Canon Singapore launches a 'Try and Buy' service for EF and EF-S lenses

Canon Singapore has launched a 'Try and Buy' lens scheme allowing customers to borrow more than seventy of the company's EF and EF-S lenses at a fee for 48 hours. While a similar service is currently available globally to Canon Professional Services (CPS) members, Canon Singapore has opened this up for non-members as well. The 'Try and Buy' website will go live on March 28th.

Last month, Panasonic UK had announced a similar 'Try Before You Buy' service for its Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 mirrorless camera. These programmes let customers get a feel of the products before committing to big purchases, especially at a time where we are seeing many local stores closing down.

Press Release:

Canon Launches “Try and Buy” Programme for its Lenses

Canon DSLR users can now try out their desired lenses before purchase

Singapore, 20 March 2013 – Canon is now allowing its DSLR users to try out popular Canon lenses before purchasing them in the newly launched Canon Lens "Try and Buy" Programme. The programme, which is the first of its kind in Singapore*1 for a camera brand, will be starting from 28 March. For a nominal fee, interested users will get up to two full days to try out their lenses of choice.

We believe in having our customers fully enjoy our products and technology, and our Canon Lens "Try and Buy" Programme will further enhance that product experience of our DSLR users by providing them with a platform to try out the more popular lenses before a purchase," said Mr. Andrew Koh, Senior Director and General Manager of the Consumer Imaging and Information Products Group, Canon Singapore.

The Canon Lens "Try and Buy" Programme is an initiative by the company to enable its DSLR users to try selected lenses for up to two days and make an informed decision before investing in the perfect lens to suit them. This programme will be extremely useful for users who are deciding between the different lenses in Canon’s comprehensive range of more than 70 EF and EF-S lenses. While there is no obligation to make a purchase subsequently, Canon believes that this programme will also attract new users to its award-winning EOS photographic eco-system.

Canon Lens “Try and Buy” Programme

• Canon DSLR users*2 can borrow selected Canon lenses for up to two full days (Excluding pick-up and return dates).
• At any one time, users can borrow a maximum of two lenses on a first-come-first-serve basis.
• Participants of the programme who wish to own the lens model they have tried can enjoy a discount on the purchase of the extended warranty for the same lens model. The discount is equivalent to the nominal fee charged when they borrowed the lens.
• All Canon Imaging Academy members who have enrolled themselves in any paid course/workshop within the last 12 months will receive a 50% discount off the nominal fee. Members who enrolled for future paid course/workshop will also get to enjoy 50% discount if they participate in the programme within 12 months from the start date of their course/workshop.
• Registration and membership for this programme is free.
• Lenses can be collected and returned at the Canon Imaging Academy, Canon’s training facility (Located at 1 HarbourFront Place, #01-09, HarbourFront Tower 1, Singapore 098633).
• The programme will be administered directly by Canon Singapore while the sale of lenses will continue to be through Canon’s authorised dealers.

For full details including terms and condition of the programme, please visit the Canon Lens “Try and Buy” website www.canon.com.sg/lenstryandbuy (Website targets to be up on 28 March). Users can also go to the website for more information such as the most popular lenses borrowed, the most viewed lenses, and new lenses included in the programme.

*1 As of 20 March 2013
*2 Applicable only to Singaporeans, permanent residents (PRs), and work permit or student visa holders in Singapore.

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Comments

Total comments: 20

By tommy leong (2 months ago)

a great program which has great benefits to the consumer.
Just a matter of time before NIKON joins in the fun.
I think Panasonic was the first to start this.
SONY should get into this game.

0 upvotes

By atlien991 (2 months ago)

Canon is feeling the heat from somewhere. They wouldn't do this unless they had to.

0 upvotes

By 5DMkIII Shooter (2 months ago)

Somehow I do not think this "option" will last very long....

0 upvotes

By corndog (2 months ago)

"Borrow for a fee". Where I live that's called a rental.

And, as someone has already asked, what's a nominal fee?

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

1 upvote

By yabokkie (2 months ago)

nice!

0 upvotes

By alpha90290 (2 months ago)

I am not sure whether this will let Canon get more customers. The Singapore market is small compare to other countries.

A Singaporean friend told me the camera gears in Singapore are more expensive than other Asia countries like Thailand and Hong Kong. Even buying in USA is cheaper. Whenever he went oversea for holidays or business trips, he make it a point to visit the camera store at that country and buy the gears oversea. When he resell the gears in Singapore after the warranty expires, he still manage to get a good deal and save him lots of money.

Comment edited 3 minutes after posting

1 upvote

By jermark (2 months ago)

If you are interested to buy it after trying, will you get a new piece or the one you're holding? If the same piece, how would I know it's relatively new and not handled by 10 people before me (and worst if dropped)? The thought itself scares me, especially if I'm paying premium for a pro lens!

0 upvotes

By DanCee (2 months ago)

I think you'll get a new one.. as said above, the rent is manage by Canon academy while the sales are through Canon authorized dealer. Beside renting is based on first come first serve, meaning, there's only limited available lens that's specially reserve for renting.

0 upvotes

By jermark (2 months ago)

It's rental alright...fudged under a nice marketing name 'Try and Buy'

0 upvotes

By Paul Farace (2 months ago)

What amazes me about Singapore (well lots actually) is that in the China Town district you have four camera stores on one block followed by three more on the next block!!! And they all have top line products for sale! So there will be plenty of rental outlets for sure.

0 upvotes

By garyknrd (2 months ago)

I live in Thailand most of the year. Here in many big malls.. Canon has a big space rented for you to come in and try out there cameras and lenses. They do not sell anything but you can try, and look at everything. Pretty amazing really. Before I buy I always go to the Canon store and try it out in the store before I make the purchase at my local Canon retailer.

0 upvotes

By forpetessake (2 months ago)

The only problem with rental model -- lenses are so easy to damage, scratch, etc. and it might not be easily visible upon inspection.

0 upvotes

By Marques Lamont (2 months ago)

Great! We want it here in the USA too. And worldwide as well!

WORLDWIDE RENTALS! Canon should've done this AGES ago!

0 upvotes

By pentel (2 months ago)

so they are starting rental service now..

0 upvotes

By Higuel (2 months ago)

If only many brands would do it in Europe!!! :(

2 upvotes

By LoganVii (2 months ago)

Hope we could have it here... =(

1 upvote

By Sad Joe (2 months ago)

Seems like a good idea - Canon keen to make some cash and pinch some business from Culumet ! Feels like the best thing Canon have done since the 5D3...but what is the fee?

0 upvotes

By candleJack (2 months ago)

What's a "nominal fee"?

0 upvotes

By RXVGS (2 months ago)

It's 100% of the price!

5 upvotes

By JEROME NOLAS (2 months ago)

Those blue mondays...

0 upvotes

Total comments: 20