheila Smart]

I have one other avenue to explore (my husband has a business contact) before I check out B&H or even d-d. I may check out digital rev oz as I bought my Canon 17-40 from them two years ago and it arrived in three days. I could be charged GST but I am factoring in that possibility with the price. I have never had any problems with either my G2, D60 or 20D so hopefully don't anticipate any with the 5D.

I'll keep you posted (literally!).

Cheers
Sheila

[DaveB]

I've bought stuff from digital-rev-oz before, as well as from t-dimension. HKsupplies is another eBay shop that's worth checking out: it's run by Poon who is a member here.
You mentioned B&H. I was going to buy my 20D from them except it came in above their limit for overseas Visa transactions. They'd take Amex or wire-transfer. But Adorama was happy to take my Visa... BTW, I just sold my own 20D today... Sold the 10D last month, but still have my backup 350D to hold me over until my new one...
As long as I don't get any work in the next month that the 350D might struggle with (e.g. action shots) I'll be fine!

[Killakoala]

No matter where you get the 5D from Sheila, i'm looking forward to hearing and seeing how you find it.

[Sheila Smart]

No matter where you get the 5D from Sheila, i'm looking forward to hearing and seeing how you find it.

Thanks Steve, you won't have to wait long as I picked up my 5D half an hour ago Now I am wading through the manual to find out what I have to learn about the 5D vs what I already know about the 20D. I negotiated the best deal with Foto Riesel on Kent Street with a request that they chuck in a 2 Gig card and they renegotiated with a 512 MB and I came back with a suggestion that it should be a 1 gig and we had a deal. I told the guy I had just sold my 20D and he said that it was a good move as the 20D had just been discontinued.

Cheers
Sheila

[MCWB]

I told the guy I had just sold my 20D and he said that it was a good move as the 20D had just been discontinued.

If this is correct, these 35D rumours are probably on the money then hey? Enjoy Sheila, looking forward to seeing more of your photos.

[Alpha_7]

I told the guy I had just sold my 20D and he said that it was a good move as the 20D had just been discontinued.
Cheers
Sheila

A bit OT, but what is the guy's logic ? Is it that because its discontinued so people wouldn't want a second hand one ?

Hmm well I can think of another of arguements, just confuses me this guys logic.


Edit : Trent's comments above give me another more viable reason... (thanks Trent)

[DaveB]

Indeed the grapevine says that the 20D's replacement will be announced in a couple of weeks' time. Canon aren't saying anything yet: presumably they're busy running down their 20D stocks (which is not a bad thing for purchasers: it's a great camera).

This is why I took a punt and sold my 20D when I did: I think I know what will be in the new camera and I've decided it will be extremely useful to me this year (including in Tanzania). Better to sell my 20D now and survive with my other bodies for a month or two rather than sell the 20D later for less money (I'm sure the 2nd-hand prices will drop, but not how much by).
Of course once the 20D's replacement (35D?) is announced it will be a while before we can actually get them, so we'll see what happens...

Good luck with your 5D Sheila!

[Alpha_7]

Out of interest Dave, what features are you hanging out for in a new model ? (I don't know the Canon's very well, so if you can please be specific enough for me to get the gist )

[DaveB]

Ok, Rumour Central here we come...
I've been holding off on saying any of this until my 20D sold.

There are a couple of things in recent cameras that should flow over to the next xxD model, and there are of course lots more possibilities of what Canon might put into it. These are my current expectations:

Highly likely:

• Larger buffer (6 RAW isn't much) and faster CF writing
• ISO in viewfinder (at least while changing it)
• 2.5" LCD
• RGB histograms
• At least the 5D's AF system (should be better for tracking flying birds, etc)
• 'C' mode for storing camera settings (can be a useful workaround for the way MLU is buried in the menus)

I could live without the large screen, but all of the others will make a difference to my photography.

Probable:

• 10 megapixels

Possible (ok, so I'm wishing ):

• 1/320s X-sync (above this the EX flashes still work but with reduced power)
  I'm basing this guess on the fact that the D30 had an X-sync of 1/200s but the shutter came from a film camera with a 1/125s sync. The D30's frame is 1/1.6 the height of the film frame, and 1/(1.6*125) == 1/200. The full-frame 5D now has an X-sync of 1/200s...
• Popup flash acting as E-TTL controller
• New AF system with 21 AF points, maybe with centre point working at f/8

Anyway, that's what my crystal ball shows. We'll see in a few weeks time how wrong I am!

[Alpha_7]

Thanks for the infor Dave. I guess it's now just a waiting game

[Sheila Smart]

What I have found surprising is that the ISO speeds can be upped in increments of 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, 320, 400, 500, 640, 800, 1000, 1250 to 1600 (and 3200) rather than 100, 400, 800, 1600. I have not read anywhere about these increments. I'm still experimenting and would get out to take some snaps now but our cat has decided that he cannot get down from our roof

Cheers
Sheila

[Onyx]

So you took delivery of a 5D Sheila - congrats.

This majority Nikon crowd may take it for granted that we've always had 1/3 stop increments for ISO adjustment. In fact it's 1/6th stop in Auto ISO mode (ie. ISO220, 560, 1100 etc are available)