Import D30????

[fastlane65]

I am actively in the market for a D30. I've been shooting Canon since '81 and I really want this camera.

I've done the basic internet price search and found bodies from $1400 to $2999 US.

Several of the sites list a D30 IMP or D30 Import. Can anyone shed any light on this for me. www.citywidedigital.com is one vendor that lists both an "IMP" version and a "USA" version (USA is $300 more)

I currently have an A2E, the "import" of which was the EOS 5. Only difference I ever heard of was the 5 could automatically pop up the flash when needed, and US regulations didn't want that. Otherwise it was the same camera.

I've noticed several on this board that have had problems and sent the camera back to Canon. If I buy an import, can I still do that?

[Scottie]

Hello,

I just purchased my D-30 from Canoga Camera out of California. It came with a vertical grip and an extra battery, also the rebate offer from canon for another battery and a 1 Gig micro drive. for a total of 3 batteries. all for around $2400 US. They are an authorized canon dealer and were very nice and not pushy on the phone. The camera arrived when they said it would and was in perfect condition. It probably wasn't the cheapest place but I really feel good about buying from them. www.canogacamera.com

As for grey market, In all the research I have done everyone has steered me away from them. Sometimes you don't get all the parts and adapters that you are suposed to, the manual is sometimes not in english. And from what I am told getting service on the camera can be very difficult, not to mention the battery and micro drive rebate you can't get if you don't buy from a canon certified dealer. Which most grey market dealers are not.

That's just my opinion hope it helps

Scott

[bushey]

I was told that I would not be able to get the drive/battery from canon nor would the warranty work be done within the US!

[Jade14]

I have monitored several D30 forums for about four months now.
Gray market or parallel import D30 (non Canon USA) do not qualify for the Microdrive offer but will still be serviced by Canon USA. However most of the stores offering these are shady to say the least. Check http://www.resellerratings.com.

Two stores have an ultra clean record (even better than B&H) with many dpreview and robgalbraith forum users. Canogacamera.com only sells canon usa equipment and offers a very good price at around $ 2250. Deltainternational is the only gray market dealer I found with a pristine record and has the D30 for $1980 right now.

Good luck
Jorge Alban

[Kintama]

I am in the same boat... I'm about to buy the following items...


D30
Canon 50mm 1.4 (Curious: can this do Macro?)
Vertical Grip

Sigma 70-200 2.8 HSX
Bogen Wilderness (Black)
Bogen 3038 Head (there a cheaper/strong head?)
B+W Polorizer Multi Coat for the Sigma lens (77mm diameter)
IR Remote (it appears as tho the D30 doesn't come with it.. true?)


Needless to say this is gonna break my bank! so saving a few percent on such a purchase is going to amount to a lot of money.

I checked out Delta (I had been pretty sold on going to Canoga til I read this thread), but Delta's price is nearly the same....

Deltas Cam price is $2007 (as of Thurs Jan 17th) But you don't get any extras that Scottie got for the higher price. The cost of the extras will be more in the end if I went with Delta for the base system. However the Lens price was significantly better for the Sigma 70-200 Delta is $630, and Canoga is $760.

Still I think the best deal is Canoga. However I have to factor in the fact I'm going to take a huge hit in sales tax of almost 8% cause I live in Ca. But I've heard nothing but good things, and I must get that 1 gig drive so it will work out for me to go with Canoga.

Another factor is that Delta didn't have other brands like Bogen/Manfrotto on their list of manufacturers.

Slight topic drift, while I've got your attn:... Is there a ball head between the 3414 and the 3038? The 3414 is $50 and rated at 9lbs. the 3038 is $170 and rated at 25lbs. I think my D30 will be in the 7.5 lbs area with all that sigma and a flash, grip and batteries... I suspect the small ball will be little to weak and camera will drop a bit when I let go of it after setting it if I'm that close to the 9lb limit. On the other hand, I'm not a pro guy, and I just need it to hold the cam and seems either one should hold it still. But I dont' want the wt of the sigma to pull it down and bash into the legs... that's the biggest forseeable problem.... thoughts? (I've nixed the 3 way head idea just cause I don't want to fiddle with the knobs but they have some at a reasonable price/load limit for me.)

Also: Is there a remote with the D30 base unit? Can the 50mm 1.4 be used to macro focus on flowers?

I can't believe I'm gonna do this.... I'm so excited.

James

[mrbobco]

a few answers...

the 50mm/1.4 doesn't do really good macro...you need the 100mm/2.8 macro lens for this...you won't find a sharper lens (as much as I love my 50mm/1.4 : )

there IS not ir remote INCLUDED with the D-30...it's a $300+ option between the remote transmitter and receiver...and it looks like you lose the ability to use the hot shoe flash...the url:

http://www03.bhphotovideo.com/default.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=ProductActivator__Aproductlist _html___87475___CALC3T___REG___CatID=0___SID=EBAE1 54AB80

the timer remote ($137) (or just plain remote ($50) can be had at b&h, also...

plain remote:

http://www03.bhphotovideo.com/default.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=ProductActivator__Aproductlist _html___164276___CARS80N3___REG___CatID=0___SID=EB AE154AB80

timer remote:

http://www03.bhphotovideo.com/default.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=ProductActivator__Aproductlist _html___164271___CATC80N3___REG___CatID=0___SID=EB AE154AB80

the 30 ft cable will run you another $50...pricey but worth it...

hope this helps...

good luck : )

bob

[Kintama]

OH MY GOD !

I can't believe there is no remote like the G1 or Elf has.. it's a dirt cheap little IR remote. Wow... Guess I'm gonna have to learn to push that button carefully on the tripod :( I can't see paying $50 for what is basically a switch.

What the hell where they think'n when they did that?

Oh well I won't let it get me down, I'm looking forward to my purchases.

Now back to your regularily scheduled topic. (if there are more comments on this we can start a new thread... I have this question in to canoga so if they respond differently than what was previously posted I'll post in a new thread.)

James

[Hyattking]

The D30 Is obsolete

The Canon D60 is out. It will sell for $2199.00 USA$
This is a 6Meg Pixel camera. The D30 had some auto Focus problem, which are supposed to be fix by canon.
This is yet to be seen.

I had my hands on this camera in Orlando camera show. Very nice. Also had the Nikon D100, If your not into either system of lenses yet take a good look at the Nikon D100. I was looking at the D30 till I found out their was a new model the D60. I'm waiting for the Nikon D100 price before I make my mind up. If you want the D30 wait and you can pick this camera up for about $1500 or lower online.

Have fun shopping.

Look at the Nikon D100 which just got release, about the same $ as the D60.

Gary

[Kintama]

Hyatt you responded to a post that was 2 months old :-) I have since bought the D30 and love it.

James