85L - Buying From USA

rick_reno wrote in post #12515973
US customs won't check anything.

The only issues i've had with customs was entering France, they'd spend a lot of time with my laptop. I was working on crypto systems at the time, and bringing cypto into France wasn't kosher. I had a clean laptop for travel, I was having to go there often.
Your friend shouldn't have any problems with the lens.

B&H will get the package there, they're excellent to do business with.

Dustman wrote in post #12516183
Yup, order it from B&H online, ship it to the hotel, you should get it from New York to San Franscico in about 4 days with the slowest shipping, quicker if you want to pay more............and you will completely avoid the sales tax, just the $2,099 plus a little shippping of $18.80. I buy all my gear from B&H, wonderful customer service, plus you can't beat tax free!

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …AA_EF_85mm_f_1_​2L_II.html

Thx for that people! I'm sorely tempted to go via B&H now to avoid that tax (c.$200)!!

Mark2Mark wrote in post #12516833
Have you tried "kerso" on eBay or talkphotography? He was doing them for £1349 at the end of last year, I don't have an up-to-date price list though.

Ian is a great guy and usually gets some good prices but I doubt he's gonna be around that price now! I asked for a price on the 24-70 couple of months ago and he was only just under general online prices. I think the Yen is probably making things difficult for him. But yh, guess it's worth asking just in case.

You'd have to add a 10% CA sales tax. Otherwise there's nothing to worry about. All 85L's are great out of the box.

aboss3 wrote in post #12517559
You'd have to add a 10% CA sales tax. Otherwise there's nothing to worry about. All 85L's are great out of the box.

Ok now you've got me confused! so regardless of where I buy it from (B&H in NY or Calumet in SF) I'll be lumbered with some tax? If so, I can just ask her to buy in person at Calumet & avoid the risk of lost post or whatever!

Is there any way of reclaiming the tax for foreign visitors?

aboss3 wrote in post #12517559
You'd have to add a 10% CA sales tax. Otherwise there's nothing to worry about. All 85L's are great out of the box.

aboss3 may be referring to buying at a local Calumet in SF.

pridash wrote in post #12517826
Ok now you've got me confused! so regardless of where I buy it from (B&H in NY or Calumet in SF) I'll be lumbered with some tax? If so, I can just ask her to buy in person at Calumet & avoid the risk of lost post or whatever!

Is there any way of reclaiming the tax for foreign visitors?

B&H won't charge taxes on the order if delivering to CA.

Blurr Cube wrote in post #12517937
aboss3 may be referring to buying at a local Calumet in SF.

B&H won't charge taxes on the order if delivering to CA.

Oh right awesome! Ok, decisions, decisions!

One more thing, when she departs from an U.S. airport, there is no immigration, no customs to pass. Just the security check. They don't care when you leave, only when you come in.

awesome lens your friend will be happy especially attached to the 30d your loaning out ..

to OP:

check out what hollis_f says in re: to bringing in lenses to the UK...

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1048971

kdrk888 wrote in post #12518887
One more thing, when she departs from an U.S. airport, there is no immigration, no customs to pass. Just the security check. They don't care when you leave, only when you come in.

Thx for the info!

lilkngster wrote in post #12521463
to OP:

check out what hollis_f says in re: to bringing in lenses to the UK...

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1048971

Yh, but likening it "smuggling" and if I did it , I might as well "[Steal it] from a UK shop" is kinda taking it too far!

pridash wrote in post #12514673
I've been eyeing up the 85L for some time now and as a friend of mine is visiting San Fransisco in August, I was thinking of whether to get her to buy it from a Calumet store there. It would save me around £400 in comparison to UK prices - calumet sells to $2099 (c. £1280), UK prices are around (£1699).

Since I can't test the lens before purchase, are there any draw backs with doing this? I did read somewhere about US sales taxes - does this get added to the price quoted? Is there anyway of reclaiming this tax like in EU countries for foreign visitors?

If I find the lens soft wide open can I still calibrate it in the uk - I'm not sure if the warranty would apply in the UK? would that be free or chargeable with Canon?

If I was in your situ I would buy in the US as well. Just test whilst there and swap for another copy (unlikely) if it's soft.

gjc10212 wrote in post #12523711
If I was in your situ I would buy in the US as well. Just test whilst there and swap for another copy (unlikely) if it's soft.

That's the thing, its my friend that's going so I'm unable to test it. Guess I will have to take the chance - I'm hearing that there aren't many 85's that are bad.

pridash wrote in post #12523740
That's the thing, its my friend that's going so I'm unable to test it. Guess I will have to take the chance - I'm hearing that there aren't many 85's that are bad.

I would take that chance every time