Canon Image Lounge, Gurgaon - WOW!!

[Vicky]

Hi,

Well, I'm just back from a 2day conference hosted by an IT giant at Delhi. The long presentations was boring as expected, but the supreme pampering received at The Leela, Gurgaon was marvelous. On the day of my return, I had a few hours to spare before my flight, so ventured out into the adjoining Ambience Mall... wise decision!

As I was checking out the showrooms on 2nd Level, I stumbled upon this huge Canon Showroom:)

Its called the Canon Image Lounge, and man, what did they not have in there:eek:

Every Lens currently in canon's lineup... from the 18-55 IS to the 600mm f/4 L IS, every body from the humble 1000D to the 1DMk IIIs... and all available for you to try out...

I tried out the following bodies and lenses..

5D mk II
1D mk III
1D mk IIIs
--------------
10-22mm
100mm macro
MPE 65
100-400 L
300 f/4 IS
17-55 2.8 IS

And boy, you should have seen the grin on my face when I was firing away at 10fps on the 1Dmk III with the 600mm f/4 L:cool:

Three hours passed away like 10mins!

All the attendants were pretty sound in technical know how and carried a very friendly and accommodating attitude. The Store Incharge, Mr Rajesh was specially courteous and and eager to help.

The best part is that since this store is just to provide 'Touch & Feel' of the products and not for actual sales, there is absolutely no selling pressure.

You can carry your own body and try out any of their lenses on it, or take your lenses and test them on a different body there, or test any of their lenses on any of their bodies! You can even carry your own CF card and take pics on it with their body / lens combos, which you can later bring back with you and analyze on your computer. Or you could do this right there on their computer! Whew!

They even have free classes on photography two days every week!

Overall, I must say, its a great initiative by Canon!

For those who'd like to visit this place:

Canon Image Lounge
2nd Floor Ambience Mall
NH - 8 Gurgaon - 122001
Ph - 0124-4665536
Closed on Tuesdays.


Thanks for looking!

Vicky

P.S. - pls forgive the poor quality photos are I was not carrying my camera and took these with my cellphone.

In the last pic, its the 1D MkIII with the 600mm f/4:)

[KrishnenduKes]

Discussion Approved

Yes, the Canon Image Lounge is indeed a GREAT place. They have everything under the sun that Canon is currently producing. One thing I did not appreciate however is your not informing us of your arrival in Delhi. Even if you did not have time, some of us may have been keen to meet you.

[Vicky]

One thing I did not appreciate however is your not informing us of your arrival in Delhi. Even if you did not have time, some of us may have been keen to meet you.

Yes, I'm guilty here:o

I was there from 25th afternoon till 27th evening. I wanted to meet up with you guys too, specially Aryan & you, but when I got the schedule of the conference, I realized it was too tight... even thought of extending stay for a day in order to meet up with you all, but shelved the plan realizing that the extended day 28th would be a Friday (working day) and would have been be difficult for you guys:(

Actually, didn't even enter Delhi city! It was Airport - Gurgaon (Hotel) - Airport for me!

Anyways, I should have at least shared my program with you guys:o

[hitanshu]

Shame. You come to our neck of the village and don't message.

Mods - please to lock this thread

[Aryan]

@Vicky: I would REALLY and believe you me, I just cannot stress enough on this word in a forum; R E A L L Y loved to meet you. :(

Anyways, yes, I have heard about the Canon Image Lounge, but haven't really gone there. Now, that you have mentioned the plethora of lenses that they stack, I'll pay them a visit as soon as I possibly can! :D

Did you happen to try out the MP-E 65mm by any chance? At first, I wanted to get that lens, but NO-ONE, it seemed, had even heard about something called the 'MP-E 65mm', and hence I bought the 100mm f2.8 macro. :) I am really dying to take that lens (the MP-E) for 'a spin'.

Also, do they have the Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8 and Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 Non-IS lens with them as well. I really want to try out these two on the 400D body that I have. :) Perhaps, in a day or two, I'll take my 400D and try out these two and a few other lenses which I have in my mind.

Thanks a ton for starting this thread, and sharing the information here with us. As much as I would have loved to meet you face to face, and perhaps talk to you for atleast a couple of hours, but I believe, there is always a next time. :) Whenever, I visit Shillong (which, just might be in a month's time), I'll surely PM you and let you know. :)

[KrishnenduKes]

Yes, I'm guilty here:o

Anyways, I should have at least shared my program with you guys:o

Big shame really!!

To someone like me with my kinda profession, weekdays or weekends mean nothing. If I am not travelling, I can try and come. Weekends are more busy however... trying to ride around a bit early in the morning. And incidentally I think even Aryan was free as well!!! Though Friday evening both of us were on a special assignment.

This was a BIG miss! Real shame.

[Vicky]

Shame. You come to our neck of the village and don't message.

Mods - please to lock this thread

Sorry Tau! My bad... next time I'll keep you all updated for sure!


@Vicky: I would REALLY and believe you me, I just cannot stress enough on this word in a forum; R E A L L Y loved to meet you. :(

As much as I would have loved to meet you face to face, and perhaps talk to you for at least a couple of hours, but I believe, there is always a next time. :) Whenever, I visit Shillong (which, just might be in a month's time), I'll surely PM you and let you know. :)

I would have loved to meet you too Aryan! My bad, should have shared the info with you guys instead of assuming things:o

Do keep me informed of your Shillong trip!


Did you happen to try out the MP-E 65mm by any chance?
Also, do they have the Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8 and Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 Non-IS lens with them as well. I really want to try out these two on the 400D body that I have. :) Perhaps, in a day or two, I'll take my 400D and try out these two and a few other lenses which I have in my mind.

Thanks a ton for starting this thread, and sharing the information here with us.

In one word, you MUST take out time to visit this place. They have all of these lenses that you are interested in... but, be warned, this visit might hurt your wallet!;)



This was a BIG miss! Real shame.

Well, seeing the great enthusiasm, why not plan a week long wildlife photo tour to places like Ranthambore / Bhandavgarh / Gir, etc in the cooler months.. say Nov / Dec. I'm game for a trip like this!

[KrishnenduKes]

Well, seeing the great enthusiasm, why not plan a week long wildlife photo tour to places like Ranthambore / Bhandavgarh / Gir, etc in the cooler months.. say Nov / Dec. I'm game for a trip like this!

Really! That is an interesting proposition you put across. That is the time I work the most and I am rarely free. But I am sure I will be able to find some time between trips.

Do send me a PM about the kind of time that you can take out. I will see what I can do.

And yes... I might be making a solo quick trip to Shillong as well sometime next year.

[Bibudesh]

Each and every post in this thread is making me more restless. U guys are damn lucky.

But I am sure that Vicky will make a trip to Bangalore sometimes soon.

@Vicky Count me as your unpaid cabbie for a trip to ranganathittu sanctuary.

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

u DSLR people are lucky!!

anvancy

[hitanshu]

oh hello anvancy boy.

delhi boys are lucky. you can go to the lounge in grubby clothes, no DSLR and you will still be treated like a rockstar :D

Just turn up!

[Vicky]

Really! That is an interesting proposition you put across. That is the time I work the most and I am rarely free. But I am sure I will be able to find some time between trips.

Do send me a PM about the kind of time that you can take out. I will see what I can do.

And yes... I might be making a solo quick trip to Shillong as well sometime next year.

It could manage about 7-10days including traveling:)

And do keep me posted about your trip to the Scotland of the East:)

Each and every post in this thread is making me more restless. U guys are damn lucky.

But I am sure that Vicky will make a trip to Bangalore sometimes soon.

@Vicky Count me as your unpaid cabbie for a trip to ranganathittu sanctuary.

Not wanting another round of the same backlash, but I had also spent 2days in Bangalore near the end of July in another conference very similar to this one:o

[Bibudesh]

^^ Near the end of July was last month.

Aah! I was free then and now since I have resigned and serving my notice.

I am out of words.

Now I can 100% understand how ken was feeling.

[raunak]

I had been to Canon Lounge at Bangalore last month and oh, what an experience it was!

I actually went to Bangalore for a teeny tiny 2 day trip to see my cousin when she insisted to go for the Tiger safari at the Bannerghatta National Park because of my inclination towards photography. I had my 1000D but only with the 18-55 mm kit lens which is almost useless for a national park. I asked for a shop where I could buy a lens for my camera (I was about to buy one anyway and this turned out to be the perfect opportunity...). My cousin took me to the Canon Lounge, which we thought was a camera shop.

I tried out the Canon 55-250 mm IS and the 50mm F1.8 II, both of which are real beauties for the price... I later learned that the Canon Lounge does not sell anything... Tried to find the lens at GK Vale (which is in the same complex on the 7th floor) but it was out of stock at that time. Anyway, because of the great impression the Canon 55-250 mm IS left on me, I bought it from Third-i-Digital after a few days of coming back to Hyderabad.

I am wondering if we have a Canon Lounge here at Hyderabad... If it is, I know where I'll be spending my Sunday :D

[Bibudesh]

Yup Canon Lounge is quite nice,beautiful and trendy here. They have kept a bullet modified chopper which grabs max attention.

They have full collection of lenses but I feel the store is quite smaller than the one in Gurgaon areawise as visible from Vicky's shot.

I also liked the idea of having a tripod mounted 1Ds MarkIII which you can click how much ever you want with your choice of lenses.

To my surprise, their list of recommended dealers includes the gray dealers also.

And dont purchase lenses from GK Vale as you may end up paying 50% more.

[raunak]

And dont purchase lenses from GK Vale as you may end up paying 50% more.

I knew the price of the lens I wanted to buy from 2-3 reliable sources like JJ Mehta, Third-i-digital & eBay and I was getting the very same price at GK Vale because of the 10% discount on MRP with the Canon Edge membership.

The funny thing was, when I asked for the 55-250mm, the guy said it is out of stock and instead suggested me another lens which was more than 3 times the price of the 55-250mm!!! I mean come on dude! :o

[hitanshu]

As per email I got from them
495