Buying a Digital SLR

[colinc1]

Hi all

Just wondering if digital slr cameras are cheap enough in Thailand compared to australia, and if so, where would be the best place to go?

Am particularly interested in canon 7d body only.

Cheers

Colin

[blue]

Compared to Britain i found Thailand was about the same price
while Kuala lumpur was a lot cheaper, ,so if you are buying an expensive camera might be worth a side trip there .
and you have to weigh the small risk of having to pay tax when you take it home.

[genghis61]

a note re warranties, don't know how this compares to Canon.

From my Nikon Service Warranty on a camera I bought in KL last July

1) Your Nikon digital product is guaranteed against any manufacturing defects for one full year from date of purchase.
This warranty card is valid only in the country where you purchased this product.

The LED screen on the camera died in November - that was when i read the warranty details, contacted the Nikon agency for Thailand who confirmed it was valid only for Malaysia, but I could have a new LED screen for 4000 baht.

[redbaron]

I've noticed the duty free prices in my home countries, are about the same as in Thailand.. Not that there are any great bargains at the airport but city duty free camera shops as well as name brand specials/sales are as cheap, or cheaper than in thailand. Factor in the warranty issues as well as different power plugs (if applicable for recharging) and I figure you're better off buying at home

[Bobcock]

7D body here is 46,000 THB which is with proper Canon warrany.

You may get cheaper with shop warranty.

Personally I wouldn't.

[sabaii sabaii]

Why are so many electrical goods here so expensive?

Compared to the US or even the UK for that matter

When you consider the locality of China, Taiwan and Japan

[drawp]

I often wondered that myself sabaii, electronic goods here in Macau (even though most are generally made not even an hour away in Shenzhen) are generally more expensive than in the US. The only saving grace a lot of times is the lack of sales tax.

[Bobcock]

^^ Import Duty

[hazz]

^Its import duty, but currency fluctuations after the local prices have seen set that has a major effect on price differentials between countries. first time I went to japan digital camera's were half the uk price, the second time they were about 10% less.

As genghis61 pointed out, check the warranties. I got stung with nikon and a couple of bad pixels that needed mapping out, under warranty. the thai service agent would only offer to change the sensor out of warranty. never again will I ever by a nikon.

If you do go for a cannon, you might be interested in CHDK, a project that has created extended functionality for cannon's; and some examples