Evening all,
I want to buy a Pentax DA55-300mm lens. The cheapest I can find locally here in Edmonton is London Drugs for $399.99.
Is there a Canadian store that would ship inter provincially ?
Is it safe to buy on line?
Do you actually save when buying from the U.S after shipping costs and duty?

Thanks for your help

Have a good night.

Is there a Canadian store that would ship inter provincially ?

Most stores will ship interprovincially.

Is it safe to buy on line?

We purchase online all the time, everything from software to consumables (paper & ink) to camera & computer gear. As long as you deal with individuals & businesses that are reputable there should be few issues.

Do you actually save when buying from the U.S after shipping costs and duty?

Depending on the item, you can. We've saved anywhere from $500-$1000 on good used lenses coming up from the US over Canadian prices. Of course, being an hour from the border & importing the gear myself also helps.

I'm not a penny pincher. For 50 bucks either way it's not worth my time to quibble. However, once you get into the big dollar stuff it may be worth it.

Henry's - Canada's Digital Camera Centre - Shop for Digital SLR Cameras, Digital Cameras, and Video Cameras (http://www.henrys.ca/default.aspx)

http://www.vistek.ca/

Welcome to Camera Canada - Canada's dot.com for Cameras (http://www.cameracanada.com/)

Camera Canada seems to be always cheaper. I don't know of London Drugs, don't think there is one in the GTA, and the name throws me off. Why would I think of buying electronics from a drug store.

Simon's Cameras (http://simonscameras.com/)?

Simon's Cameras (http://simonscameras.com/)?

I have gone to that website also to price match with Henry's. I usually use Canada Camera and Simons, and then go to local Henry store to price match.

I like this site:
Photography, Digital Camera, Lens Price Comparisons for Canada - photoprice.ca (http://www.photoprice.ca)

It gives you comparisons and full price (shipping included) for the product you choose. And it's kept up-to-date.

I have gone to that website also to price match with Henry's. I usually use Canada Camera and Simons, and then go to local Henry store to price match.

Last time I tried to price match with Henry's, they said they had to factor in the cost of shipping and since Simon's was out of province, I saved provincial sales tax at the time. I bought from Simon's...

I like this site:
Photography, Digital Camera, Lens Price Comparisons for Canada - photoprice.ca (http://www.photoprice.ca)

It gives you comparisons and full price (shipping included) for the product you choose. And it's kept up-to-date.

Perfect!

You just got a big thumbs up from me...thanks.

Last time I tried to price match with Henry's, they said they had to factor in the cost of shipping and since Simon's was out of province, I saved provincial sales tax at the time. I bought from Simon's...

The one in Newmarket? Thats where I buy my stuff from and they never said that to me.

I like this site:
Photography, Digital Camera, Lens Price Comparisons for Canada - photoprice.ca (http://www.photoprice.ca)

It gives you comparisons and full price (shipping included) for the product you choose. And it's kept up-to-date.

Yep thats a good one to.

Just another option, this company used to advertise on ehMac.ca and I heard good things about them. A place to rent a lens you need from Lens Lenders (http://www.lenslenders.ca/).

Say you really want a Canon 300mm 2.8.. maybe to use for just a week for an event or vacation, or you just want to try it for a week before you fork over $5000 (http://www.henrys.ca/345-CANON-EF-300MM-F2-8-L-IS-USM.aspx). You can rent one for $199 for a week (http://www.lenslenders.ca/rent_details.php?sku=C300F28LUSMIS).

http://www.lenslenders.ca/images/C300F28LUSMIS/C300F28LUSMIS_1.jpg

Just another option, this company used to advertise on ehMac.ca and I heard good things about them. A place to rent a lens you need from Lens Lenders (http://www.lenslenders.ca/).

Say you really want a Canon 300mm 2.8.. maybe to use for just a week for an event or vacation, or you just want to try it for a week before you fork over $5000 (http://www.henrys.ca/345-CANON-EF-300MM-F2-8-L-IS-USM.aspx). You can rent one for $199 for a week (http://www.lenslenders.ca/rent_details.php?sku=C300F28LUSMIS).

http://www.lenslenders.ca/images/C300F28LUSMIS/C300F28LUSMIS_1.jpg

Awesome, thanks for the link.

The one in Newmarket? Thats where I buy my stuff from and they never said that to me.

Yeah, the one in Newmarket. I guess I had an ornery salesperson.

Another rental place is Rentals Headshots rentals pro photography and video (http://www.headshotsrentals.com/Rentals.aspx)

I live in Winnipeg, and I've purchased a lense and a flash from B&H Photo in New York this year. After all was said and done I saved over $200, over the very lowest price Henry's (here in Winnipeg) would go. As for camera bodies, the pricing is about the same in the USA, but lenses seem to go for less.
Otherwise Henry's will give you further discounts, if you ask.