[mobike008]

Originally Posted by absynthguzzler

well , he quoted around 38k , but hoping since I'm buying the 18-200 as well and I bought a FZ18 about 6 months back,that i can shave off 3grand from the D90 price.

Ah! I see the shutter-bug bit you too

[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by absynthguzzler

well , he quoted around 38k , but hoping since I'm buying the 18-200 as well and I bought a FZ18 about 6 months back,that i can shave off 3grand from the D90 price.


Edit : reply to the post below : Yes boss Avi , I've been bitten by the shutterbug ever since you were able to take photos at high ISO when i was trying to meddle with shutter speeds(without a tripod), lol.This was the Bidar trip where in some of your snaps are peachy!

Go ahead and buy it but I wouldnt recommend going in for the 18-200. If you have the money go for kit and 70-200 combination.
How much is the Canon 40d?

[absynthguzzler]

Originally Posted by extreme_torque

Go ahead and buy it but I wouldnt recommend going in for the 18-200. If you have the money go for kit and 70-200 combination.
How much is the Canon 40d?

Well , let me give you the "jist" of the schedule , lol

Sometime this week , the Head of Nikon(South) is going to be in Hyderabad.Then on monday i will be getting a call from Chimalgi on status of the order he has placed if any. If the Zonal Manager gives him a big chunk of discount on the 5lac worth D90's, then he said he will pass this on to me as well . I'll find out the pricing of 40D when he calls on monday. Then the order will be placed and would take about 10-15days

w.r.t. lens, Im looking for 1 lens to cover for all occasions purely to avoid(lessen) the cleaning process and usability of camera also steps up. my only upgrade after 12 months would probably be the 12-24mm VR. the 18-200 will be my stock.

PS : the reason for this special treatment started off with just me appreciating his passion. I noticed a pen in his pocket and immediately knew it was a 60's Shaefer. That shocked him and Im etched in his memory for ever.Only reason i noticed it because dear Mumsy has one :-)

[finneyp]

Originally Posted by extreme_torque

Go ahead and buy it but I wouldnt recommend going in for the 18-200. If you have the money go for kit and 70-200 combination.

ET, any reasons you don't recommend 18-200?
Experts have given a good review for Nikon 18-200 VR, and it is better to have one lens rather than carrying a set of lenses.

[kaushik_s]

Hi guys,
Recently I checked up a few places in Bangalore(RK & Photocircle) about availability of Canon 40D without Bill & Warranty, but it seems that the camera is no available without B&W. All they have is with B&W. Is it the same situation in Delhi/Mumbai/Chennai or any other place too?
Anyone know the reason behind it?
Regards,
Kaushik

[Rudra Sen]

Originally Posted by kaushik_s

Anyone know the reason behind it?

Suddenly super tight customs activities.

[kaushik_s]

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

Suddenly super tight customs activities.

By any chance, is it an effect of slow economy, my wild guess?
And that means we'll have to wait for some more days before things cool down. :-(

[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by finneyp

ET, any reasons you don't recommend 18-200?
Experts have given a good review for Nikon 18-200 VR, and it is better to have one lens rather than carrying a set of lenses.

I was in the same boat looking for a versatile lens for my Canon 40D. Although 18-200 is decent, it will be too much of a compromise regarding the image quality, the corners wont be as sharp, hefty distortions and its too slow at telephoto end.
I decided on a 70-200 F4 L and the kit lens which is image stabilized.

The reviews of this particular lens arent positive. While it gets high marks for versatility, the image quality is very average.
Read one here Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR II DX - Review / Test Report

[Samurai]

Sudhir, if you remember we used to interact in PAAI long back.

Originally Posted by vasudhir

Another person in Bangalore who rents lens gives it only for studio purpose and he sends his person along with the lens.

Ah! A lens with an escort. Americans would drop dead hearing this, labour is surely cheap in this country.

Originally Posted by vasudhir

Some part of this venture will be based on trust as I know a lot of folks who have attended my photography workshop in the past and needs this service. And yes, the credibility of the person renting the lens is important. How will I go about verifying that is something I am working on.

That is the key to this whole venture. Besides, if somebody damages the lens, it would be very hard to get compensated. Do insurance cover these?

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by finneyp

ET, any reasons you don't recommend 18-200?
Experts have given a good review for Nikon 18-200 VR, and it is better to have one lens rather than carrying a set of lenses.

Super-zoom lenses suffer from multitudes of distortions. If that was not the case, everybody would just buy super-zoom lenses and prime lenses would be history. It is very hard to make a lens that perform well from all the way to 18mm to 200mm. This is nothing but a compromise lens. Generally, don't buy a zoom lens that offers more than 5X. This lens offers 11X zoom, you should consider it only if you don't care much about image quality or bound by budget.

[StarScream]

Originally Posted by absynthguzzler

Getting the D90(body only)for 35k along with 18-200VR at 43k.This is with 2 yr warranty(2nd year is labour only).So should i go for this gurus?

Note :This depends on the retailer getting approval from South Zone dealer for a bulk order to the tune of 5lacs on D90s or some gyan in those lines.

If it's too good to be true, it probably is...
The amounts you have mentioned for both the body and lens are too low. The body is about $1000 and the lens is about $700. That is 85k at current exchange rates.
Unless you're confusing the 18-200 with the D90 kit lens, which is the 18-105VR. The kit is $1,200 i.e. 60k.
If you are sure about your source, price and product then it is a fantastic deal.

Originally Posted by absynthguzzler

Well , let me give you the "jist" of the schedule , lol

Sometime this week , the Head of Nikon(South) is going to be in Hyderabad.Then on monday i will be getting a call from Chimalgi on status of the order he has placed if any. If the Zonal Manager gives him a big chunk of discount on the 5lac worth D90's, then he said he will pass this on to me as well . I'll find out the pricing of 40D when he calls on monday. Then the order will be placed and would take about 10-15days

w.r.t. lens, Im looking for 1 lens to cover for all occasions purely to avoid(lessen) the cleaning process and usability of camera also steps up. my only upgrade after 12 months would probably be the 12-24mm VR. the 18-200 will be my stock.

The Nikkor 12-24 is not a VR lens. However, with the 18-200 it makes one fantastic, light travel kit.

Originally Posted by finneyp

ET, any reasons you don't recommend 18-200?
Experts have given a good review for Nikon 18-200 VR, and it is better to have one lens rather than carrying a set of lenses.

Originally Posted by extreme_torque

I was in the same boat looking for a versatile lens for my Canon 40D. Although 18-200 is decent, it will be too much of a compromise regarding the image quality, the corners wont be as sharp, hefty distortions and its too slow at telephoto end.
I decided on a 70-200 F4 L and the kit lens which is image stabilized.

The reviews of this particular lens arent positive. While it gets high marks for versatility, the image quality is very average.
Read one here Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR II DX - Review / Test Report

Originally Posted by Samurai

Super-zoom lenses suffer from multitudes of distortions. If that was not the case, everybody would just buy super-zoom lenses and prime lenses would be history. It is very hard to make a lens that perform well from all the way to 18mm to 200mm. This is nothing but a compromise lens. Generally, don't buy a zoom lens that offers more than 5X. This lens offers 11X zoom, you should consider it only if you don't care much about image quality or bound by budget.

The 18-200VR is a fantastic lens for what it does. Yes, it is not the ultimate in quality but if you were to replicate its range with quality glass you will -
a) spend a lot more
b) carry a lot more weight
c) probably not get VR/IS throughout the range.
The lens is very good at many things and spectacular at none. Comparing it with quality lenses misses the point of what this lens is designed to do - give ultimate range and convenience in a compact, light-weight package.

Ever since I got mine, it has hardly come off the camera - it is such a versatile piece of glass. And mind you I have "quality" glass throughout that range, which only gets used when I have time to fiddle with equipment and change lenses. As a travel lens it is second to none. My travel kit consists of the camera body, 18-200, Tokina 12-14/4, 45/2.8P (the weight of this gem is negligible) SB-600 flash in a Lowe Pro Mini-Trekker. Prior to the 18-200 I carried an 80-200/2.8, 24-85 AF-S, 12-24 and flash. I broke my back traveling through Canada with that set up. Now, I'm one happy camper.

[vasudhir]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Sudhir, if you remember we used to interact in PAAI long back.

Ah! A lens with an escort. Americans would drop dead hearing this, labour is surely cheap in this country.

That is the key to this whole venture. Besides, if somebody damages the lens, it would be very hard to get compensated. Do insurance cover these?

oh yes...I do remember you now. It's just that seeing the same names in the car forum does not click fast in memory

Yes, accidental damages will be covered by Insurance. And that's where the credibility of the person renting the equipment comes in. I will have to make sure he knows photography and has used equipments before And finally, I will definitely reserve the right to decline giving the equipment if I am not sure he can handle the equipment.

Rgds,
Sudhir

[gd1418]

I don't think so. When I wanted to insure my gear against damage, theft etc., IFFCO-TOKIO & Royal Sundaram, both, refused. I didn't approach any other assuming that they too would.

BTW, the Sigma 150~500 DG OS HSM APO is available in the grey for 49K. I've to put on my thinking hat and debate whether it is wise to invest in the lens or else make a compromise and go in for a TC.

Originally Posted by Samurai

Do insurance cover these?

[vasudhir]

Originally Posted by ntomer

Hi,

A friend wants to buy an entry level digital SLR. Which of the two (D70s or 350D) should I suggest?

\N

What's his budget and area of interest in photography. Since this is a DSLR, you need to keep in mind about the cost of lenses going forward. And Nikon lenses are anyday costlier than Canon ones.

Rgds,
Sudhir

[vasudhir]

Originally Posted by gd1418

I don't think so. When I wanted to insure my gear against damage, theft etc., IFFCO-TOKIO & Royal Sundaram, both, refused. I didn't approach any other assuming that they too would.

BTW, the Sigma 150~500 DG OS HSM APO is available in the grey for 49K. I've to put on my thinking hat and debate whether it is wise to invest in the lens or else make a compromise and go in for a TC.

I have got all my Camera equipment's insured through House Hold Insurance Policy with Oriental Insurance. It is insured against Theft, accidental damage, etc etc.

The 150-500 is a good one. But you got to be lucky to get a good piece as there are lots of complaints on its quality. What equipment do you currently have on which you want to use a TC. I can probably help you to make the right decession.

Rgds,
Sudhir