Best place to buy a new CV 15/4.5

[kb244]

I'm in the market possibly for a new CV 15/4.5 lens and wondering what was the best place to get them from, and the pro/cons of either. My main vice is that I'm an impatient ******* when it comes to shipping (please don't shoot me).

Also do they always come with the viewfinder if you buy them new?

I plan to put the 15mm on my Canon P. I used to have a CV 21/4 I got from B&H some time ago that worked on the P just fine then later sold it.

[kshapero]

Check our sponsers.

[mn4367]

I got mine together with the special CV 15D finder for the RD-1 from Stephen Gandy /cameraquest.com. This finder of course isn't included, but the standard 15 finder is always bundled. Had no problems with overseas shipping and everything else also was ok, so I can recommend him.

[polaski]

Steve Gandy is reputable and reliable.

[Roger Hicks]

Isn't the original question ever so slightly tactless, given who owns the site?

Cheers,

R.

[polaski]

Perhaps, Roger, but I'm old enough to have had vendors tell me to go buy somewhere else. but, I was young then, and tactless.

[abumac]

cameraquest.com, where else?

[Keith]

I don't think Stephen assumes we are going to buy from him because he owns the site Roger ... that would be naive of him! He's an astute bussiness man and the first to realise it's a free market I'm sure. I don't quite see where tact enters the equation here? :)

[Roger Hicks]

Perhaps, Roger, but I'm old enough to have had vendors tell me to go buy somewhere else. but, I was young then, and tactless.
Maybe that's WHY they told you to go elsewhere...

On several occasions, dealers, manufacturers and advertising departments (in magazines) have told me of people to whom they have said, "Look, I'm sorry, but if you don't like the way we do things, why don't you just go somewhere else?"

Seriously, I doubt that was so in your case, but if you are dealing with the principal of a business there are not many other reasons for suggesting that the punter go elsewhere. There's "I don't have it in stock", but if someone has made demands on your time, expertise and investment, and then suggests going elsewhere, it does seem tactless.

Cheers,

R

[polaski]

We're probably of like mind, Roger. I am now frequenting vendors who are known to me, local, or have helped me make decisions about photographic gear. It just isn't fair to benefit from someone's expertise (like, reading CameraQuest pages) and then buy elsewhere at the lowest mail order price.

I've been venturing into older 120 film folders in the last few years. I've made a couple of good purchases from Jurgen Kreckel (Certo 6), who CLAs everything he sells. When I picked up a Voigtlander accessory rangefinder that needed alignment, I sent it to Jurgen and he did it quickly, expertly and at a very fair price.

We have to support folks this way.

And yes, I was young and tactless. I've been thrown out of some very good places in my time: Harry's Bar (Venice, twice), Monte Carlo, and others. I usually just say to myself, "I've been thrown out of better places." But when we were asked to leave St. Paul's Cathedral in London (a prayer service was in progress and they didn't want visitors), I realized that it was the very best place I'd ever been thrown out of.

[Roger Hicks]

We're probably of like mind, Roger. I am now frequenting vendors who are known to me, local, or have helped me make decisions about photographic gear. It just isn't fair to benefit from someone's expertise (like, reading CameraQuest pages) and then buy elsewhere at the lowest mail order price.

We are indeed of like mind -- and thanks for the wonderful and highly amusing stories. Makes me realize what a sheltered life I've led! Harry's Bar is one thing: it's TWICE that has the touch of class. And the last sentence is priceless.

Cheers,

R.

[oscroft]

I have nothing but praise for Mr Gandy myself. I've ordered a number of times from him (for delivery to the UK), and he has always been helpful and efficient - it's never taken more than a week for overseas delivery.

[kb244]

Course if I am not mistaken doesn't CQ have some kind of additional benefit to RF members who buy from there?

Though looks like I need to sell some more stuff as I *had* enough to buy new, but seeing as my wife's birthday is coming up in early feburary I decided to get her an early bday present so that I didn't shoot my own self in the foot when the beginning of feburary rolled around (2 weeks before "Look honey, I got a new super wide", 2 days before "erm... what to get, what to get" lol)

[kb244]

*double post of below*

[kb244]

We're probably of like mind, Roger. I am now frequenting vendors who are known to me, local, or have helped me make decisions about photographic gear. It just isn't fair to benefit from someone's expertise (like, reading CameraQuest pages) and then buy elsewhere at the lowest mail order price.


Hrm, I'd be lying if I said I didn't know what thats like. Working at "Camera Center" here in Grand Rapids for the past few years, and then now closing our doors for good ({moving strictly online, though I assume that means mostly ebay as I'll be the only remaining employee}), and the store been around since 1948. But its almost exactly as you described, people come in, pump us of information and advice, then leave to buy it at the cheapest available place.

It's unfortnate that my co-workers will no longer be working in a camera store, they are pretty much as you call it litterally the last old-style camera sales men.

[BillBingham2]

Photovillage is a wonderful place to deal with. I bought my first Bessa T there years ago. We are really lucky to have a great host and fine sponsors. Stephen is a world class guy to deal with and I've had great dealings with Popflash and PhotoVillage.

B2 (;->

[BillBingham2]

Commodities I go for the lowest price. But anything that I care about I go for a reasonable price and great service. I've come to the conclusion that if something goes wrong during the sale or after I have a lot less headaches. I want the folks I buy from to stay in business. I purchased some stuff from folks who were not best and paid the price in time and effort trying to get things right.

Markets change as does technology. I'm betting that EvilBay is a much better option than unemployment.

B2 (;->

[gb hill]

If your impatient about shipping then Camera Quest is the only way to go. I ordered a Bessa R from Stephen and it arrived at my home at N.C. in 3 or 4 days.

[kb244]

Markets change as does technology. I'm betting that EvilBay is a much better option than unemployment.

B2 (;->

:P Yea we don't particularly care for ebay even if we're the ones selling on it, their policies and decisions are very anti-seller as if theres no such thing as a bad buyer.

[polaski]

Roger, that's quite a compliment from a fellow who took a picture of several large blokes in a pub men's room.

[BillBingham2]

:P Yea we don't particularly care for ebay even if we're the ones selling on it, their policies and decisions are very anti-seller as if theres no such thing as a bad buyer.

PaynPal (pronounced Pain Pal) is IMHO even worse. I sold a Bessa T and a winder to a guy who was visiting from HK. PaynPal decided he was not who he was, never check with the credit card, just pulled the money out of my account and wanted to charge me a fee for it. They did reverse the fee after I found liveware (a human) to speak with. He jumped through multiple hooooops and all is well now, over a month later.

I could have bought a GR-D from EvilBay for about $125 less than I found one from PopFlash. I went with Tony at PopFlash. Not a question in my mind that his service, even if I do not ever need it is much better 99.9% of the rest out there.

B2 (;->

[Roger Hicks]

Roger, that's quite a compliment from a fellow who took a picture of several large blokes in a pub men's room.
That wasn't a pub, it was a beer festival.

Cheers,

R.

[polaski]

I was at Oktoberfest 1969, and if I had tried that I wouldn't have made it out of Munich alive. 'nuf said.

[kb244]

I was at Oktoberfest 1969, and if I had tried that I wouldn't have made it out of Munich alive. 'nuf said.

Well you might have made it out alive... the germans do have a sense of humor... sort of. ;)

[Roger Hicks]

I was at Oktoberfest 1969, and if I had tried that I wouldn't have made it out of Munich alive. 'nuf said.
All right. Perhaps my life hasn't been entirely sheltered. But it was a nice quiet beer festival in some inner-city docklands...

Cheers,

R.