Gray Market lenses

[quicklad]

I am pricing out a new camera package and including a Fujinon HD WA lens. The difference in price is $5000 - between a US version and a "straight from Japan" version.

What are your arguments for or against getting a gray market lens, given that, unlike consumer gray market items, they are identical in build and quality?

[must-c-tv]

I buy all my lens in Singapore direct from the Fujinon office.

They are covered worldwide by the standard Fujinon warranty.

I saved about $8,000 on 13x4.5 on my wide angle alone - and that's after flight and 5 days in a 3 star hotel.

I get a little holiday, and save money.

Many other shooters in the UK do the same. Dubai is another location for direct from Sony etc purchases.

[Ed_Scott]

Anyone have a "Direct from Canon" contact?

[freedom]

must...
Have a contact?
Do you have to declare the lens when you get back home and pay duty?

[Run&Gun]

I purchased my Fuji HD 13x4.5, Gray market. There is absolutely no difference between the lens that I purchased directly from Japan and one that was intended for sale in the US, except that it was over $7,000 less expensive.

[JCTV]

Try this:

http://www.atvideotraders.com/

I have had really good luck with them, great prices and very easy to work with.

They have been around for years and are very reliable.

[Baltimore Shooter]

I buy all my lens in Singapore direct from the Fujinon office.

They are covered worldwide by the standard Fujinon warranty.


Hmmm...I wonder if you could do the same with a camera too and how much you'd save.

Warren

[Flaca Productions]

my D50 came from billy de cola at www.big10media.com
same kinda deal.

[dinosaur]

Try this:

http://www.atvideotraders.com/

I have had really good luck with them, great prices and very easy to work with.

They have been around for years and are very reliable.

I've bought a couple of lenses from Terri at A&T. Always the best price and pleasant to deal with. Fujinon USA will honor the warranty. It avoids the risk of having to deal with someone you don't really know in Singapore or Tokyo.

[must-c-tv]

If you are interested, contact the Sales dept at:

http://www.fujinon.com.sg/

Nice, professional guys in Singapore.

And no, I don't declare the lens, or pay duty.

Warren - if you want to buy Sony cameras, try Paul Martin at Sony Dubai.

[quicklad]

If Fujinon USA will honor ther warranty than that makes it a no brainer.

I was more interested if anyone had any ethical thoughts one way or the other on gray market lenses and also - I guess - on getting the lens from the same place as the camera.

From everyones' answers though it seems to not be much of a concern (5000 clams IS 5000 clams afterall).

Thanks everyone,
Eric

[Run&Gun]

I didn't have an ethical dilema, I was told that all taxes and duties were paid and that the lens is legally mine. If I sent it into Fuji for service, it's not going to show up stolen or anything like that.

It does kinda make you mad though when you start thinking about it, though. If the lenses are being sold for $5,000 to $8,000 less than you would pay through a US dealer, who is screwing us, the US dealers(by marking them up THAT much) or the manufacturers(marking them up that much more to the US dealers)?

[Chestfever]

I've been doing this since '87 on the west coast. The high markup doesn't surprise me. My guess would be the high profile suppliers, Band Pro, etc...make at least 50%. Their focus has always been separating shooters from their dollars. I still remember their sales pitch on the first digital cameras. I was told to buy one and show clients how pretty the pictures were then they'd all upgrade their gear....

One question on overseas buying. What's the explanation to customs upon re-entering? We usually fill out the Customs form when taking gear out of the country. It just proves we didn't buy it out of the country to avoid duty taxes. Then again, I guess you can just pack it in luggage and hope for the best.

[Mike]

AT Video Traders are good people. I bought my HD Canon wide lens from them...Terry Marsella...she is very pleasant to deal with, honest and I got a great deal on a great lens.

~Mike

[2000lux]

Can you save as much on the cameras? How much might you save buying a whole camera system overseas (outside the USA)?

[Miles]

one more......

http://www.globalmediapro.com/

Mostly SD lenses, DVCPRO, and DVCam.

I don't have a problem with buying "gray" lenses or tapes but I'd be a little cautious about picking up a camera. Not that I think anything would be wrong with it. Just from a warranty standpoint.

[freedom]

Ditto on Miles thought. I'll take achance on warantee issues with a lens. You check it out apurchase and fugure that's it. But with a camera, lots of issues can come up after 6 months and I'd want a warantee. Different set of circumstances. Now if I can get a good warantee on a grey camera then great...