Is it ok to buy new camera and lenses from abroad?

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Forgetmeknot

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Hi
Im just looking for a canon 7d camera and couple of L series lenses. I've been searching for best deals and websites from Hong Kong and America keep coming up with great packages.
Is it safe to buy from them? Or would i be best getting from UK sites?

Can anyone recommend a good site to buy from?

Thanks
 
Just dont get one from australia all the photos come out up side down:D
 
It is more about warranty than whether safe to buy. I don't think your camera body would be covered. Have you also included import costs if they are not covered by the sellers?
 
It might look tempting at first glance. However when you've factored in how much duty and VAT you'll have to pay for importng it to the UK, it migh not seem such a bargain.

Need to do your homework with respect to warranties as well.
 
pepi1967 said:
Just dont get one from australia all the photos come out up side down:D
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Spare a thought for how we Aussies on TP feel - having to turn my laptop upside down just to read the posts on here is a complete pain :bang:

My beautiful wife gave me a new AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G today. She sourced it from Hong Kong and it arrived in about 3 days. We checked with local brick and mortar stores first. The bottom line was that none had it in stock, couldn't say how long it would take to get in (it had been on order at one for about 3 weeks) and wanted AUD$279 to $299. The one from Hong Kong came with warranty through an Australian dealer for $219 included fully insured, registered, express delivery.

We've bought plenty of things from overseas, with basically no problems at all. My advice is just to be careful and check the fine print.
 
It seriously depends on your situation. I am contemplating getting a 7D to replace my 350D and I will buy it from the US. My wife is from the US so we travel there at least twice a year, so if anything was to go wrong then I could just get it fixed there. Also as I will be buying it for myself and bringing it back I should not get stung by VAT.

As a rule I generally say if I am saving more than 20% of the cost I will buy it in the US, otherwise I will not.
 
I bought a 7d from Kerso last year (he's on TP) and I believe the warranty is the same as in the UK. Not sure how his price compares, but very smooth easy transaction. Would highly recommend him.

Also, I think his gear is already in the UK so you don't need to worry about import duty etc.
 
pepi1967 said:
Just dont get one from australia all the photos come out up side down:D
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This person talks nonsense. On most picture viewers there is a button which you can click to put a picture round the right way.
Just a few clicks and you can see pictures from almost anywhere in the world.

:D

Be very careful when you buy from overseas. Check the company concerned with web reviews.
As far as Canon goes any lens has a world wide warranty but bodies are a different matter.
With some foreign vendors they may offer a warranty on a body but it may mean sending the camera back to HK for example.
Other UK based vendors like HDEW will offer you their own warranty. Their prices are competitive but you just hope they stay in business long enough to cover your warranty, no reason why they shouldn't as they seem as very sound outfit.

Someone here mentioned Kerso. I can't speak highly enough of this vendor, you can buy from him at very competitive prices with absolute confidence ( no relation!).
Just remember if a deal is too good to be true then it probably isn't (or is, I can't work it out!).
 
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Have a look at www.hdewcameras.com and www.panamoz.com One is UK based and one is Hong Kong based but both give good prices and good warranties too. If it comes to that you need a warranty repair (I've had 6 bodies and around 15 lenses and never had aproblem with any of them) you have to decide whether it's worth paying up a lot more for a UK model or being without for a few extra days while it's sent for warranty via Hong Kong. I've had 2 bodies and 3 lenses from Panamoz and 2 bodies and 1 lens from Hdew and had great service every time.
 
It depends, I bought a d60 twin lens kit in oz while traveling. I'm from the uk. I brought it home in my hand luggage. I'm not to sure of the legalities about bringing in goods, whether duty has to be paid on such items. The other problem is the warranty, if something would have gone wrong I'd have had to send the camera to Nikon Australia.

As for buying abroad. I looked into getting a Nikon 80-200 2.8 from hong kong. It was a lot cheaper but when I went on hmm customs website the import duty was in the hundreds so it didn't work out any cheaper. The lens is known as the beast and is heavy so that may have been a factor I'm not sure. Then you have the warranty so I'd say buy in the uk as I did.
 
Forgetmeknot said:
Hi
Im just looking for a canon 7d camera and couple of L series lenses. I've been searching for best deals and websites from Hong Kong and America keep coming up with great packages.
Is it safe to buy from them? Or would i be best getting from UK sites?

Can anyone recommend a good site to buy from?

Thanks
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As has been said in above posts, what are you going to save - for me, it would need to be a reasonably substantial amount to outway the warrenty issues etc.

Ian (Kerso) on here and HDEW both have very good reputations and are seriously worth considering...
 
It is certainly something worth considering if you want to save a few quid on the initial purchase. Whether it costs you more further down the line well that's something you don't know and have to consider.

There's couple of threads discussing Hdew, Kerso, Panamoz on here.

7D @ Hdew - £859,
7D @ Panamoz - £771
7D @ Kerso - £955
7D @ Jessops - £1129
7D @ Amazon - £1053
 
Type_R said:
It seriously depends on your situation. I am contemplating getting a 7D to replace my 350D and I will buy it from the US. My wife is from the US so we travel there at least twice a year, so if anything was to go wrong then I could just get it fixed there. Also as I will be buying it for myself and bringing it back I should not get stung by VAT.
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surfg1mp said:
It depends, I bought a d60 twin lens kit in oz while traveling. I'm from the uk. I brought it home in my hand luggage. I'm not to sure of the legalities about bringing in goods, whether duty has to be paid on such items.
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You have a personal carrying (as opposed to shipping) threshold of £390 which includes all of your purchases (like duty free or other local shopping). If the value of your imports is over that amount, then VAT/Duty will be applicable and your are obligated to declare your imports.

I think a 7D is a bit over the limit, but a D60 twin kit wouldn't be unless you had other purchases. Also, it isn't an allowance, rather it is a threshold. If you go over by £1, then you pay duty on the full amount, not just the £1. You also cannot combine your threshold with another person (like a wife). If you bought a camera kit for £780, you couldn't say that was both of your allowances together. However if you bought a lens for £390 and she bought body for £390 then they are separate imports and you are okay.

Thanks,
Rick
 
Hi Forgetmeknot

The best places to visit and shop for Canon is HK & Shenzhen China only 20 mins away but much much cheaper then the UK prices. And they are not copies btw, the only problem is the "Warranty" but i haven't had any problems myself.

Michael
 
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Forgetmeknot said:
Thanks everyone so much for replying and your advice. I really appreciate it.
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Bought a 100-400 from digital rev 4years ago, got charged duty, the sale was supposed to be duty free!
But they paid the duty, was just a pain to sort out, especially when the dhl bill for the excess duty landed on my doorstep a few weeks later!
Lens has been great.
 
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