thomas_anderson5

<p>Dear all, <br /> <br /> Welcome to my "Buy a DSLR in Hong Kong, 2009" guide.<br /> <br /> I have compiled all this information during my research, and thought they may be useful to someone.<br /> <br /> I will not answer any questions, because I am no pro or expert. But I can tell you that I got very nice, practical and supportive comments on the two following forums:<br /> * www.megapixel.net<br /> * photo.net<br /> <br /> <br /> =============================================================<br /> 1. REVIEWS <br /> =============================================================<br /> 1.1 WEBSITES<br /> ------------<br /> <br /> Below a list of websites that will give reviews, comments, sometimes forums to help you decide.<br /> <br /> * In English *<br /> rolandlim.wordpress.com<br /> www.cameralabs.com <br /> www.dpreview.com <br /> www.megapixel.net<br /> photo.net<br /> www.digitalreview.ca<br /> buycomp.hkgolden.com<br /> www.dcresource.com<br /> www.dcviews.com<br /> www.imaging-resource.com<br /> www.steves-digicams.com/hardware_reviews.html <br /> www.pixelvalley.com <br /> <br /> <br /> * In German *<br /> http://www.photozone.de<br /> <br /> * In French *<br /> www.lesnumeriques.com<br /> www.wistiti.fr <br /> www.letsgodigital.org/fr/index.html<br /> www.photim.com<br /> <br /> * In Cantonese *<br /> <br /> ------------<br /> 1.2 BLOGS<br /> ------------<br /> The point of view of experts can be extremely valuable.<br /> I read Ken Rockwell's blog a lot.<br /> <br /> www.kenrockwell.com<br /> www.bythom.com/<br /> <br /> =============================================================<br /> 2. SHOPS <br /> =============================================================<br /> 2.1 SECOND HAND SHOPS IN HK - Online<br /> ------------------------------------<br /> * In Cantonese *<br /> dchome.net<br /> dcfever.net<br /> http://www.matsuyacamera.com.hk/<br /> <br /> ------------------------------------<br /> 2.2 SECOND HAND SHOPS IN HK - Real<br /> ------------------------------------<br /> > HK<br /> DC-FEVER - in Windsor House<br /> <br /> > KOWLOON<br /> Tin Cheung, 100 Nathan Road, Tung Ying Building [MRT Tsim Sha Tsui station B1 exit]<br /> ApLiu Street in Sham Shui Po<br /> Matsuya Camera and Video Center which is on the ground floor of Tsim Tsa Tsui Mansion 83-97 Nathan Rd, Kowloon<br /> <br /> ------------------------------------<br /> 2.3 SHOPS for NEW<br /> ------------------------------------<br /> > KOWLOON<br /> Wing Shing camera shop(57, Sai Yeung Choi Street Mong Kok) <br /> Mong Kok Camera Centre (Fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok), <br /> Yau Shing Commercial Centre [MK]<br /> Ap Liu Street [sSP]<br /> New Sankyo c/o Tony Leung newsanky@hkstar.com<br /> New Sankyo Camera Co Ltd<br /> Shop G-19 Golden Mile Holiday Inn<br /> 50 Nathan Road, Kowloon, HONG KONG<br /> Tel: +852-2367 0350, 2369 9491 Fax: +852-2739 2932<br /> Email: newsanky@hkstar.com<br /> Hours: 10:00 -- 20:00, Monday to Saturday<br /> <br /> <br /> > HK ISLAND<br /> Stanley Street<br /> <br /> =============================================================<br /> 3. PRICES <br /> =============================================================<br /> 3.1 Second hand<br /> ------------------------------------<br /> NIKON<br /> http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=349652&extra=page%3D1<br /> <br /> <br /> CANON<br /> http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=312113&extra=page%3D1<br /> http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=57431<br /> <br /> ALL BRANDS<br /> http://www.adpost.com/hk/camera/<br /> http://www.ygdragon.net/index.php?page=photo/cameraprice.htm<br /> <br /> 3.2 My investigations<br /> ------------------------------------<br /> Central - Lyndhurst Terrace<br /> ---------------------------<br /> CANON EOS D40 + 18-55 (2nd hand) 5300 HKD<br /> NIKON D60 + 18-55 (new) 6300 HKD<br /> <br /> Central - Stanley Street, Fujifilm shop<br /> ---------------------------<br /> NIKON D40 + 18-55 3600 HKD<br /> NIKON D60 + 18-55 4100 HKD<br /> NIKON D60 3300 HKD [430 EUR fnac.com]<br /> NIKON 18-105 VR 2300 HKD <br /> <br /> Central - Stanley Street, Kinefoto (Leica)<br /> ---------------------------<br /> NIKON D60 3300 HKD + MC 2Go [recoit vendredi 15 mai]<br /> NIKON 18-105 VR 2300 HKD <br /> <br /> Central - Stanley Street, Photo Scientic (cote LKF)<br /> ---------------------------<br /> NIKON D60 N/A<br /> NIKON D60 + 18-55 4000 HKD [3940 HKD cash]<br /> NIKON 18-105 VR 2500 HKD [2450 HKD cash]<br /> <br /> Central - QRC, Fortress<br /> ---------------------------<br /> NIKON D60 N/A<br /> NIKON D60 + 18-55 4280 HKD [sacoche, carte memoire, batterie suppl, trepied, card reader]<br /> NIKON 18-105 VR 2380 HKD [not available]<br /> NIKON L100 (bridge) 2700 HKD<br /> NIKON P90 (bridge) 4200 HKD<br /> <br /> SSP - Golden Computer Arcade, Nikon Shop<br /> ---------------------------<br /> NIKON D60 boitier neuf 3480 HKD<br /> NIKON 18-105 VR neuf 2480 HKD<br /> together: 5960 [pas de reduction!]<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> =============================================================<br /> 4. SAMPLE CONFIGS<br /> =============================================================<br /> 1. MOST RANGE<br /> AF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR IF-ED - 5000 HKD [97 mm long / 560g] [ygdragon] (dated 2005), $5,649.00 TINCHEUNGm, 850 EUR fnac<br /> <br /> 2. STANDARD only *3 ZOOM<br /> AF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR - 1590 HKD [73 x 79.5 mm long / 265 g / 3x] [ygdragon] <br /> <br /> 3. INTERMEDIATE *5 ZOOM<br /> OBJECTIF AF-S 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED VR - 2180 HKD [76.0 x 89.0mm long/450g/5.8x] [ygdragon]<br /> > bad pic quality according to kenrockwell.com<br /> > good review over 18-55 VR on photo.net<br /> <br /> 4. OTHER CHOICES<br /> Nikon AF-S 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 DX ED VR - 4600 HKD [72 x 85 mm long/485 g / 5.3x]<br /> Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G VR IF-ED [77 x 94mm long/575g] Non DX = a eviter ?<br /> Nikon AF-S 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G VR DX IF-ED 1750HKD [73.0 x 99.5mm long/335g]<br /> <br /> =============================================================<br /> 5. INFORMATION ON DSLR<br /> =============================================================<br /> 5.1 Weight of Nikon cameras<br /> ------------------------------------<br /> With all inside (memory card, battery...)<br /> D5000 : 590g<br /> D90: 650g<br /> D40: 500g<br /> D60: 520g<br /> D80: 660g<br /> <br /> 5.1 Weight of Canon cameras<br /> ------------------------------------<br /> EOS 40 D: 700g body only. <br /> <br /> =============================================================<br /> 6. OTHERS <br /> =============================================================<br /> 6.1 Good photographs<br /> ------------------------------------<br /> http://www.derekbrownphotos.com/Photographs/Pages/Europe.html</p>

<p>Hope this info will be useful to someone !</p>

<p>Regards </p>

<p>Dear all,<br>

I forgot to come back here and thank you all for the great advice I received. Thanks to your help and some other input, I finally bought a D60 + 18-105 VR. I am quite happy with it now, the camera made a nice trip to the top of Mount Fuji (and back) without any problem.<br>

I have never spotted annoyance with the lens (with my amateur eyes), except once...<br>

I got an extremely visible Vignette effect on a 105 mm shot, in broad daylight in the mountain, shooting a distant subject. It was solved this Photoshop. What surprises me is that it happened only once.<br>

Anyway, thanks again!<br>

I will be posting a short guide on Camera buying in HK soon.</p>

<p>Dear all,<br>

Thanks a lot for the great advices, it brought up some light on my choice, and you introduce a lot of things I will consider:<br>

- new lenses (like the 16-85)<br>

- the filter specs<br>

- the SB400 flash (is it worth to invest in the flash for low light, than in a long range zoom? )<br>

- Lower quality of 18-200 over 18-105<br>

There is one item I was still considering in my post, but it was misleading due to the title I gave to it :-/ I am in fact not 100% yet decided between the D40 over the D60. Those bodies are sold at almost the same price here in Hong Kong (!), due to fact that D40 is very hard to fine new here. I have read that the fast flash sync for the D40 was quite helpful, and that the 6MGPX made brighter pictures over the D60.<br>

I will also check if D5000 can suit my need (but the body is twice as more expensive here in HK, and a bit heavier). D90 is even more heavy and expensive, so I have to give up on this one.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Hello all,<br>

I am planning to do some traveling in the coming months (like climbing Mt Fuji), so I started looking for a good quality DSLR, light, not expensive and with good features.<br>

I have read many posts on the travel forum, read dozens of reviews on Canon and Nikon bodies and lenses, and compared prices all around Hong Kong (that's where I live).<br>

Finally, I have short listed the following<br>

Body: D40 or D60<br>

Those bodies are light, have good construction, and make excellent pictures. I have read that the D40 is better in low light due to its 200 ISO sensibility, which maybe useful for dusk/dawn shots on top of the mountain. I'm not too much into the "hey what about this ultimate new feature" kind of guy. I basically want a reliable camera that can take good shots. That's why the latest Nikon bodies are not in the list (not to mention they are usually heavier and more expensive).<br>

I plan to use it with only one lense, as it is the most confortable option (do not want to carry heavy gear all around). I target a lense which can give me a good range of action. My first choice is the 18-200 VR, even though it's a bit pricy (470 EUR in HKG). I've read many times that it is wiser to invest more money in the lense than in the body.<br>

My second choice is the 18-105 VR, and finally the 18-55 VR. I have read some review of the 18-135, but as this lense is not VR, I'm afraid it's not the right choice. All of those are 3.5/5.6.<br>

This is for the introduction... My question is: within the above, which would be your best recommendation for travel?</p>

<p>Side questions: is there anything else I should plan to purchase to make shots in the mountain? Any special filter? Would you consider buying second hand for the body ?</p>

<p>Thanks a lot,<br>

<br /> Thomas</p>