Linhof Studio

[Smoothjazz]

I was thinking of adding another lens for my Tech Cam, and considering the Rodenstock 90mm SW f5.6 lens; I have heard great things about it!
In shopping around, I see only one US dealer listing a price, but Linhof Studios lists for many hundreds less (more than 450.00 in fact), when I do the currency conversion form British pounds.
Any concerns about buying the lens and having it shipped from overseas?
Thanks for your input.

 

[steve_cor]

I believe Customs will charge you import duty.
If they charge you import duty then it will end up costing you more.
See if you can find out.


--Steve.

 

[epforever]

Linhof Studio is great to work with. Email [email protected] and ask her. I've bought a couple of items from her and haven't been charged any customs duties. Never an expensive lens, though. Most expensive was a $700 tripod head. I've never been charged customs duties on items from Britain before. Nor on items from Europe in general, except for one lens that I just bought from a private seller in Germany. UPS sent me a bill for $19.82 for their customs duties. No big deal.

 

[Paul2660]

Actually you may pay a lot less right now. Linholf last time I checked has a 32mm Rodenstock listed for 4,199 pounds, that's $6422.00 US dollar. List US for the same lens is around 7.7K. These are just the lens prices no mounting. It might be worth asking them if they can have the lens mounted in the particular mount you need to see where that prices out.

The reason for the pricing is the value of dollar vs pound right now. The dollar is very strong overseas, much better than last year. The pound to dollar conversion rate is about 1/3 to close to 1/2 of what it was this time last year.

Linholf is great, I agree. Paula is the person to talk to for sure.

I checked on Duty, there will be duty if the item is insured on their end, so a lens will have duty. It's based on the value Linholf declared it for. Example 2.5K charges about 90.00 US. That is UPS.

The dollar and euro are now about the same, with the euro edging out by just a bit.

Linholf deals directly with Rodenstock so their quotes will be very accurate on time to deliver if the lens is not in stock.

Paul

 

[tjv]

Paula is the best person I have ever dealt with and bought gear from. I don't live in the US, but have bought over $20k worth of gear from her, and never received anything but the best service. Very sharp prices (best to email for up to the min specials) and fast delivery. No relation except a very happy customer.

 

[Steve Hendrix]

Actually you may pay a lot less right now. Linholf last time I checked has a 32mm Rodenstock listed for 4,199 pounds, that's $6422.00 US dollar. List US for the same lens is around 7.7K. These are just the lens prices no mounting. It might be worth asking them if they can have the lens mounted in the particular mount you need to see where that prices out.

The reason for the pricing is the value of dollar vs pound right now. The dollar is very strong overseas, much better than last year. The pound to dollar conversion rate is about 1/3 to close to 1/2 of what it was this time last year.

Linholf is great, I agree. Paula is the person to talk to for sure.

I checked on Duty, there will be duty if the item is insured on their end, so a lens will have duty. It's based on the value Linholf declared it for. Example 2.5K charges about 90.00 US. That is UPS.

The dollar and euro are now about the same, with the euro edging out by just a bit.

Linholf deals directly with Rodenstock so their quotes will be very accurate on time to deliver if the lens is not in stock.

Paul

And in many cases, a local dealer - in this case, the US - can still be a consideration. That same 32mm HR Lens can be purchased through CI for less than $6,422. It's always good to check with someone you'd like to buy through with the full support. Sometimes what looks like a deal can be even better.


Steve Hendrix
CI

 

[yatlee]

Paula is the best person I have ever dealt with and bought gear from. I don't live in the US, but have bought over $20k worth of gear from her, and never received anything but the best service. Very sharp prices (best to email for up to the min specials) and fast delivery. No relation except a very happy customer.

X2 on Paula.

 

[gazwas]

Linhoff Studio come very highly recommended - one of the best specialist dealers I know and they give zero sales pressure which is a very rare thing. If you are interested in Linhof, Alpa, Rodenstock or Schneider lenses I'd give them a call/email.

Great for LEE Filters also as they always have massive stock.

 

[torger]

One more for Linhof Studio. Most of my new gear I've bought from there.

I've been in contact with a fair amount of MFD dealers, and Linhof Studio's unobtrusive service is rare. No buy pressure, no elitism, understands customers with both big and small budgets, deals with both professionals and enthusiasts. They work with large format film too which I think is a plus. Very good at email too which I like as an internet citizen. I never liked those regular sales calls I got from my local dealers...