EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS has arrived

[ditikolon]

OT ABIT BUT....

YEAH. I've never had a phonecall being answered before for JOHN 3:16. But if you observe them in business... they're absorbed with each and every customer, whether you buying a $10 screen protector, $15 blower or $1000++ 18-200 VR... maybe that explains it. Have high regard for their customer service. :thumbsup:


OT AGAIN BUT...

I think customer service and honest price quotation is very important by the way. It's way too easy nowadays for shops to ripoff newbies/ppl not informed about pricelists. Not everything can be found just by doing your homework you know... especially with variance in prices and unreliable forumers... Yeah, it's the customer's responsibility to recce prices but you can't deny that it takes two hands to clap and some shops really try to pull a fast one....

 

[ceecookie]

Alan Photo (Funan) tried to cheat my dad of $100.

Customer Service also damn bad....they dont give a damn for those who seems uncertain about buying from them...esp one middleaged assh0lebsmilie in the shop.

 

[GavinTing]

Alan Photo (Funan) tried to cheat my dad of $100.

Customer Service also damn bad....they dont give a damn for those who seems uncertain about buying from them...esp one middleaged assh0lebsmilie in the shop.

Alrite. I just bought this lens at APF yesterday.. I must say the service is not so good.. But I still got it for 360. However...

When I called it was 360. So i went down to try the lens, and after 30 mins of trying (im picky.. hehe), I got a quote, and was given 399. I immediately told the guy that I got 360 on the phone, and he said okay. Because they markup prices for people who walk in, because they enjoy the bargaining (I know it sound like crap, lols.) Anyway, moral of the story is, caveat emptor. Always make sure to call ahead, check prices, and be firm. I was ready to walk away if I didnt get 360 on the dot.

As for the lens, I must say it's pretty impressive. Testing in the shop was not so good because all the bright lights were confusing, but once I got home, shots in the afternoon sun were quite impressive and sharp =)

 

[kqkhlj]

Hi all

Went john 3:16 and cathay to try out on the lens this afternoon.

:cry:john 3:16: I tested 4 copies and non came in sharp at f4, 55mm.

:sweat:Was very disappointed and was wandering around for a while before finally trying another shop for the lens.

Cathay just near building: tested 3 lens and went away happily with one that has centre sharpness at f4, 55mm.

This wkend going to be very busy trying out the lens, will be heading to bukit panjang reservoir for some bird shots.:bsmilie::bsmilie:

er.... nearly forget, i bought it at 360 including gst.

 

[blurry80]

Hi all

Went john 3:16 and cathay to try out on the lens this afternoon.

:cry:john 3:16: I tested 4 copies and non came in sharp at f4, 55mm.

:sweat:Was very disappointed and was wandering around for a while before finally trying another shop for the lens.

Cathay just near building: tested 3 lens and went away happily with one that has centre sharpness at f4, 55mm.

This wkend going to be very busy trying out the lens, will be heading to bukit panjang reservoir for some bird shots.:bsmilie::bsmilie:

er.... nearly forget, i bought it at 360 including gst.

Did you review the shots at 100% with a laptop?

 

[kiwi2]

Hi all

Went john 3:16 and cathay to try out on the lens this afternoon.

:cry:john 3:16: I tested 4 copies and non came in sharp at f4, 55mm.

:sweat:Was very disappointed and was wandering around for a while before finally trying another shop for the lens.

Cathay just near building: tested 3 lens and went away happily with one that has centre sharpness at f4, 55mm.

This wkend going to be very busy trying out the lens, will be heading to bukit panjang reservoir for some bird shots.:bsmilie::bsmilie:

er.... nearly forget, i bought it at 360 including gst.

Wah piangz, no wonder I've seen got fingerprints on some of these lenses and the shop guys said" well, they are new!" Anyway, not saying it's you. It's your rights anyway...

No offence but I think sometimes it's a bit paranoia. I seriously doubt there could be so many lemons at one go. Canon QC would be big suspect then. Some people are definitely gonna buy those lenses anyway. Are they gonna get the lemons?

To test in shop under poor lighting, without tripod, and using the tiny camera LCD (3" is tiny compared to your 19" monitor) is difficult. Whichever lens you use, sometimes the focusing point "runs" or is not pinpoint accurate depending on how and what you shoot, so that could explain for the less than sharp images.

Anyway, I super OT here. Enjoy the lens!

 

[ditikolon]

Wah piangz, no wonder I've seen got fingerprints on some of these lenses and the shop guys said" well, they are new!" Anyway, not saying it's you. It's your rights anyway...

No offence but I think sometimes it's a bit paranoia. I seriously doubt there could be so many lemons at one go. Canon QC would be big suspect then. Some people are definitely gonna buy those lenses anyway. Are they gonna get the lemons?

To test in shop under poor lighting, without tripod, and using the tiny camera LCD (3" is tiny compared to your 19" monitor) is difficult. Whichever lens you use, sometimes the focusing point "runs" or is not pinpoint accurate depending on how and what you shoot, so that could explain for the less than sharp images.

Anyway, I super OT here. Enjoy the lens!

Don't think you're too far off, and honestly I have no idea how to test lens for sharpness using camera lcd. To me it doesn't really make sense, but ymmv.

 

[ctgkolay]

Hi all

Went john 3:16 and cathay to try out on the lens this afternoon.

:cry:john 3:16: I tested 4 copies and non came in sharp at f4, 55mm.

:sweat:Was very disappointed and was wandering around for a while before finally trying another shop for the lens.

Cathay just near building: tested 3 lens and went away happily with one that has centre sharpness at f4, 55mm.

This wkend going to be very busy trying out the lens, will be heading to bukit panjang reservoir for some bird shots.:bsmilie::bsmilie:

er.... nearly forget, i bought it at 360 including gst.

Did you buy it from Cathay? M or P? Anymore stock there?

 

[kqkhlj]

Here's how my test for lens goes: i shot in av mode, centre focus, starting from f4 to f11 @ 55mm for 4 lens with IS on and then magnified to max under the camera screen and do a comparsion.

i bought from cathay @ 360 with GST.

 

[kqkhlj]

Did you review the shots at 100% with a laptop?

no, but i max the screen and does a comparision and the magnified photo turned out to be soft.

i did the same in the other shop and was surprise by the sharpness of the lens.

 

[GavinTing]

no, but i max the screen and does a comparision and the magnified photo turned out to be soft.

i did the same in the other shop and was surprise by the sharpness of the lens.

Hmm... My lens not super sharp leh.. If I sent to canon to check, must pay anot?

 

[kqkhlj]

Hmm... My lens not super sharp leh.. If I sent to canon to check, must pay anot?

:kok::kok::kok::kok:

 

[djcoolmax]

Hmm... My lens not super sharp leh.. If I sent to canon to check, must pay anot?

From what I understand, you don't have to pay a thing.. IF it's under warranty (Canon SG or International).

 

[ctgkolay]

From CP-P, $375 incl GST. But Gd Service :thumbsup:

 

[keyuan]

Hmm.. i got a few lens and assories from AP(S). So far so good. Not much customer service, cause they are more interested in big buyers from other countries.

Anyway i got my 55-250 there at 360 without bargain. But after all its better to do homework before buying. e.g. MS selling at 399, so i would not buy that lens from there no matter how good is their customer service.

 

[vinlow]

Just bought my 55-250 from MS (AMK Hub branch) yesterday at $350. I called up MS (Blk 711 branch) 2 days ago and was quoted $399 by Florence then redeuced to $380 because I was a regular. After I told her CP selling at $360, she acting acting check with her staff and come back to say latest promotion price now $360. When I walk in to MS at AMK Hub yesterday, the sales guy there told me price is $350.

The above was not first time she tried to charge me higher. Was once quoted $158 for a Benro A057. After I told her CP quoted me $128 then she match CP's price. Service wise, they're not bad. But better check price before go to MS. I repeatly go MS simply because I live in AMK.

 

[SENSE]

Alan Photo (Funan) tried to cheat my dad of $100.

Customer Service also damn bad....they dont give a damn for those who seems uncertain about buying from them...esp one middleaged assh0lebsmilie in the shop.

I agree with you bro,.I did have some experience of overprcing at Alan Photo. Service is damn louzy.I wondering why some people recommend this shop. I have blacklisted this shop Not like Cathy Photo. I feel very comfortable to buy at Cathy Photo even though sometimes the pirce is $10~$20 higher than other shops. I dun mind paying that since having peace of mind.

 

[boogle]

In case anyone is still considering whether to get this lens and wants more sample pics.. I took my copy out for a trial recently. Just managed to upload to flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10095816@N08/sets/72157603830910805/

I'm happy with the performance considering the price. Surprisingly, it does quite well for closeup shots of flowers. I like the bokeh as well.

 

[ditikolon]

In case anyone is still considering whether to get this lens and wants more sample pics.. I took my copy out for a trial recently. Just managed to upload to flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10095816@N08/sets/72157603830910805/

I'm happy with the performance considering the price. Surprisingly, it does quite well for closeup shots of flowers. I like the bokeh as well.

Thanks for your review! I think I'm getting this lens. I was originally going to get 70-200 f4/L but it starts a bit too long for my crop body and I'd appreciate the IS on this thing! (and can slowly save the money for 17-40 f/4L)

I thought 1 or 2 of the flower shots were a bit soft... but most other shots had good sharpness I feel. Especially considering the price! I agree with you on bokeh though, its decent.

It'd be nice if you took some portraits at 55mm (wide open), 85mm, 100mm and 135mm... just to see if it can be used as a portrait lens!

 

[xxpmrong]

just got this! 360 from OP. at 250mm, now I can see the effects of IS

doesnt it really come with the hood? is a hood really needed?