Great price on the lens and free chop sticks!

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

05/01/2013 10:40:02 PM · #1

I've been considering purchasing the Panasonic 35-100mm 2.8 for Micro 4/3 for some time. I really like the Panasonic 12-35mm 2.8 in the same series.

The lens is pretty pricy, it goes for $1399 from all the usual suspects. I am going to Yosemite this month so I was really wanting to get this lens.

As I was looking on Amazon I saw some listings for less than $1100.00. All of them were shipped from stores in Japan and most had only 1 or 2 seller reviews. There was one seller that had over 100 seller reviews with a solid 5 star rating. That means that every one that rated them gave them 5 out of 5 stars. Every single one.

The lens was listed at $1085.00 including shipping. The only catch is that the warranty is for Japan only. Seeing as the price was much lower than any used price I'd seen, and it was new in the box with all the accessories, I decided to go for it.

I ordered the lens this past Thursday. I got the order confirmation the next day, the tracking number the day after that. USPS tried to deliver the lens yesterday, but I wasn't home to sign for it. I picked it up at the post office today.

The lens was ordered, shipped, cleared US customs, and delivered in less than 5 days.

It came neatly packed with a hand written thank you note and a free pair of some fancy looking chop sticks.

This has to be one of the most pleasant buying experiences I've ever had, saved over $300, and delivery was wicked fast.

And I got some nice chop sticks.

Just though I'd share! ;-)

mariahdc

Canon EOS-50D

05/01/2013 11:00:00 PM · #2

Great story. So how's the lens?

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/01/2013 11:03:18 PM · #3

I've always wondered about how the imports work--so you didn't have to pay excise tax on top of the price?

Glad to hear it worked out and thanks for sharing!

05/02/2013 08:58:40 AM · #4

Originally posted by mariahdc:

Great story. So how's the lens?

I haven't shot with it yet, but everything looks good so far. I will take it out this weekend for some test shots.

Very compact, doesn't change sizes as it zooms. Nice fit on the Olympus OM-D, weather sealed.

If you're not familiar with m4/3, this is the equivalent of a 70-200 2.8 on a full frame sensor, but of course much smaller and lighter.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

05/02/2013 09:02:53 AM · #5

Originally posted by Neil:

I've always wondered about how the imports work--so you didn't have to pay excise tax on top of the price?

Glad to hear it worked out and thanks for sharing!

I don't quite understand it either. With the tracking, I could follow from Japan, through customs, and through the USPS system to my door.

It was listed as a new camera lens with a value of $1085. So, nothing covert with the declarations.

The store in Japan is listed as ASUKA.

Also, I purchased it through my Amazon account.

It all seems very legit.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

05/02/2013 09:05:42 AM · #6

Originally posted by scarbrd:

If you're not familiar with m4/3, this is the equivalent of a 70-200 2.8 on a full frame sensor, but of course much smaller and lighter.

More like 70-200mm f/4 actually, as far as wide-open DOF is concerned.

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

05/02/2013 09:20:55 AM · #7

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by scarbrd:
If you're not familiar with m4/3, this is the equivalent of a 70-200 2.8 on a full frame sensor, but of course much smaller and lighter.

More like 70-200mm f/4 actually, as far as wide-open DOF is concerned.

yes, you are correct on the DOF, but for exposure purposes, it's F2.8.

Also, it's like the L Canons lenses or the ED Nikons in that it's designed to be shot wide open with good sharpness at F2.8. Not to mention the constant F-stop throughout the zoom range. It's priced as such, too.

Ann

Olympus OM-D E-M1

05/02/2013 12:22:12 PM · #8

Originally posted by scarbrd:

Originally posted by Neil:
I've always wondered about how the imports work--so you didn't have to pay excise tax on top of the price?

Glad to hear it worked out and thanks for sharing!

I don't quite understand it either. With the tracking, I could follow from Japan, through customs, and through the USPS system to my door.

It was listed as a new camera lens with a value of $1085. So, nothing covert with the declarations.

The store in Japan is listed as ASUKA.

Also, I purchased it through my Amazon account.

It all seems very legit.

A few years back, I bought a $1000 piccolo from Australia. Yes, a small, flutelike musical instrument. That kind of piccolo. Don't laugh. Anyway, a couple of weeks after it was delivered I got a $50 bill from UPS for the import duties. The bill caught me off guard, but it was still worth it, because the piccolo would have cost me $1400 here, and I was eventually able to sell a year-old, used piccolo for more than what I originally paid.

bohemka

Nikon D700

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon

05/02/2013 12:33:34 PM · #9

Photo of the chopsticks, please.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/02/2013 12:55:19 PM · #10

Originally posted by bohemka:

Photo of the chopsticks, please.

... taken with the new lens. :-)