Ripoff Britain

[ilesmark]

Hi all

Am after a new DSLR. Am traditionally a Canon man, but am also quite keen on the Nikon D90 as it has video. BUT - as we all know the Canon EOS 550D comes out next week, so I will have a look at that as well when it hits the shops.

It seems to be the same price in USD as it is in GBP. Does anyone in the UK have experience of buying DSLRs from the US? Does it actually save money, taking into account customs and carriage costs? And what about warranty issues?

Mark

[Franglais]

We just discussed this s bit in this thread:

D90 "Made in... " ?

I don't think you're being ripped off. I think that you get what you pay for. Personally I am happy to buy my Nikon cameras in France knowing that I can get good service from the Nikon Shop in Paris, usually for free.

BTW people say the Canon 60D is about to be announced. That's more an equivalent of the D90.

[SmartWombat]

I looked at it and including the shipping and customs duties, the saving was under £100 on a £4000 lens.

[ilesmark]

Hi - thanks for replies - I thought as much.

Sometimes it is worth doing eg if you're in America anyway on holiday, then you don't need to pay shipping and customs. I know also that uniquely American things like waterbed mattresses ARE a lot cheaper if you buy from the US rather than over here - I've done it!

Always worth checking though.

[SmartWombat]

There's also the warranty problem
I bought a G9 out in the USA because I wanted a better pocket camera, while I was at PMA.
Just inside a year it was so full of dust and fluff it was unusable, can't shoot video and can't shoot stills except wide open at shortest focal length.
I won't buy another $400 pocket brick from Canon again.

That's what pushed me into alternatives, eventually choosing micro 4/3.

[ilesmark]

Sure - you need a worldwide warranty. But didn't Canon do any sort of goodwill, if it was only just out of warranty?

PS - lovely cat!

[SmartWombat]

No luck there.
I've just chucked it in a pile of junk, and won't buy anything like it from Canon.
The ancient Panasonic that's nearly two years older is fine, and that too has an extending zoom lens that retracts into the body.
The G9 dust seals proved inferior, though the IQ and camera functions are far better on the Canon.