Man I am in such a bind and I need to figure this out like yesterday. I have this gig coming up in about ten days for my cousins engagement shoot and I realized my old kit lens is just not gonna cut it for the low light stuff they want at the venue. Ive been eyeing the Sony 35mm f1.4 GM or maybe even the 24-70mm but the prices are just insane right now everywhere I look. I spent all of last night scouring the web and I saw that B and H has their usual EDU discount but since I graduated last year I cant get that anymore which sucks. Then I saw some guys on a different forum talking about buying from places like Panamoz or E-Infinity but they ship from overseas I think? And my logic was that if anything goes wrong with a fifteen hundred dollar lens I am basically screwed on the warranty because Sony USA wont touch it. That honestly scares the crap out of me.
I also tried looking at used stuff on KEH and MPB but for some reason the prices for the Mark II versions are barely a hundred bucks less than brand new at the moment... like why would I buy used for that little of a difference? I am based in Seattle and my budget is strictly under 1300 for this one lens. I was thinking maybe there are some secret promo codes or maybe a specific retailer that does trade-ins that actually give you a good value? Someone mentioned Greentoe but I am super confused how that works. Do you actually get a real warranty from an authorized dealer or is it just another grey market thing? I really need to pull the trigger by Wednesday so it gets here in time for the weekend prep. Is there a specific day of the week these places usually drop their open-box deals? I feel like I am refreshing these tabs every hour and nothing is changing and I am starting to panic a little bit. If anyone knows a reliable spot that isnt just the standard big box stores please let me know...
ngl i totally get the panic. i had a nightmare once with a grey market lens where the autofocus motor died after two months and because it was an import, no one would fix it without charging me more than the lens was worth. i would suggest staying away from the overseas stuff if you want peace of mind. concerning Greentoe tho, its actually safe. i used them to grab my Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM way below retail and it came from a known camera shop in jersey with a full warranty. just put in a bid around $1150 or $1200 and see if someone bites. you probably wont get the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II for under 1300 yet, but the 35mm is doable. just make sure to check the shipping time since your gig is so close...
Honestly jumping in here because that engagement shoot stress is real... been there. Greentoe is actually your best bet if you want a new lens with a full warranty but at a discount. It basically sends your offer to authorized shops who have overstock. You get a real receipt from a US store, so Sony USA warranty is totally safe. Since you need to stay under 1300, getting the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM might be tight because its usually 1400, but you could try bidding 1200 on Greentoe and see if someone bites. If that fails, definitely consider these:
- Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art for Sony E is way under budget and honestly holds its own against the GM.
- Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 is super light and fast, great for low light too.
- Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art for Sony E is much cheaper than the Sony GM version and fits your budget easily. If you cant find a deal by tomorrow, honestly just rent the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II for the weekend. Itll buy you time to find a real sale later without panicking. The couple is gonna care way more about the moments than the extra sharpness anyway. Good luck!
Late to this but honestly, i had a similar nightmare trying to find a deal for a wedding last fall. I ended up trying an open-box Sony FE 35mm f1.4 GM from a big box store and it was such a letdown... the lens arrived with a massive scuff on the element and the AF was making this weird clicking sound. I had to rush the return and it just added more stress to my plate. Unfortunately the savings on those open boxes just arent as good as people make them out to be lately. Since youre in Seattle, i checked Glazer's Camera back when i was looking and while theyre great people, their used prices were basically the same as new. Its kinda depressing how expensive this hobby has gotten. If you really cant stretch the budget, maybe look at the Sony FE 35mm f1.8 instead? I know its not a GM, but i ended up grabbing one for like 600 bucks and it honestly saved my skin. Its not as fancy as the f1.4 but it gets the job done without the financial panic. I really wish there were better secret codes but even the EDU stuff feels limited now. Good luck tho, i know that pre-shoot anxiety is the worst.
