New owner of the *istDL

[southernoise]

Bought one today, i'm in Australia, BTW. Total was A$1060, with the Sigma kit lens (18-55mm) and a Sigma 55 - 200mm lens, UV filters and a crumpler bag... considering the exchange rate is about 1.20, the cost is prob S$1272...

One Question, What kinda batteries do you use with your cams?

I'm using the regular Sanyo 2500ma.

How are the Sigma lens?

 

[eugtay]

I'm using the regular Sanyo 2500ma.

How are the Sigma lens?

the sigma lenses are pretty heavy, very solid feel. I compared them to the tamrons on offer, comapred to the sigmas, the tamroms felt plasticky and were about 75% the weight of the comparative sigma. Apparently the dealers don't carry Pentax lenses here, so i can only compare them with the sigmas when i get back home.

 

[cheekeen]

Wah... S$1272 includes so many things! :thumbsup:

Cheaper by 10% if claim tax rebate before leaving Australia. Wonder if got international warranty ?

 

[alanswan]

Seeing no point in starting another thread, I decided to hijack this a bit....

Been in the Pentax camp since I started photography > 10years ago.
But today, I just boarded the *ist ship! ;p

And now, to find a nice way to break the news to my missus... :sweat:

 

[galacticnick]

has the price by any chance, however slim, dropped further?

 

[southernoise]

hijack all you want. heh heh...

Love the *istDL but I've miss out some monkey shots at Bukit Timah due to the slow AF. But then it could also be my lack of skills.

 

[alanswan]

has the price by any chance, however slim, dropped further?

Unfortunately, it has gone the other way...
Up.... Due to low stock levels maybe?
Funan Alan Photo quoted me $980 last week but $996+ at Sim Lim today...
Though I managed to haggle down to $975 at Bally Photo.
Warning about Bally Photo though...
My friend got chopped by them...
Cir-Polarizer at $100+ and 30D came with brandless strap.

 

[eugtay]

goodness! but will the local agent honour the warranty here when you come back?
or is it a simple case of needing the receipt + internationl warranty card to get support?

Not too sure abt the international warranty, but i must add that i'm not too fussed as i'm going to be in australia for the next 2 yrs, so if and/or when i come back, the warranty would have expired anyway.

And i took the DL back to the shop and traded it up for a DL2, that was another A$100. total spent was A$1160, about S$1390.

And Regarding the GST, there's a 10% refund if you leave the country within 30 days of purchase.

 

[southernoise]

Unfortunately, it has gone the other way...
Up.... Due to low stock levels maybe?
Funan Alan Photo quoted me $980 last week but $996+ at Sim Lim today...
Though I managed to haggle down to $975 at Bally Photo.
Warning about Bally Photo though...
My friend got chopped by them...
Cir-Polarizer at $100+ and 30D came with brandless strap.

have you bought the DL already? Got mine at MS Color for 960 inclusive of GST. You may wanna email them for an equote.

 

[hazmee]

Hey geng.... so cheap la. I thinking of getting one myself. Hehehe

 

[alanswan]

have you bought the DL already? Got mine at MS Color for 960 inclusive of GST. You may wanna email them for an equote.

Damn... Got it already. :cry:
Came with a bag though....
Anyway, gotta get a filter for my lens.
Thought I had a spare, but it turned out to be 58mm, not 52...

 

[airconvent]

mm.so prices have remained stable actually, i.e $960-$980 range which is lower than the pc show price of $999. anyone want to upgrade to the dark side (eg Ca***, Ni***).
I looking to buy a second hand istDL for around $700...heh heh

 

[southernoise]

Hey geng.... so cheap la. I thinking of getting one myself. Hehehe

hahaha... geng... you have more than enough! shoo shoo C*n*n user!! :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

 

[richx]

As far as I know, Shriro in Singapore and Malaysia will honour warranty on Pentax items from most countries. Most importantly it has to be private purchase, so a receipt as proof of purchase is a must. (Apparently)

 

[airconvent]

its already May and yet I still see no Pentax adverts for the major retailers like HN, Best, Big and Courts....the sooner they start stocking, the sooner they start their advertising blitz, the more sets you will see in the wild..heh heh wonder when that will happen?

 

[CY_OH]

I thought these major retailers don't sell Pentax DSLRs. Courts don't sell Pentax and the others only carry P&S.

 

[airconvent]

most of the retailers do stock 350D and D50/70s....so that should not be the reason why they do not stock the Pentax.
I can hazard a guess here:
Canon's prices are high compared with the rest of the world. One can only assume the profit margin for them and their retailers are high. The Pentax, being generally less than $1000 means the margin may not be attractive enough for the retailers to bite...?

 

[zoomzoomzoom]

Just to update prices, Alan Photo Funan has both *istDL ($980) and *istDL2 ($1280), one piece each with standard kit lens and 1G SD card.

 

[airconvent]

yes..they do have stock but not HN, Best, Big, etc. These are the main "high visibility" outlets for majority of non-CS buyers...

 

[tao]

Just to update prices, Alan Photo Funan has both *istDL ($980) and *istDL2 ($1280), one piece each with standard kit lens and 1G SD card.

Guys, what are the REAL differences between istDL and DL2? Any performance and image quality difference?