Can you tell which flash is 5 years older?
So, I went to my local Penn Camera Store in the DC Metro area to buy a Canon 430EX II flash. Now those of you that already know me know that I’m a Nikon guy, but I did buy a Canon 50D a few months ago to get used to the other side. I wanted a 430EX flash because in my Part II workshop I will let participants try out an external flash on their DSLR and of course I can’t leave the Canon people out. I went in to knowing that the flash was $280 (at the time of writing) at B & H Photo, so if the price wasn’t too much more, I was going to purchase it. Turns out it was $310. Now Penn’s prices usually aren’t far off from the big mail order places, and I don’t mind paying a little bit extra for the instant gratification, but I figured for $30 less I would just order online and save some money…or so I thought.
Now, to show you how messed up my thinking is (I won’t speak for other photographers!), I went in to spend around $280, and it would really have been a shame to just walk out with a pocket full of money. So I did a quick loop around the store and didn’t see anything, so I did another loop (this time a little bit slower), and a Nikon SB-28 with a price tag of $90 caught my eye. If you’re not familiar, an SB-28 is a Nikon Speedlight (c.2004) which isn’t made anymore but still packs a punch. It won’t work in TTL mode on your DSLR, but use it in manual mode and you’d have a hard time distinguishing it from a $499 SB-900. If I’m shooting something fast paced, like a wedding, I’m in TTL most of the time, but when I’m setting up a more controlled shoot, or using it on a light stand in a studio setting, I’m in manual flash mode, so I can get consistent, exact exposure.
Unfortunately my Pocket Wizards won't multiply on their own.
At $90 the SB-28 was a total steal and, since I still had some leftover money, I ended up picking up another pocket wizard ($169), because you really can’t have too many of these…unless, of course, you ask my wife. When all was said and done, I had spent $273 and I still had to order the Canon 430EX II from B & H, but the warm fuzzy feeling I had walking out was priceless. Not only the feeling of seeing an old friend−an SB-28 like I had used when I owned an F5−but a powerful light and a pocket wizard for less than the price of a flash! One thing to keep in mind with pocket wizards is that you need two for them to work; one to transmit and one to receive. So if you’re starting from scratch, you need to buy two. Pocket wizards are like Lego pieces. One is useless, but buy some more, and you can build an empire!
The moral of the story is: don’t walk into a photo store unless you have a lot of willpower or a lot of money to burn on equipment. I’m working on the “a lot of money to burn” part, because the willpower part takes much, too much, work.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Soooo True… The people at the camera store often ask me why I come to the store like 5 mins before they are closing… With enough time I would probably credit half the damn store… I also have that same problem when I go to Lowes too… Went there one time to get a couple of thing which should have totaled about $30 or so… Got to the register… BAM $280!!! “WTH just happened!!??”… LOL
Yes, camera and hardware stores can be like kryptonite…but it pays to trade with local businesses, especially camera stores. I’ve shopped many a time at Penn and they’re fair with their pricing. And if you’re a regular customer, I’m sure they’ll be more competitive with their prices to compare with NY. I live in Vegas and strongly support out local pro-shop. (There is only one, Casey’s.) NY is worthless if you’re in a bind and need something NOW. Only the local business can help you. So trade with your local shops…and keep them in business so they will be here tomorrow and be able to help us when needed.
Sure…there are some things that I’ll buy through NY, but only if my local shop doesn’t carry it.
Remember the movie “You’ve Got Mail”. This could happen to your local camera store if everyone shopped NY instead. Not a good situation.
Why is it that photographers find buying gear so exciting? They’re gadget freaks. Don’t be takeinin with the “Better Gear Makes Better Pictures” impulse when buying. The SB 28 flash +Pocket wizard is a good example of buying a tremendously useful tools at a bargain price. Spend the money on training so you can learn more effective ways to use the tools, not the 400. flash that will work in a few AUTO modes, but won’t take you to the next level that the old flash, used off camera will take you. Right on Brother! SPread the word!
I don’t mind paying a little more at Penn since their service is so good. You can also negotiate with them a bit. I got my ColorMunki Photo for a nice little discount after I showed them how much cheaper it was at Amazon. So you could very likely have gotten some money off…especially if they know you are a repeat/regular customer.
NY is local for many of us, and I guess that means that B&H and Adorama are ‘local’ camera stores….Oh and trying to contain my shopping at my local B&H is virtually impossible….