- This topic is empty.
advice for buying in the US
-
Hi guys,
I was hoping for some pointers. I am a complete newbie looking to enter into your realm :wink: Anyway, I asked a friend of mine for a good DSLR to get going with . He recommended the Canon 400D (Digital Rebel Xti). I am heading over to the states this month and was hoping to pick one up. Seeing as the 450D is now out, I was thinking of going with that instead. I was just wondering is there anything different about getting a camera in the US rather than here….are they both the same except for different names, or is there some stuff that won’t be compatible if I buy a camera in the US? Sorry if it seems like a stupid question, and thanks for any help given
EOS 450D with EF-S 18-55 IS Lens £529.00 (€678 ~ €700 shipped)
Adorama (NYC)Canon Digital Rebel XSi SLR Camera Body with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS $899.95 (€579) +~8.5% Sales Tax in NY = €628
http://www.adorama.com/ICADRXSIBK.html
US waranty issue, Customs at Dublin Airport. It aint worth the hassle. The only thing I would buy in the US these days would be high end lenses.
John
Customs at Dublin Airport… I’ve never in my life seen anyone on the Goods to Declare desk in Dublin Airport.
Valid point about the price comparisons though.
Don’t think there’s any difference in running a US model in EU other than maybe the battery charger. All my Canon’s have a two pin battery charger but come with an adaptor.
If you buy over there stick it in ur case without box and so on. I did it with my dvd cam.
About prices as i am looking at the d40 i am peeved with Ireland and its “Euro Equality”1 lense is $406 in amazon.com pixmania have it for €504. Almost double.
The d40 on pixmania uk is €1149 when converted from sterling. Its €1349 in pixmania ireland.But a friend for the rebel xti for 466 on ebay. a good deal with an extra lense and accessories. Posted from uk.
Thats my 2 cents worth.
Malcolm
nfl-fan is correct about the customs at Dublin Airport but it could happen and the consequences of being caught in the green channel are pretty dire. VAT, duty, fine, confiscation and long delay in getting your contraband back after paying up. The other problem is that Customs Oficers have incredible powers. It has been said on other forums that they have the power to search your premises and insist that you produce evidence that VAT was payed on other items you possess. This may be an urban myth but there is the story of a guy in the UK, retruning from the US, stopped and found to be in possesion of a high end boutique valve HiFi pre-amp. He was stopped crucified and two days later Customs arrived at his house and screwed him for the matching power amp he had brought back from a previous trip. For the sake of 60 Euro; buy online from the UK.
guthrij… I have to say that’s real scare mongering stuff. Every other person on PI has been to NY and bought loads of kit and I guarantee you won’t find one PI member who got nabbed. Going on hols to the US is about shopping for about 80% of people that go there, everyone knows that including customs. Customs are after the ciggie and drug smugglers… they don’t care if you want to buy a camera in America.
I agree. There is a small risk of getting caught coming back from the US with ‘contraband’, but it’s pretty miniscule.
Just have the camera out of its box and in a case. Make sure it looks like it’s something you have owned for a while – I did hear of one guy coming back from the States with a new set of golf clubs. Went through the green channel and the customs officer looked at the faces of the clubs – which were totally pristine. Needless to say he got hit for VAT and duty.
Don’t have the box in your bag, either – if you want to keep it, have someone post it over for you.
Cheers,
PeterThanks guys for the advice! I’m off to the US on Friday….I’ll let you know if I get nabbed or not on the way back :wink:
Enjoy the trip! You can’t not go to the photographers droolfest, B&H Photovideo in New York on 34th and 9th. Bear in mind that they’re closed for Passover from Fri 18th to Mon 21st.
I’ve never (touch wood) been nabbed by customs at Dublin airport.
MikeThere is a higher chance of your stuff getting stolen by the TSA if you put your equipment in checked luggage than customs catching you.
Darragh
If your on a budget for a Entry level SLR Camera.
Canon EOS 400D Digital SLR + 18-55mm Lens Kit € 522.01
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=324991CANON EOS 350D + EF-S 18-55 II Lens € 485
http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/88654/art/canon/eos-350d-ef-s-18-55-ii-le.htmlEnjoy the States :)
If its a full camera and lens, bring it back in your hand luggage. take some shots while out there, you are a tourist, right? Show the customs chaps the photos on the LCD if need be, and bob’s your uncle. A fancy camera with no photos on it when you are returning from “holidays” is a bit of a dead giveaway! I’m sure unless he’s a photography fan a rebel looks like a 1D mkIII to the customs fella… Post the packaging back to yourself btw, inc the receipts, never have the receipts on you…
The only downside is your warranty initially lies with the shop you bought it from, so problems could be expensive. But you can save so much, it’s usually a good gamble.
If you have a card in the camera with some pics of, say, the cliffs of Moher, so much the better. :)
well I’m back. No bother at customs. straight on through with the camera in my backpack. I got the canon 450D for $799 and bought some seperate lenses. I also got a MACK warranty which is a 3 year warranty that covers my camera if it gets brokendamaged. easy peasy
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
