I feel very lucky to have found the new e mount 55-210 in stock. After finding every online retailer in the UK 'out of stock' I had just about given up. While Tilly and I were enteraining ourselves in town on Saturday (while my wife did the 'serious' Christmas shopping) we thought we'd drop in to Worcester's bricks and mortar camera Stores.

First the Sony Centre. They had A65, Nex C3 and 5N. A few A mount lenses. They had not heard about 55-210, but the sales assistant enthused about the Nex line as an avid user (very good for skiing apparently ). He checked his computer for the 55-210 and was confident that Sony had no UK stock at all. "Try again in January" was his only suggestion. He did give me his card (when did this start happening?).

Second was Jessops. Very busy, but found an assistant. They had A65, C3 and 5N, along with A55 and A35. Handn't heard of the lens but checked their Nex stock on the shelf. Only the 16mm. No idea of any stock coming.

Last hope, London Camera Exchange (LCE). This particular store goes up and down regarding Sony products. I found the Sony cabinet and scanned the available products. They had the A77 (what a beast - resisted holding it again!), A65, C3 and 5N in stock. Low and behold, what lens was that sat at the end of the shelf, the Nex 55-210! After some bargaining with Santa, and decisions on trading in some minor items including my T500 P&S, went back today and got one.

They have two left . I would hurry. £299.99 with the £30 Sony cash-back. This is a bit expensive but then can charge a premium due to rarity I think. The guy in the shop says that he has frequent requests from other LCE stores but he is keeping them to sell himself. Doesn't expect more stock of this lens until February. Confirmed Thailand as the issue. Chatted about the Nex line. He has the Nex 3. He has handled the Nex 7 with 24/1.8 at a trade event and is smitten. May be end of January he hopes.

My copy of the 55-210 is now waiting under the tree .

Happy for you Andy
Sucks waiting though

/Z!

Agreed, but it helps that I'll be quite busy up until Christmas so little time for shooting. Expect a ruck of telephoto shots from the 26th onward .

Eagerly awaiting

That cheerful tree can be very 'cruel' sometimes! Holding on to dear things like these...

Congratulations, Andy. : ) Looking out for all new shots from you...

Enjoy alongside the Christmas cake; will taste grander I'm sure.

Yildiz

Thanks Yildiz .

The cake had its first "drink" and breathe last night. Looked and smelt very nice, but no tasting

We also experimented (I did the eating bit!) on a new trifle recipe for Chritmas which has pears poached in rum, and custard made with Advocaat. Yummy!

Not yet available in France Have fun with yours

So that is called "entertaining ourselves in town"
Dragging Tilly from one camera shop to another...
That is definitely not "entertaining ourselves"...
That is called... educating
That is called... showing art and beauty

May I have educating lessons too?

Oh, I forgot.
Since I still believe in Santa, I will congratulate you after Christmas.

I must admit, I went into that very store in the week, and, as they had the Sony case open, I had a play with the A65 and A77. If it had not been so close to Christmas, and my credit card having already taken a battering, I am sure I would have been walking out of there with a new toy.

It always seems a pretty good LCE branch. At least one of the staff there owns an A700, having upgraded from an A100, and they are always very positive about Sony's offerings. They often have good used kit there, and I have bought at least 5 used lenses there. They seem to have best knowledge and stock of Sony camera products in town, and that includes a Sony store.

Good point Doc. You'd be very welcome to join Tilly and me. We always find the quieter shops with shiney things.

Very true Tom - they were the only ones who had any idea what I was talking about when I asked for this lens.

Another interesting thing that came out in conversation in the LCE shop was regarding second hand cameras. Second hand point and shoot are difficult to shift - not surprising as everyone wants the latest bells and whistles. Yet, they can't get enough second hand DSLRs. I was quite surprised by this bit.

They are also the only place in town selling a good range of Pentax DSLR kit if that floats your boat.