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-   -   The DSLR Thread (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/gadgets-computers-software/11582-dslr-thread-364.html)

Hey Ani, I always found Chimalgi's quote at least 1K less than any other place. About they being only Canon auth. dealer is news to me. Was always under the impression that they are auth dealers of both.

You are right about stores like ezone, RD, croma not charging the 1-2% credit card transaction 'fee'. Thats the edge these stores have over others like Chimalgi.

Does the Sigma 70-300 APO DG come with OS? I think it doesn't.

If you think Chimalgi is reasonable, then you haven't looked hard enough. Believe me in Hyderabad itself there are cheaper places to get lenses. But the good thing about Chimalgi is he always does have used lenses.

My bad! But they do have APO DG OS in 50-500mm and 120-300 mm Telephoto Zoom Lenses - SigmaPhoto.com

Cheers

Thanks Daewood, this looks very tempting, but I am now tilting towards D3100.

Antonian, thanks for the advise, but as mentioned by R2D2, looks like only thailand made D3100 are available in India.

Arun(I hope I got it correct?), thanks for the detail, will enquire from them.

Ani bhai, will head to RD, Ezone and Croma to find out the prices. Yesterday went to "Tick, Click" at Nagarjuna Circle. Enquired about D3100. They are offering it for 31,500 along with the basic lens of 18-55mm. I also enquired for the 55-200mm lens, and they quoted it for 17k,70-300mm lens was for 14K.He advised me to go for Sigma lens, 55-200mm of which is for 9.5k.
IIIrd I at Road no 3, banjara hills is also offering D3100 for 31.5K, this is I got to know from 2 chaps sitting with the brochure of D5000 and D3100 at the same place where I go for lunch.

I also looked up amazon.com which was quoting USD 209 for Nikkon 55-200mm lens(approx 10k cheaper than India prices), but the link given by govigov below shows sigma and nikkon lenses available at cheaper prices.
Ani bhai plz educate me a little about VR/IS lenses. Will use google baba for it now.

Ani, i admit i havent looked hard enough. The obvious choices, due to proximity to office were always hypercity, croma, vivilash and the one opposite to the Masjid after LV Prasad. stupid:
Also, i was talking about camera's (both P&S & DSLR's). Is it only lenses that are costly at Chimalgi or camera's as well?
For the benifit of our community, can you post details of some shops/retailers that offer good pricing? If possible the contact number also. I know you went scouting for a telephoto lens before your trip to Sunderbans and i am sure you can spare us the effort of looking around :uncontrol
Manish, bingo! Arun it is!

Happy hunting for your baby!

Guys, finally decided to pick Canon EOS 500D with the kit lens for 32.5K bucks today evening. Is this a good deal?

Also what all should I look out for during the purchase and the warranty etc.

Would it make sense to buy the Canon EF 55-250mm lens. Any user/expert opinion on this lens.

A quick response will be very much appreciated as I am running short of time.

31k seems to be a good rate. I generally use Smartshoppers as the benchmark as generally they are the cheapest. Nikon Digital SLR Cameras | Nikon SLR Cameras | Best Nikon Digital SLR Cameras | Latest Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Now that you have finalised on D3100, the options available to you are many fold. Nikkor lenses will be expensive. But you can get 3rd party lenses like Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and others. The price differential will be about 40%.
Please let elaborate on which lens is which make for us comment further. IIIrd I generally sales with bill so their rates are generally high. I don't think the Sigma 55-200m is with APO or OS and in which case its higher priced.
VR= Vibration Reduction
IS = Image Stabiliser
OS= Optical Stabiliser

@Arun / Manish: List of good photography stores as per HPC http://www.flickr.com/groups/hpc/dis...7615684042128/

Its a good lens but will cost you around 12.5k. If you are willing to forego IS, then you can get a Sigma 70-300mm (7.5k for DG Macro / 10k for APO DG)

Thanks for the input guys.

Finished the DSLR purchase today.

Here are the details.

Canon EOS 500D 18-55mm and 55-250mm lens kit for 43.3K bucks.

2 UV Filters, one circular polarizer, lens hood, Lowerpro camera bag, spare battery LP-E5 All this together it cost - 3.7K bucks.

All in all total out lay of 47K.

Congratulations buddy.
From where you bought the stuffs? Interested in knowing more about the bag there. Fits in all equipments you got?!

I find that the Telephotos/Super Telephoto lenses are priced extremely high in India, for example for 600mm/F4 VR ED/VR
B&H - US$ 10,300 that is 4.59L apprx.
Nikon India - 6.3L apprx.
With 25% duty the US price is apprx 5.8L, a cool saving of 0.5L. The Nikon lenses have a world wide warranty. Nikon India Private Limited
The difference was much more, but recently Nikon India has reduced their price for this lense by about 1L. (Their older 600mm is listed at 6.6L!)

Yes, Its pretty compact and I can just pack the things that were purchased in the bag.

The bag model is LowerPro - Altus 160. Check the bag out on the website lowerpro.com

By the way I purchased all these equipment from FOTO Circle, near Gandhinagar

Congrats but why did you spend on all the accessories like this? The spare battery IMO is an overkill unless you plan to shoot thousands of photos a day. The battery in my 500D lasted for an entire day wherein I managed to fill three 4Gb SDHC cards with jpegs.

Even I gave it a second thought. However, When I go on a ride on my bike, sometimes I find it difficult to charge the battery over 2-3 days. I generally visit places, electricity is a luxury. Hence the investment in the spare battery.

Ok, makes sense in that case. Where are the pics btw?

Just had a couple of hours sleep. And leaving for the God own country tonight. So a week after a trip log will have them.