Photography Thailand Forum

[Marc Schultz]

I am considering buying the new Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L II Tilt/Shift Lens. I have the older model, which I use quite often, but according to this comparison of the newer model which was released in February 2009, the difference in terms of image quality, sharpness, and levels of chromatic abboration are quite significant:

http://the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-TS-E-24mm-f-3.5-L-II-Tilt-Shift-Lens-Review.aspx

So I obtained a local quote for the lens in Thailand and I was quoted 72,500 Baht.

Then I checked the price online here for a spot price comparison of Hong Kong prices:

http://www.ygdragon.net/index.php?page=photo/cameraprice.htm

The price in Hong Kong is HK$14,900 or roughly only 57,800 Baht.

In my opinion, the difference in price of 14,700 Baht, which is a 20% savings, is pretty considerable.

At the moment, between now and Sept 30, 2001 you can fly to Hong Kong starting from 5,800 Baht return on Cathay Pacific Airline: Cathay Promotional Fares Link

I would still come out ahead buying the lens in HK, including the cost of the airfare, plus get a free trip to Hong Kong out of it from the cost savings. Worth considering.

[bkkdave]

Marc that is a significant savings as you pointed out...but why do you suppose it is so much more expensive here? Perhaps in Thailand the additional price gets translated into the infrastructure like better roads, side-walks, and education?

[Marc Schultz]

I assume the higher cost partially has to do with the fact that there are higher import duties in Thailand. Also, a lot of the stuff being sold in Hong Kong is known as gray market. So there may not be official manufacturer warranties with the equipment. Also, you could get a 7% VAT refund on the stuff you buy in Thailand if you plan to leave the country within 60 days from the date of purchase. But in general Hong Kong is usually less expensive on camera equipment as it is a more competitive consumer electronic market in general.

[David Salmanowitz]

Marc--that is a good price. Was curious and B&H's price for non grey market was 66,321 baht. The grey market price was 1500 baht less. Hong Kong is like NY in that there are a few trustworthy stores and a mess of scam ones as well.

[Marc Schultz]

Thanks David. What makes them a scam if they are selling the real thing at prices that are 20% lower?

[Khun Hans]

Bought lenses and cams in HK several times. In case the lens comes from Canon HK you will have the warranty all over East Asia. Not for the Canon cams.
I'm  curious if you get it for this price. Usually Tincheung Camera are the cheapest but they offer for HKD 17.880 www.tincheungcamera.com.hk/category/1_66&filter_id=6 

[Khun Hans]

Woooww Thanks for the Cathay Pacific link.
Hans

[David Salmanowitz]

 Marc--Did not mean this store with 20% was a scam but know there are  many stores in NYC with incredible prices that seem too good to be true--and they are. One sees a camera at a great price, but then all the things that always come with it are extra as in battery charger, battery, strap, ... Have seen when a camera is just announced let's say at Photokina for example--a day or two later it is on some store's website even though not available anywhere. They will take your credit card payment, sit on it for months and months till the camera is actually available, then send it. If a store is honest and has a 20% discount no problem there.  

[Gregg Spradling]

I always look at http://www.resellerratings.com/ to check out stores. Like David said, if it's too good to be true, it usually is.

I typically trust ones like B&H, Adoroma, KEH (used) and highly skeptical of all the rest until checked out.

[David Salmanowitz]

Gregg, thanks for that reseller site. The stores you mentioned  are the ones I trust as well, and I can add one more--J&R in NYC on Park Row near City Hall. Though I always seem to go to B&H first, 2 years ago a lens I wanted was on back order at B&H and maybe Adorama and I bought it from J&R. Remember back in 1980 J&R was just a little record store and now they take up 2 blocks selling electronics, camera gear, music, ...

[Khun Hans]

I always look at http://www.resellerratings.com/ to check out stores. Like David said, if it's too good to be true, it usually is.

I typically trust ones like B&H, Adoroma, KEH (used) and highly skeptical of all the rest until checked out.

As far as I see there are no Hong Kong dealer in USA is not the whole world. As far as I hear from my USA friends nobody seems to mail order from there. From Hong Kong it's not a problem at all.

[bkkdave]

I usually only buy from B&H when in the States however I now check Newegg as well to see if they carry what I am looking for. I buy most computer stuff from Newegg and they carry a limited selection of camera equipment. Two years ago I saved $150 over B&H's price on a  Canon 70-200 L IS f/2.8. And yes it was new and came with everything; F&R Caps, Hood, Tripod Collar, Case and the shipping was free.

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=388&name=Camera-Lenses

[David Salmanowitz]

Hans--USA is not the whole world.--since when?    B&H never used to ship to Thailand but they do now, as well as certain other stores USA. Postage could well be less from Hong Kong though. I only use the USA stores as a reference as I am usually back in the states from BKK at least once a year, and they are usually cheaper than SE Asia.

[Marc Schultz]

I wanted to mention that I have not heard of Tincheung Camera in HK before, but the cheaper ones are probably the gray market type shops that I mentioned. I had posted something on it a while back with some names and photos of some of the shops:

http://www.photographythailand.com/Forum/index.php/topic,1011.0.html

The shops with the name Shing in them, Man Shing and Wing Shing are the most well known I think for the best pricing. Whereas the camera shops around Stanley Street in Central will be the most expensive there.

[Khun Hans]

Yes, Marc, Stanley street is the expensive area. Tincheung is probably the biggest pure photo shop in HK and located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Next street they opened a second hand shop with a lot of Leica stuff The internet prices are sure negotiable at the shop and they also offer grey market stuff. I bought the Canon 600/4L IS for around 60.000HKD strait from a mail delivery from Japan. But this was about 4 years ago.
I only bought once in a Mongkok shop: www.iphotohk.com/shop/v2/index.php?language=us .They offer all the nice US stuff as Wimberley, Acratech, Gary Fong, Really Right Stuff etc.
Hans