Your opinion please?

ok, thanks for that. I'll get the camera first and take it from there.

 

What do you think of this, even with import duties, it should still be less than £300.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121200015700?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

 

I've always been too scared to buy anything costing more than around £30 from Hong Kong ore China, having been frightened off by stuff like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/Buying-Di...-Kong-with-Warranty-/10000000015252181/g.html and http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/Buying-Camera-Equipment-from-the-Far-East-/10000000004247922/g.html and http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/buying.htm

This site http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-import-duty-and-tax-calculation/ calculates the potential liability for duty/VAT on that lens from Hong Kong as


If even buying a new lens from Scotland for £279 incl P&P I'd check out if at was a grey import, had English manuals, UK plugs, etc., could be registered for warranty purposes and I'd thoroughly check out the seller http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141055158190?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

 

Well that's quite an education I've had this morning, thank you Scrungee! I have emailed the Scottish guy, let's see what comes back.

 

@Yvonne Donnellon Don't forget to tag Steve R for an opinion before hitting the Buy Now button.

I've since read lots of good reports for 'Flash Camera' (Ian Kerso), mainly on 'birdie' forums. As I'll be passing very close by when I go to Scotland in April I'll be checking out a price for one of these collected in person 75-300mm zoom (150 - 600 equivalent on micro 4/3 cameras) and it can be my birthday present.

 

Me too having an Olympus OMD EM5 plus a Pen EPM1.

@ARMANDII I threw IS into this as YD was interested in telephoto shots

 

Yvonne......just a word of warning. If you decide to buy from Curry's their after sales service is pretty rubbish should something go wrong. That is with all items not just camera equipment.

 

I bought just this today - I will get familiar with the actual camera before I buy the telephoto lense. fingers crossed that the Marsh Harrier doesn't appear just out of reach in the near future! :-)
http://www.johnlewis.com/canon-eos-...-720p-12-2-mp-2-7-lcd-screen-black/p231212774

I do appreciate all the input here, I have wanted to take up photography as a more serious hobby for years, ever since I learnt to develop my own photos in a dark room when I was 16.

Now I have the dog I get out and about more than ever and often see wildlife I would like to capture. I have even got to know some of the local twitchers who are only too happy to point out the best viewing sites and with bird identification. A guy living close to me frequents the same wetlands etc and it's his photos which has given me the push to treat myself to a new camera.
Check these out, absolutely stunning!
http://www.stevewardnature.co.uk/bl...lancashire-walks-wildlife-birds-of-prey-issue

 

We could all do with a Scrungee In our wallets ! super cost saving breakdown !

 

Not a Marsh Harrier, but a few weeks ago I alerted a sleepy Mrs Scrungee to a bird flying across the road in time for her to see a Hen Harrier about a metre away as it took off from the roadside verge.

 

super smashing great !!!!! :-)

 

Here's my tuppence worth, just to complicate things.

Be very, very wary about buying from Ebay sellers in China. Quite apart from the import duties, you'll have little come-back in the case of faults. Also beware that some Ebay sellers purport to be in the UK but are in China.

Don't rush to get your paws on a nice long lens. Get used to your new camera first and do some extensive homework reading reviews on the web before you decide on the lens that will best suit your aspirations, and pocket. If you make a wrong decision you'll end up regretting it.

Don't rule out second-hand lenses - if you take your time and watch Ebay you'll find some genuine bargains at round about half the original price. I sold a *70-300 in pristine condition a couple of years ago for a bit more than half what I'd paid a couple of years previously.

Photo > *EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM @ 120mm. ISO 800 Canon 450D