Yo!!!! :woot:

Can anyone tell me if they´ve ever seen the following lens:

Nikon/Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX

Does it even exist??? I ordered me one in april, that´s like 5 months ago!!!! And i ordered it from a total of 7 stores.....and they all put me on their "waiting-list". So a few days ago i started mailing those stores to see if i had moved up on those lists or not....and there´s still 200 people ahead of me in line. 200 PEOPLE!!!! AAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!! :m_whine:

So i thought...."fine...i´ll just look elsewhere" And i´ve been searching all across Europe ever since, but every online-store seems to be backordered. I´d order it from USA or Hong Kong in a heartbeat if i didn´t have to pay such ridicilous customs-fees and taxes. Kort....you know what i´m talking about.

And yes....this rant has a purpose. I wanted to know if any of you kind people know of a place from where i could order this lens? If you´ve seen it in a local photostore or something.

First test for ya Coord-Kort....last time i put up a thread like this, it got deleted. So what are ya gonna do? Huh huh? LOL. :tt2:

Thanks!!!!! Have a great weekend everyone!!!!! :m_wave:

http://www.bestpricecameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=521379

http://www.bizrate.com/cameraaccessories/pid379197935/compareprices.html

http://www.nextag.com/Nikon-Nikkor-Zoom-Wide-84415882/prices-html

http://www.amazon.com/gp/explorer/B000BY52NU/2/ref=pd_lpo_ase/104-0717256-8735117?ie=UTF8

You may find your local camera shop may help you Andreas as opposed to online?

I always use the same offline shop and must say,  their service to me has been 100 per cent....right Dan?

Just a thought

Thank you Akemi, but like i said....i can´t order anything from outside of the European Union or i will get smacked big time with taxes and customs-fees. If something costs $800 in the USA for instance...by the time i get it, it will have costed me $1100-1200. :sad: Thanks for the effort though, i really appriciate it.  I know...i know....i should have directed my question more to the european citizens huh?

Thanks Jim. I´ve done that as well though.....infact all the stores i´ve ordered from does indeed have an "offline" shop as well.  And they all initially promised that i´d have it by july.....guess not. :mellow:

There is a worldwide shortage of this lens. I have heard that Nikon's explanation, beside it being a best seller, is that they have received orders direct from governments wishing to equip their police and security services and these orders are receiving priority.  

I will message you a place that does get some in from time to time.

i just took a quick look at ebay.co.uk:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nikon-Nikkor-AF-S-18-200mm-f-3-5-5-6-VR-DX-No-VAT-0494_W0QQitemZ110028925504QQihZ001QQcategoryZ30070QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

edit - and they are true to their word about that no import fees, i ordered a lens from them for the shop i was at over the summer - they just stick "refurbished / serviced lens" on the packet and there you have it a second hand item with no tax ;)

Thank you Sir Richard. I´ll go look at that IM straight away.

Thank you as well Rich. I´ve looked into this place actually....and from what i can tell, they can offer free of import fees for UK-residents only. I might be wrong though. Swedish customs doesn´t really care if it´s a used item or not. As long as the package has a value on it, they will charge you up to 40% of that value. The only way around it is if you were to recieve the package as a "gift" without any value given. Because by law you´re only allowed to receive gifts up to a value of $60....PER YEAR!!!! :bored:

Ifs its any consolation, I had to wait 3 mths for my EF 500 as there wasnt ONE in the UK.....too costy to have one in stock..lol...guess they have to wait till the shipment is full to import!

...::finger hovers over delete button::.... Naw! I don't see why this thread should get deleted. It is on topic and serves a good purpose. I makes me glad I've stuck with my single lense prosumer camera. :m_tongue2: I know how tough your import laws and taxes Andreas, I feel for ya buddy. I hope it doesn't take, say, another 8 months or so for you to get that dang lens! ;oP

I personally feel its important, depending on what type of 'genre' one undertakes to shoot, it is important to choose the right  camera and len's etc etc....Kort, couldnt do what I do with a prosumer. Dont get me wrong, nothing wrong with prosumers!..., remember, had a Minolta A1 before  my  DSLR's.

I am changing direction in my 'tography, (on a pro level)....but Raptors will always be my passion as well as a hobby.

A cam is a cam at the end of the day...!

my £4.99 worth

Andreas - i see you have been to scotland...  What about going over again for another visit and ordering the lens whilst you are there?

And i like the "Sir Richard" and "Rich" differentiation between me and onslow (i prefer Rich anyway)

edit - oh and i wouldnt speak again Nameless - you might end up with a grands worth of input :biggrin:

LOL "Rich"! I agree Jim, the camera must be bought to suit a specific purpose. I most certainly could not do that action and distance shots that you manage with that magnificent setup of yours. For now, all in one portability and cost are major factors for me. What kind of new direction is your photography going in Jim?

Portraits Kort.

Rich: are you?
cos if ya are, I'll be your bestest friend

Cool...you'll have to post some soon.

Well Rich....you can call me Poor if ya like. :bored: Speaking of Rich´s.....my cousin called last night....he lives in Richmond i belive it´s called. He invited me over and we could have a roaaaaad-triiiiiip, lol. So i also put him on finding me a lens at some local store. They were awfully expensive in the UK though....hmm......oh well. I´ll keep ya posted. I´m starting to think i should settle for a used Nikon AF-S VR  ED 24-120mm till i get my hands on the one i really want. Thanks for all the input gang!!!

Andreas, I can turn around and look at that lens...it is on my camera.  How long to get? Well I called the place instead of doing it on-line and spoke to a man recommended by a local photog who does photo teaching and takes folks around the country on photo trips.  They know each other. I suppose having a name to drop helps since it got me into the "next shipment" instead of at the bottom of the list.   Even batteries for D200, for example, are on backorder...everywhere!  I have been waiting on a battery for 3 weeks.

Best wishes for you on this one.  I like the lens very much.   Tom.

PS. be glad you don't live in Russia. Gifts are even lower!  I sent books to a friend there and fortunately he did not have to pay the very, very high percent since this was a gift and one book was declared "used".  Still, this stuff stayed in a Russian postoffice likely near 2 months after it got there in a few days...before he was notified of having a package.  I was convinced it was lost...he told me it was likely at the postoffice somewhere and he would get it eventually.  He did, eventually.

Thank you Tom. Trust me...i´ve done it all. I called a dussin of stores around Sweden looking for that lens.....giving up now.

I found this link that was kinda interesting about how one should go about puchasing that lens:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200/18200-how-to-get-one.htm

The page is even titled "How to get one"....LOL. :tt2: And once you start browsing that website you´ll find plenty of pointers regarding online-purchasing. Might be worth checking out.

Yeah I agree with Jimbo a local dealer with a good reputation maybe the best place to get one as the main players like Nikon and Canon tend to supply them first you wont get net Prices though..