Buy lenses in japan or the us instead of europe?

[DanyX]

Hi all,

I will soon be travelling japan and then the us (san francisco and new york) and wanted to know if you think it's a good idea to buy lenses there. I am a hobby photographer and own a 300D, the kit lens, the canon 80-200mm 4.5-5.6 lens and the 50mm 1.8 lens. I am on a tight budget, so cheap or second hand lenses are prefered. I am especially looking for a prime wide angle lens (e.g. the canon 20mm 2.8 or the sigma 20mm 1.8 asp) and some option for macro photography, either a dedicated lens or one of the macro ring sets like the one from (I think the name was) kenko. I would like to think that japan would have cheaper canon lenses, but I am not sure.

I'd be happy about any suggestions, both about where and what to buy. I like to stay with canon lenses, but if sigma or another 3rd party manufacturer has a compatible good quality lens at a better price, I'd also think about that.

Thanks in advance,
Daniel

[Persian-Rice]

It's fine, be forewarned that Canon USA & Canada will not accept an import warranty.

Cheers

[steven]

It's fine, be forewarned that Canon USA & Canada will not accept an import warranty.

Cheers

Don't think that is true for Canon USA. While no personal experience, most of the stories I have heard about warranty service in the USA all they want to see is a purchase receipt. I have read posts of people getting their non-US warranty items fixed without a problem or even a question.

[ScottE]

Check the exchange rates.

The US dollar has devalued recently, but the price in US dollars on most products has not changed. You might be able to take advantage of that.

For example, when the 20D was released, the US price and Canadian price were almost comparable when corrected for exchange rates. (The Canadian price was a little too hight.) If you use the current exchange rate the US price is a much better deal now.

I also find that on some products the US price at places like B & H is less than the dealer wholesale price in Canada, even before the exchange rate changed. I don't understand why, but don't mind taking advantage of that.

[DeeplyDigital]

Buy lenses in japan or the us instead of europe?

That depends where you are from.

Japan is not necessarily cheaper. When buying in Japan
make sure the shop fills out a worldwide warranty card.

If in doubt buy in Europe, Germany is good plus the warranty
covers the EU.

J.
-

[Hellashot]

If you buy in another country and try to return to the usa you may need to pay a fee for new items brought back into the usa. So just buy from here.

[Ogrt48]

If you buy in another country and try to return to the usa you may need to pay a fee for new items brought back into the usa. So just buy from here.

Not if you do this right.. ;)

[Murph7355]

Definitely worth it. Check prices beforehand carefully as exchange rates may mean that the US is cheaper than Japan. The ONLY place I have seen in Europe that can sell this stuff just about as cheaply is in Andorra.

Lenses are, I am reliably told, covered by international warranties. Bodies are not.

Drop me a pm if you want as I can tell you where to go in Tokyo (I'm generally based there at the moment, but won't be around for about 6wks).

Also, get a list of other stuff you may need too as CF cards, batteries, tripods, bags, flashes etc etc are all cheaper (though CF cards can be had very cheaply from www.valuemedia.co.uk - no links apart from as a customer).

Be aware of import duties and VAT equivalents at customs. As noted, there are ways of lessening this impact :)

[DanyX]

Thanks to all of you for your hints, I appreciate it! Would some of you also care to suggest lenses that I should take a look at, or has this been covered so extensivly on this forum that none of you can be bothered anymore? :). If this should be the case, could you maybe hint me to a topic or some keywords i should search the forum for? I'm in india atm and internet connections are terribly slow, so I could not search through the old messages as I usually would. (I'm from austria btw, where prices are not so reasonable usually)

Thanks again,
Daniel

[IncompletePete]

Once I've got the cash together, I'm planning on travelling over to my family in the US, with a brief stop over in NYC to pick up a 400mm f2.8 and then take it back to the UK.

£2000 saved a free holiday to sunny California thrown in!

Would put the lens in my handluggage and mail back the box etc. *nods*

[Murph7355]

Would some of you also care to suggest lenses that I should take a look at,...

Depends on your budget, what you like to photograph etc etc.

Bearing in mind the favourable exchange rates etc, I'd be inclined to get the expensive gear on my wish list first, as these will give you the biggest "savings"...