shop that allows trying of lens w/o obligation to buy

[circuitboy]

any shops that allows the customer to try the lens w/o the obligation to buy? I have tried quite a few shops already and some of these shops are considered by CS as reputable shops. I want to buy a Tamron 17-50m f2.8. I have read alot of good reviews and it's highly recommended. But still, these are still opinions and I feel that image quality is still subjective.

hope you can recommend a shop that does this for their buyers. thanks!

 

[tanjonhan]

any shops that allows the customer to try the lens w/o the obligation to buy? I have tried quite a few shops already and some of these shops are considered by CS as reputable shops. I want to buy a Tamron 17-50m f2.8. I have read alot of good reviews and it's highly recommended. But still, these are still opinions and I feel that image quality is still subjective.

hope you can recommend a shop that does this for their buyers. thanks!

you have tried quite a few meaning they did not allow you to try without obligation to buy....??? most reputable shops do allow you to try.....they never ever said oh show me the cash first or anything like tt........so what is it you are trying to say here...?

 

[longkangman]

I am evil I bring along the notebook to view the output in 100%:devil:

 

[Headshotzx]

Usually when I want to purchase a lens, I'll go to either Cathay Photo Peninsular or John3:16 Photo supplies because I know the guys there. I'll then shoot test images and check focus and all that stuff. If I'm certain of a good copy, I'll purchase it. If I'm not certain, I'll take note of the serial numbers of the lens that I shot with, thank the guys and head home to review 100% images. Sometimes I'll bring a laptop to check 100% in the store. Once I've decided on what lens gives the best output, I'll purchase the lens, or call up the next day to reserve the lens, assuming I came home to check.

 

[circuitboy]

you have tried quite a few meaning they did not allow you to try without obligation to buy....??? most reputable shops do allow you to try.....they never ever said oh show me the cash first or anything like tt........so what is it you are trying to say here...?

I asked the shop directly that I just want to try the lens and I told him that I may or may not buy it after testing it. They said cannot. They just advised me to try a friend's lens first.

 

[Headshotzx]

I asked the shop directly that I just want to try the lens and I told him that I may or may not buy it after testing it. They said cannot. They just advised me to try a friend's lens first.

Which shop did you go to? If you know some people in the shop because of past purchases, you'll be able to test it. But don't test it too long if you don't want to purchase it, because the real buyer probably won't like it if he/she sees usage marks.

 

[circuitboy]

Usually when I want to purchase a lens, I'll go to either Cathay Photo Peninsular or John3:16 Photo supplies because I know the guys there. I'll then shoot test images and check focus and all that stuff. If I'm certain of a good copy, I'll purchase it. If I'm not certain, I'll take note of the serial numbers of the lens that I shot with, thank the guys and head home to review 100% images. Sometimes I'll bring a laptop to check 100% in the store. Once I've decided on what lens gives the best output, I'll purchase the lens, or call up the next day to reserve the lens, assuming I came home to check.

This is also what I am planning to do. Try the lens w/ my cam and go home to check the images in my laptop. I will take note of these two shops.

 

[Headshotzx]

This is also what I am planning to do. Try the lens w/ my cam and go home to check the images in my laptop. I will take note of these two shops.

Yeah, if you're checking for copy variation, no problem. But if you want to get a feel of a particular lens, I suggest renting it over a weekend or something.

 

[Cartman2000]

You can try MS Color as well, but try to deal with only Florence or Sharon. See the guy in the Sony Alpha tee? Don't go near him.

 

[circuitboy]

Which shop did you go to? If you know some people in the shop because of past purchases, you'll be able to test it. But don't test it too long if you don't want to purchase it, because the real buyer probably won't like it if he/she sees usage marks.

I think no need to name the shop. The guy is nice. Maybe he just didn't get what I intend to do.

 

[circuitboy]

Yeah, if you're checking for copy variation, no problem. But if you want to get a feel of a particular lens, I suggest renting it over a weekend or something.

But even checking for copy variation, I may end up not buying the lens if it doesn't match the quality of the lens I have rented.

 

[calebk]

I've tried plenty of lenses at John 3:16 with no obligation to buy before.

 

[night86mare]

john 3:16, the ultimate place to massage lenses and leave your grimy paw prints all over the lenses for someone to buy!

ok just kidding. :bsmilie:

 

[CS TAN]

Canon Singapore should take up what Canon Hong Kong has been doing for years. i.e. provide all their lenses for potential customers to test in their Canon Showroom. Potential customer can bring their own camera (or use the ones in the showroom) and check out a max. of two lenses to test.

 

[CherylGlen]

Canon Singapore should take up what Canon Hong Kong has been doing for years. i.e. provide all their lenses for potential customers to test in their Canon Showroom. Potential customer can bring their own camera (or use the ones in the showroom) and check out a max. of two lenses to test.

that sounds great! but then again, to consider that its singapore..... singaporeans.... hahaha:bsmilie::bsmilie::bsmilie:

 

[kiwi2]

Just curious.

For those of you who test lenses like a Canon technician: Bring me all you have, and snap snap snap. How detailed do you do it? Near, far focusing, test AF speed, IS, etc etc?

Does that mean, it is possible those lenses which are to be sold in the shop have possibly been "groped" by many people? And it is possible some poor chap will end up buying a less than desirable lens? Because I doubt the shop will return the unsold lenses to Canon right, saying, "My customers say this batch of lenses cannot make it."

In any case, how much difference in sharpness or whatever you're testing, do you find between different copies of the same type of lens? A case of poor Canon QC before the lenses leave the factory or... just pure paranoia from customer's point of view?

 

[pplneedthelord]

whatever the case is, please do not go Balley Photo to get your gear, they're cheats.

 

[nottipiglet]

I only buy at Cathay Photo. I don't even test the lens when I buy because the store manager told me that if there's anything wrong with it, I can just bring it back within a week for a 1-for-1 exchange. So far, all the lenses/cameras I picked up from Cathay were 100% trouble free.

I have also bought lenses from Amazon, which I cannot test before buying. They too were trouble free. If there are any problems, I will just bring them in to CSC for calibration, etc... so I don't know what the fuss is all about.

 

[mayhemics]

whatever the case is, please do not go Balley Photo to get your gear, they're cheats.

i think you mean Bally... Funan and SLS...

 

[bEnd1ck]

Canon Singapore should take up what Canon Hong Kong has been doing for years. i.e. provide all their lenses for potential customers to test in their Canon Showroom. Potential customer can bring their own camera (or use the ones in the showroom) and check out a max. of two lenses to test.

Its not stated on a notice board or advertised that you can do that. But you can actually. Just ask the staff nicely, they should be able to let you test. But i doubt they have multiple copies of each lenses for comparison though.