70-200mm 2.8 L IS

[Jonny]

I live here in the UK but currently have a friend on holiday in the USA (one of the carolinas) who has offered to bring me back the 70-200mm 2.8 L IS lens.
Is there anything i need to know about the warranty, will i be able to get it repaired here in the UK if needs be?
How strong is this lens and will it be ok to be packed in a suitcase onboard the aircraft or should i ask her to take it on as hand luggage?
I am aware that if she gets caught with it there will be tax to pay on it but is there anyway to minimize this risk?
Also can anyone suggest the best place for her to buy it, i know its a big country but is there a good chain that she should look at? Also can tourists get them any cheaper (no tax, duty free etc....)

Many thanks

[cmM]

Best place to buy it: B&H (no tax if she buys it online).

Best way to avoid getting caught and paying tax... take it out of the box and put it in the camera bag or on the camera.

I would never check in camera equipment, especially lenses. It IS glass, and it's worth $1500, so the safest way is hand luggage.

[sGu]

Canon UK will HONOUR international warranty on lenses, as long as it's not a grey market one, however, it doesn't when it comes to camera bodies.

[Jonny]

Best place to buy it: B&H (no tax if she buys it online).
.

So if she buys it from a local store in South Carolina will there be some kind of sales tax? What kind of price can i expect to be paying in total?

I am not sure if she will be able to buy it online.

thanks

[cmM]

I don't know how much sales tax is in S. Carolina. over here it 's 8%

[Jon]

Best place to buy it: B&H (no tax if she buys it online).
.

So if she buys it from a local store in South Carolina will there be some kind of sales tax? What kind of price can i expect to be paying in total?

I am not sure if she will be able to buy it online.

thanks

If she gets it at a local SC store, she'll probably pay full list price if they even have it in stock, plus tax. South Carolina's got a 5% rate.

[JX]

Hi Jonny,

In regards to the Canon EF 70-200 L 2.8 IS. I purchased this lens in September. The lens was defective right out of the box. I have to send it in for repairs. If I had to do over again I would have purchased the Canon EF 70-200 L 2.8 without the Image Stabilization. For the extra money the Image Stabilization it is just not worth it. However, I notice that you do have other lens with IS. I am not sure that I will ever buy another Canon Lens with IS. I hope you have better luck than I did.

Note to other forum members this is just my opinion, please don't make this a heated debate.