Foreign Lenses - Good or Bad?

[Inspired Photography]

Hi Everyone,

I have been browsing these forums for a while, but I only recently joined and this is my first post.

I have a quick question that I am hoping someone can help with.

As you can see, my lens line-up doesn't consist of anything special. I am in the market for some good L glass, and a 70-200 f2.8 L IS USM is going to be the first to weigh down the credit card.

I am in Australia, and have been looking around for good prices. One of my mates mentioned that he purchases all his lenses from B&H photo in NYC, which i have seen alot of you mention in your posts. I have worked out that i can pay for freight, exchange and everything and still save some money buy purchasing it this way.

Basically my questions is, can there be any problems with using a lens from the USA on an Australian released body?
I don't see why not, as I can imaging the lens' electronics would be any different between countries, but i thought i would throw this one out there anyway, as i might be wrong.

If anyone has any thoughts on this, it would be very helpful.

Many thanks,

[Jackal]

No problem at all.

[Dante King]

Only problem is the painful "breaking in" period. That IS can ne deadly to your hands until it has been on a camera body for a while...SO in the interest of US and AUS relations, I will be happy to suffer thru the first year of the lens life for you!

[ddelallata]

I'm next in line after Dante to finish off the break-in period. J/K There are absolutely no problems... buy with confidence.

[ScottE]

Remember when you are ordering that the grey models are exactly the same as the USA models except that they don't have the Canon USA warranty. As a resident of Australia a warranty only valid in the US is not going to do you any good. Also watch quoted prices. Some are after a Canon USA rebate. I believe that is only available to residents of the US.

As a resident of Canada I usually order grey form B&H.

Scott

[SimonBl]

Be warned that there is apparently a US$2000 limit on first overseas orders from B&H, although this may differ if you ship to Oz. I ended up buying from Amazon and my 10-22 and 70-200L f/4 arrived at my work colleagues office yesterday. Now I only need to wait for her trip to Perth at the end of the month!

[Andy_T]

The only person who could maybe have a problem with you using a US lens on an Australian body, might be a member of the Australian customs office (btw: are they still called 'her majesty's customs office today ??? )... and if they see that kind of problem, it might start to become one (financially) for you as well :wink:

Best regards,
Andy