where to get long lenses

[Naturenutz]

Can anyone give any advice on where to get a long lens eg 500 or 600mm fixed focal nikon.
Ive bought my previous lenses at my local jessops because of peace of mind but they do not stock the long lenses although they can order them in. I would prefer somewhere i can look at them before i decide wether to take the plunge in the future.I am near bristol.
cheers for any replies.
vic

[Meta menardi]

I think you have highlighted a problem with so much shopping these days. I went to my local camera shop, similar to yours, to get a look at a Canon G12, they could order one but could not answer any questions. Bought a G12, went to see if they had a soft case for it, they didn't (by now not surprised), they could order one of two that they had listed as stock. No pictures available, no knowledge of what each one offered. So I looked on't net, pictures, descriptions, return if not happy, delivered in 2 days. What would you do? I am putting young people in the nearest town out of work, because stores can't get things sorted out enough to be able to say, we can match online stores, get the stuff, tell you what is what. Don't say it can't be done, a 2 seat booth where you can talk to the staff and see the product, order it on-line with them and go home and get it in 2 days, that would work. The staff are currently waiting for someone to come in, the shelves have 5 models of 2 makes of camera, the wages are ticking up.

I could go on for ages (I can produce signed affidavits that I can), but high strret stores need to get themslves sorted better than they are now, or we will be looking at buying everything of 't net.

And relax, and breath deeply.

I may have spelt afidavits wrong, darn how do you spell it?

[rogpow]

Originally Posted by Naturenutz

Can anyone give any advice on where to get a long lens eg 500 or 600mm fixed focal nikon.
Ive bought my previous lenses at my local jessops because of peace of mind but they do not stock the long lenses although they can order them in. I would prefer somewhere i can look at them before i decide wether to take the plunge in the future.I am near bristol.
cheers for any replies.
vic

How about London Camera Exchange? According to their website the Bath branch is a Nikon Pro Centre. My local branch (Southampton) is a Canon Pro Centre and stocks Canon big glass, so maybe Bath does the same with Nikon lenses. Worth a phone call.

Rog

[Oy]

Calumet have a branch in Bristol (Google it) and usually stock the big glass.

[Naturenutz]

Thanks for all the advice . ill look into things

[wizzo]

Naturenutz. There always used to be a place, quite near Bristol city centre, where they hire out the big pro lenses. As Oy says, Calumet might be the way to go. Not sure if that's the name of the place I was thinking of? Wizzo

[cosmicma]

have you tried bristol cameras ?
they seem to hold quite a lot of stock