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Post by Ding Carpio on Feb 15, 2008 12:45:28 GMT
Got me an AM Pro Equator 8 Dry Cabinet from Vet Specialists today. Managed to haggle the price down to Photoworld sale price of P8250. Thanks for the recommendation, Tina!
So far, it's the cheapest for that size among other locally available dry cabinets I've surveyed and build quality looks excellent. I think I have the 500mmL in the horizon of my still active life so I looked at the Equator8's internal dimensions according to specsheet and compared to the 500mmL's length (also according to specsheet) and looks like this lens will fit crosswise on the Equator8. If anyone has had direct experience otherwise, pls shout while I may still have time to change it to a bigger one.
As to the 500mmL, my wife (who's the home treasurer) said maybe we can afford to get me the lens sometime this year or next, after I've pestered her about it about 100 times a day for the past decade.
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Post by tina mallari on Feb 15, 2008 15:45:16 GMT
Congratulations Ding !!! How nice of them to give it to you at Photoworld price pa - Yehey !!! Hmmmmm stop dreaming about the 500mm - You're starting to get infectious  Waaaaaaa can't even carry that lens !!!!! Go to infomax Ding - play with their 500 mm lens ;D I did and I was able to convince myself that it is simply way too heavy for me to carry ;D |
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Post by Ding Carpio on Feb 15, 2008 20:38:13 GMT
Which Infomax has the 500mmL?
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Post by tina mallari on Feb 16, 2008 0:05:36 GMT
The one at Park Square 1 Makati - look for Tin tin and then name drop ROMY's name - HEhEHhHEehEHeHEhee
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Post by Romy Ocon on Feb 18, 2008 1:50:13 GMT
As to the 500mmL, my wife (who's the home treasurer) said maybe we can afford to get me the lens sometime this year or next, after I've pestered her about it about 100 times a day for the past decade. At a forex rate of PHP 41 to the USD, B&H's price for the imported 500 f4 IS is PHP 218K (USD 5.3K), compared to the PHP 350K I paid for mine at SG two years ago. The difference between an imported and US version at B & H is you've to return the lens to the store for servicing for the imported ones, while you may send the US version ones to any Canon-USA center for servicing. Obviously, if the buyer is outside CONUS, it doesn't matter whether the lens is import or US model. I suspect the 500 f4 IS can be obtained in HK or Bangkok at a price very close to PHP 218K. With this kind of major purchase, I strongly recommend that the lens be tested at the store first for AF/IS issues before committing purchase. I think you've been hooked deep enough, Ding.... there's no escaping the 500 f4 IS for you in this lifetime. ;D |
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Post by William Lim on Feb 18, 2008 12:23:02 GMT
As to the 500mmL, my wife (who's the home treasurer) said maybe we can afford to get me the lens sometime this year or next, after I've pestered her about it about 100 times a day for the past decade. At a forex rate of PHP 41 to the USD, B&H's price for the imported 500 f4 IS is PHP 218K (USD 5.3K), compared to the PHP 350K I paid for mine at SG two years ago. The difference between an imported and US version at B & H is you've to return the lens to the store for servicing for the imported ones, while you may send the US version ones to any Canon-USA center for servicing. Obviously, if the buyer is outside CONUS, it doesn't matter whether the lens is import or US model. I suspect the 500 f4 IS can be obtained in HK or Bangkok at a price very close to PHP 218K. With this kind of major purchase, I strongly recommend that the lens be tested at the store first for AF/IS issues before committing purchase. I think you've been hooked deep enough, Ding.... there's no escaping the 500 f4 IS for you in this lifetime. ;D How do test for proper AF/IS? Are there many bad copies of 500 f/4L IS?  |
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Post by Ding Carpio on Feb 18, 2008 13:25:09 GMT
Thanks for the tip, Romy. Checked out HK shops via email (ManShing and Fortress) and their prices compare closely to Philippine prices (P350k as quoted by Hidalgo shops). Amazon, B&H, and Adorama all sell at USD5.5k and change, with Intl Warranty. Adorama sells slightly cheaper grey items which are supposed to be as good as "legit" ones but warranty is only Adorama warranty. Looks like there's no question now where to get it (US). The only question now is how. But desperate men always find ways... At a forex rate of PHP 41 to the USD, B&H's price for the imported 500 f4 IS is PHP 218K (USD 5.3K), compared to the PHP 350K I paid for mine at SG two years ago. The difference between an imported and US version at B & H is you've to return the lens to the store for servicing for the imported ones, while you may send the US version ones to any Canon-USA center for servicing. Obviously, if the buyer is outside CONUS, it doesn't matter whether the lens is import or US model. I suspect the 500 f4 IS can be obtained in HK or Bangkok at a price very close to PHP 218K. With this kind of major purchase, I strongly recommend that the lens be tested at the store first for AF/IS issues before committing purchase. I think you've been hooked deep enough, Ding.... there's no escaping the 500 f4 IS for you in this lifetime. ;D |
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Post by Romy Ocon on Feb 18, 2008 22:02:55 GMT
How do test for proper AF/IS? Are there many bad copies of 500 f/4L IS? At the store, before committing purchase, mount your camera on the 500 f4 IS. Place 3 AA batteries about 15-20 feet away and aligned diagonally to you. AF on the middle battery and shoot wide open for narrower DOF, the middle battery should turn out sharp. Otherwise, there's a front focus or back focus and the lens/dslr need calibration. For testing IS, simply shoot the bare lens hand held at 1/200 sec shutter speed (assuming you're using a 1.6 CF body like the 40D/30D/20D/400D etc), f/4 and the corresponding ISO for proper exposure. Most of your shots should be shake free and sharp, and that means IS is working well. |
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Post by Ding Carpio on Feb 19, 2008 11:47:23 GMT
Aside from Romy's simple-but-effective test above, you may also opt for this test chart. focustestchart.com/focus21.pdfI actually printed the chart and used it at JT Photoworld when I bought my Sigma 10-20. We detected a slight backfocus (if I remember right) and Jerome was happy to recalibrate the lens for me right there. How do test for proper AF/IS? Are there many bad copies of 500 f/4L IS? |
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Waaaaaaa can't even carry that lens !!!!!
