\"Grey market\" Sigma and Canon Lenses

[Canon10D]

Dear forum members:
How can u tell whether Sigma and Canon lenses are grey market or US version by physical inspection on the bodies?

[CyberDyneSystems]

I don't know about Canon,


On a Sigma lens you can't tell from the Body. (I have both US versions and Grey Market Sigmas)

The only difference with a Sigma is the warranty papers you receive with it. (in fact THAT is the ONLY difference period,. the lenses themselves are EXACTLY the same)

The US Warranty is for 4 years,. the "grey market" version still comes with a warranty though,. so Sigma is not a bad deal in Grey market,. the catch is it is a 1 year international warranty.

[Canon10D]

Hi CDS:
Thanks for your reply. For the Sigma lens, u actually get different warranty cards for each version, i.e., the Sigma one-year international warranty card for the grey market version and the four-year US warranty card for the US version? or both versions come with the identical warranty card and the only way Sigma can know that your lens is grey market or US version is by looking at your receipt when u register or request for service?

[openspace]

US lenses come with US warranty cards and are obviously meant to be sold and serviced in the US. Grey market just means that you are buying a lens that was meant for another country.

If you buy a lens that was destined for the Japanese market for example, but you live in the US and it breaks, you won't be able to get warranty service for it in the US. You'd have to send it to Japan.

[robertwgross]

Last January, I had purchased a Sigma lens from one of the worst of the Brooklyn camera companies. The lens went belly-up three weeks after I got it. I called to Sigma, and they said to send it to them for warranty repair. All they wanted was a photocopy of the original receipt and a note from me stating the nature of the failure.

Then here six weeks ago, the same lens did it again, so I called Sigma again. They said to send in the same photocopy of the receipt along with a note on the failure. They fixed it again under warranty.

---Bob Gross---