Picking up lenses in different countries...

I have a buddy in Korea (I'm from the US), and the exchange rate is making me lens hungry. I'm having him price out a couple items for me, but it got me wondering...

Can I use a Canon lens that I purchased in another country on my camera here? I assume that I can since the lens mounts are the same and we sell "imported" lenses here in the states, but I just wanted to be sure.

He's thinking about buying a camera in Korea and bringing it back here as well. I'm in the market for a 5D, but again, I'm concerned with compatibility. I'm sure the chargers are different, but what about the batteries?

Anyone with experience on this, please let me know!

Dave

ps. Anyone wany anything for Christmas?!

As far as I know, there are no intentional regional incompatibilities in Canon camera equipment.

Everything apart from chargers/manuals is the same. There'd be far more hassle in creating region-specific products than just selling the same product with different "extras" everywhere.

I know when I was in Japan there were people all the time buying lenses locally and using them on there american cameras. I even about bought a camera in Japan. The menus can be changed to read English.

A Canon 5D (or other body model) or current EF lens from Korea or anywhere else in the world is the same as one would buy in North America. There maybe some differences from non-english manuals, slightly different camera badging like the XSi/450D, or as you mentioned possibly a differing battery charger. But all internals, batteries and included accessories are the same world over.

The one main issue one might run into in buying a body from Korea for example, is that all menus by default may well be in Korean, one must be aware of this and be prepared to understand how to re-set the language menus to the language of their choice.

These are in most cases are minor issues, however where one might run intowhat could be considered a major issue or difficulty issue is with warranty service. Purchasing from outside your market area is the same as buying a gray market equipment.

This could mean mean that the Canon service centers in North America may not honor your warranty but require you to send it to the repair center designated for the market in which it was purchased.

And if you are buying the X-mas gift, I'll take a 1Ds Mk3. Otherwise I have spent my X-mas budget for friends and family on myself, picking up a 500mm f/4 IS in another country tomorrow.

SWEET.

Now I'm tempted... maybe I should have him pick up a 5D kit AND a Canon 45 TSE... TOUGH CHOICE!!!!!!

Thanks, all.

I once purchased a Canon 1D from a gray market provider. Menu functions were in Japanese and manual was a photocopy of the English. Fortunately, there is an authentic Japanese restaurant nearby and I was able to have help in going through the menu to turn on the English setting.

I think most here answered correctly. Different models names sometimes, but all functions are the same. Warranties are another matter--don't drop your babies and keep them clean and running.

I am pretty sure all the lenses / bodies are the same in different countries. Most Canon D-SLR's have multiple language menus. But do be aware, some local Japan spec cameras only come in English / Japanese only (IXY).

Otherwise, most SLR bodies have most of the menus in different languages and essentially operate the same. Lenses are the same everywhere. I am unsure on the warranty coverage, so don't drop your gear!

If you need help with the menus going from Japanese - English, send me a PM.

I got to use a Korean 5D a little while back. It is the same as a US 5D, just the menu is in Korean, and I would bet that the charger is specific to Korea (and any other country that uses this strange plug).

All functionality is the same. Every physical label on the camera body is also in English - ISO, WB, AF/Drive, Menu, etc.

Compare prices that your friend gives you with the prices on www.gmarket.com

There is an English shop (top right corner of the site) that you can use to navigate if you aren't fluent in Korean.

how much they sell the 5D in Korea?
cheaper ?
i know in japan, the lens and body are much expensive than here!

oh, yeah
no worries about the battery, they all the same
the only things different are the manual is in korea and the charger is not for us!
that's it!

I have bought lenses in the US, Europe and Asia and they all work. Charger and manuals are different. You may also want to check warranty.

Jut curious. Are prices really cheaper in Korea? Things are definitely cheaper for us in Europe, but how is it compared to US prices. It may be better now that the dollar is gaining a bit of strength.

With the current exchange rate, yes. Electronics in general are cheaper than in the US.

For good measure, the average price for the 5D on gmarket.com (sort of like a Korean pricegrabber.com) is 2,278,850 KRW. At today's exchange rate, that comes out to $1517.26 for a brand new 5D.

Now compare that $1517 to B&H's price of $2013.95. Even if you add in the cost of shipping to the US (estimated at 48,000 won or about $32), it still comes out to far less than B&H.

infinite012 wrote in post #6742492
With the current exchange rate, yes. Electronics in general are cheaper than in the US.

For good measure, the average price for the 5D on gmarket.com (sort of like a Korean pricegrabber.com) is 2,278,850 KRW. At today's exchange rate, that comes out to $1517.26 for a brand new 5D.

Now compare that $1517 to B&H's price of $2013.95. Even if you add in the cost of shipping to the US (estimated at 48,000 won or about $32), it still comes out to far less than B&H.

Thanks Infinite, I should visit your country
I got a lens in Indonesia last summer and it was just slightly cheaper than in the US. The dollar was weaker then. Anyway, anywhere is cheaper than in Europe