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Decisions decisions
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If you ordered it within the EU then you shouldn’t get stung for customs duty, depending on how the parcel is declared.
Some of the Hong Kong shops on eBay, URGalaxy is one of them, operate via a UK address and usually declare the goods as repairs of a low value, so customs and tax won’t come into it.
However, ordering from the US would normally snag customs duty and tax in one shape or form, and there’s usually a handling fee too. If handled by An Post, it’s about a fiver, and if it’s a courier company then it’s usually more. The same applies to a second hand item, or pretty much anything sent from the US with a declared value and item description.
Last time I’m buying from the US like that, unless cost saving is worthwhile. Bought a second hand lens (eBay) with a declared value of US$248, packed as a ‘gift’ and had to pony up about 75EUR on delivery, most of that was VAT, I think duty was only about 11. I called up customs to ask, even citing a fictitious example of my relative sending something of his over to me, as it’s unlikely I’ll be visiting him any time soon. The reply I got was that yes I would still have to pay duty and tax because the item has never before been registered in the EU so duty and tax would not have been paid. If I wanted to send the item back I could apply for a refund, though any handling charge won’t be refunded, just the duty & tax.
The risk about declaring stuff at a low value is that should something happen in transit, you’d be screwed for trying to claim more compensation than the declared value.
Sancho – glad you went for the 40D and hope it arrives soon.
I treated myself to a 40D too (from HK), keeping the 20D as backup. As tempting as a 1DII sounds I would have resisted the brain train and been pragmatic and thought about the newer technology and functions etc, and that in my camera’s lifespan, is it likely to come under such testing conditions that a 40D couldn’t handle. Of course I’d justify a hundred reasons to buy the 1DII… but then have to show people my equally stunning photos that were in no way possible in the remotest with a technologically more advanced 40D :D
Thanks Stasber, i’m really happy I went with the 40D, i’m just getting really quite frustrated with the waiting. 2-4 days they said! It’s now getting on for 12, not very impressed although you could say it’s the holiday season so a small delay is acceptable. I pretty much know the camera inside out now without ever holding one so the delay has helped me get to grips with it before i physically get to grips with it. Any ideas for a name? :D yes i name my equipment :) My 350D is called George.
SANCHO wrote:
Any ideas for a name? :D yes i name my equipment :) My 350D is called George.
Bethaniel :shock:
We never did hook up when you came down for Slayer in the end. Ah well next time, as they say.
I didn’t make it down i’m afraid, never got the money saved up/people to go. Finally got the 40D today, think i’m gonna go with Betty, it looks like a Betty :D Anyhoo just fiddling about with it and getting used to the new controls/layouts etc. Tis quite impressive I have to say, can’t wait to shoot some gigs, first opp is gonna be this Saturday. One annoying thing is I can’t get the expaned ISO working. I have it selected in Custom Functions yet i still can’t go lower than ISO 200 or higher than ISO 1600. It worked earlier for a while and I took a few shots at 3200, pretty nice but then it stopped working again! I updated the firmware but it still ain’t working. lameness.
If you’ve switched it on in Custom Functions then you should get the H and L expanded ISO options, don’t know why they’d “switch themselves off” – maybe doublecheck your settings, it sounds as though they were working at one point; I’d also suggest going through various other settings in case there is a fault with the camera. Maybe Betty’s just shy? ;)
Most painful thing.. getting some kit and finding out it’s faulty & the hassle of sending it back plus being parted from your new “gf” (gadget friend ;) ).
There certainly is one hell of a lot more to play around with on this baby though, flip! My dad was having a laugh (he used to do event photography at one point) – in his time, photography was about shutter speed, aperture & a light meter… then it got all complicated! :lol:
My first outing with it will be tonight though I don’t really fancy it to be honest (small unlit gig, was asked & get free in). But sure, time to get into the swing of things I guess.
I shot a gig there on Saturday night, a band called Two Tales of Woe were playing, they’re a great band and a lovely bunch of lads. The 40D performed awesomely!! Really nice sharp shots with plenty of detail, much better than what I could get with the 350D. Although I was shooting RAW so that made a big difference. Once I get my college assignments out of the way i’ll post a few in the gigs section. Oh yeah got everything sorted with the various custom functions/features. Next thing to do is buy the 24-105 F4 L :D
i got a 40d from ur galaxy body only and a bge2n battery grip for 980 postage included.. me thinks i got a bargin
that certainly is a bargain! Gotta get me a battery grip so i can fool the casual obsserver into thinking i have a pro camera :D
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