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Testing a Lens In a Store?


5 years 2 months ago #629531 by Conner
When is the last time you tested a lens in an actual store?  Man do we all buy now just from assumptions or what we read?  I'm shopping for some new glass right now and just realized, all my lenses from the past few years were purchased with out even touching the lens first. 

So, the birth of this question, do you still go into a store to test a lens before you buy?

If not, what was the last lens you did that? 
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5 years 2 months ago #629550 by Nikon Shooter
I always buy by the local photo store. I am well known there now
and I can take anything to the studio prior to purchase.
Light is free… capturing it is not!
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5 years 2 months ago #629593 by garyrhook
When I began my search for a superwide, I was fortunate enough to attend Imaging USA in San Antonio, where the Tamron folks would let you use lenses. So I got to compare a Tamson 15-30 against a Sigma (I forget which). The Tamron won for me. Now that I know enough about what lenses can do, and what compromises are required, I mostly buy long distance. It's worked out so far.
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5 years 2 months ago #629597 by GaryA
When I moved to Fuji, nearly all of my stuff has been purchased through a single brick & mortar store.  They give me very good pricing (B&H prices), wonderful service and I give them a lot of guff. 
There are photographs everywhere. It is the call of photographers to see and capture those images.
www: garyayala.com
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5 years 2 months ago #629612 by Frost Photography
When I have time, Pauls Photo or Samy's out here.  Other than those, nope.  
"The quickest way to make money at photography is to sell your camera."
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5 years 2 months ago #629688 by KCook
Even though I am in a big city, my local stores simply do not have that wide a variety of lenses. So I try to rent (Lensrentals) before buying. But most of the time I just take my chances.

Kelly
Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/
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5 years 2 months ago #629861 by Nikon Shooter

KCook wrote: …most of the time I just take my chances. Kelly



… I would not take any risks… to many bad experiences.
Light is free… capturing it is not!
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5 years 2 months ago #629866 by GaryA

Nikon Shooter wrote:

KCook wrote: …most of the time I just take my chances. Kelly



… I would not take any risks… to many bad experiences.


Which is interesting because, over the decades I've been shooting, I've never returned any newly acquired equipment. 
There are photographs everywhere. It is the call of photographers to see and capture those images.
www: garyayala.com
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5 years 2 months ago #629879 by Nikon Shooter

GaryA wrote: Which is interesting because, over the decades I've been shooting, I've never returned any newly acquired equipment. 


When I buy gear, it is for life and I'm just hard to please possibly.
Light is free… capturing it is not!
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5 years 2 months ago #629937 by Ted Baker
Not in some time, I order from B&H or Amazon and that's it. 
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5 years 2 months ago #630249 by Sassy Girl
Not since I bought my first camera!  
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5 years 2 months ago #630349 by Tony Imaging
Here I go to OC Camera, Pauls Photo or Samy's to test out new gear. 
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5 years 2 months ago #630354 by the four vignettes
Generally, if it's used it's off of eBay, so no trying before buying.  If it's new, I'll do the normal research before buying, then go in the store and take some test shots and see if I can reproduce what the reviews and research said should happen.  Then if I still want the new lens, I go in and buy it.  I'm lucky to live near Precision Camera though 
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5 years 2 months ago #630379 by Glen Martin
When ever I have the time.  Time being the tricky part these days!
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5 years 2 months ago #630483 by Deb Reardon
So few stores are around these days, with the exception of NY and California, most center states don't have big camera store options anymore?

BestBuy, but that is all mostly super consumer right? 
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