Is $635 + $31.75 (GST) a good deal for Canon IXUS 800 IS?

[paulprodiver]

Hi people, I’ve wrote to MS Color Service Ang Mo Kio and Alan Photo regarding the price for Canon IXUS 800 IS, and got the quotation back from MS Color Service only. They quoted me for $635 for the camera only and on top of that I need to add $31.75 for 5% GST. I’ll get free 512mb card, digital kit bag (inside have mini tripod, cleaning kit and a bag), shop & win lucky draw. If I want Canon Leather Pouch is optional at $25,OEM battery is selling at $25.Underwater case is selling at $285.

My questions are, is this a good deal? And should the price $635 already included the GST? Or, it is always quoted without the GST?

I've already tested this camera and loving it . So, it would be great if anyone can point me to the right shop which have the best deal.

Cheers,

Paul

 

[dejected]

ms usually quotes without GST

 

[paulprodiver]

Ok. If that's the case, then do you think $635 + 31.75 = $666.75 is a good price?

 

[jdredd]

its in the ballpark for a good price (harvey norman quoted me 750) , but its definitely not the "best" price u can get from MS.

but thats usual i guess for email queries. if you go down and speak to florence , say you are froom CS, should be able to get it for a little bit less than that..

 

[davsmiths]

$666 is a nice price. Good one too.
Maybe you would like to get a quote from Cathay Photo and TK Foto.

 

[mpenza]

think price is pretty good

 

[paulprodiver]

Thanks for the reply guys. It is good to know that priced quoted is a "good price" . I'll write to Cathay Photo and TK Foto later and see whether they can do better than MS Color.

How about the price for the following items, do you think it is also a good price?
* $666 for 512mb card, digital kit bag (inside have mini tripod, cleaning kit and a bag), shop & win lucky draw.
* Canon Leather Pouch is optional at $25,
* OEM battery is selling at $25.
* Underwater case is selling at $285.

Anyone know how much is it to upgrade from 512mb to 1G SD card? And is the OEM battery for this camera any good?

Paul

 

[mpenza]

believe the SD card is from Canon, so you can't upgrade at the shop. anyway, SD cards are pretty cheap now, with 2GB going for less than $100.

 

[tks]

I was quoted $660 inclusive of GST for the camera by Alan Photo. Try to go for this price and let us know.

The free gifts (512MB card, digital kit bag etc) are all standard gifts from Canon. You should be entitled to all of them F.O.C. whatever price you pay. Don't get yourself confused by including them in your consideration.

I suggest you just take the free card and take your time to buy your 1GB or 2GB card. They cost less than $50 for 1GB and less than $100 for 2GB for the highest speed (133x) cards. Some shops may offer an upgrade to you but you end up paying a lot or you don't get a good deal.

OEM batteries are acceptable. I have used them for my previous Ixus. Not sure about the price. $25 should be about there.

Take your time to choose your camera pouch. I personally do not like those Canon leather pouches. You may be able to find a better cloth or other material pouch from Canon or Lowe Pro or some other maker at a cheaper price. But it's your choice.

My advice to you on the underwater case - are you really going to use it? If you do diving etc., then I guess it is ok. But if not, then you may find it a costly expenditure that you will use less than 5 times. That was what happened to my S1 IS case. The underwater pictures are excellent. Unfortunately, the camera in case is terrible out of water. And the camera in case out of water does not capture sounds in videos. And the whole thing, while very well built, is kind of bulky to carry everywhere.

 

[paulprodiver]

Hey guys, thanks you for all your reply, I really appreciate that. As for the SD card, I think I’ll shop around in Sim Lim for the best deal. Or maybe someone from here can point me to the right place to save me some time.

Now, about the underwater housing, I use it all the time for my own dive trip and when I’m teaching my dive courses. I’m PADI diving instructors who use the camera as part of my teaching tool, especially for the beginner to learn the proper finning skill and “fin pivot” part. For those who learn diving before will find it beneficial if they can actually see how themselves move while doing this skill. :thumbsup:

Once again, thanks you so much for your valuable reply.

Cheers,

Paul

 

[jdredd]

ooh dive isntructor? heh cool. always looking for lobang for diving. been thinking of going for advanced.

 

[paulprodiver]

Yes jdredd, you should go get your advanced open water diver license. Why do you want to limit yourself to day dive at 18m (60ft) and above, when you can have the choice experience much more at night and explore some nice ship wreck beyond 18m.

Cheers,

Paul

 

[tks]

Hi Paul,

Sorry, I did not see that you are "prodiver"!! In that case, the underwater case is wonderful. Get the original Canon one. I used one for my Ixus V3 and it was great.

As for SD cards, I recommend the 133x Lexar Pro 2GB which comes with a SD card reader. Only $99 from East Gear, Peninsular Plaza. Or you can get the 120x 2GB Kingston Ultimate SD from Active Foto or Best Bargain, Sim Lim. Should be slightly cheaper. No card reader.

 

[paulprodiver]

Hey tks, I was also using a IXUS V3 camera and its underwater housing from Canon before the sensor problem shows up:cry:. I just sent my camera V3 to be fix and now thinking to get something to upgrade from my old V3.

I recently bought myself a Nikon D200 and a 105mm vr lens, so I'm thinking to use my IXUS 800 IS video mode for my dive course and as my main underwater camera for the moment until I save enough to get myself a sea and sea housing + port + arm + strobe for the Nikon D200 which should be sometime in June or July next year.

As for my old V3 (hopefully Canon can fix it), I might use it as a rental set when I teach Underwater Photography course in the future.

Cheers,

Paul

 

[Henessy]

Hey tks, I was also using a IXUS V3 camera and its underwater housing from Canon before the sensor problem shows up:cry:. I just sent my camera V3 to be fix and now thinking to get something to upgrade from my old V3.

I recently bought myself a Nikon D200 and a 105mm vr lens, so I'm thinking to use my IXUS 800 IS video mode for my dive course and as my main underwater camera for the moment until I save enough to get myself a sea and sea housing + port + arm + strobe for the Nikon D200 which should be sometime in June or July next year.

As for my old V3 (hopefully Canon can fix it), I might use it as a rental set when I teach Underwater Photography course in the future.

Cheers,

Paul

Did canon load you a camera when you send in your v3 for repair?

If yes, most likely they will tell you that they are unable to repair the v3 and you may keep the loan camera, sometime later.

 

[tks]

As for my old V3 (hopefully Canon can fix it), I might use it as a rental set when I teach Underwater Photography course in the future.

Cheers,

Paul

Bad news. Canon is unlikely to be able to repair it. No more spare sparts.
Good news. You will get a new camera. At least, that is what happened to many people.

Hold your purchase of 800IS.

 

[paulprodiver]

Thanks guys. I'm still waiting for Canon's reply regarding this matter. I'll let you guys know how it turn out.

Cheers,

Paul

 

[davsmiths]

Do consider the Fujifilm F30 because the images from the CCD is fantastic even with high ISO.
ISO 100 - 800 all usable unlike my S3 which i will only venture to ISO 200.

 

[camdude2003]

Hi all, is 660 still a good price for this camera? I'm thinking of getting the camera today in time for some event next week. Thanks!

 

[Blur Shadow]

Yes. I think we've generally agreed that this is an attractive price.