Photography Thailand Forum

[bkkdave]

Has anyone had any experience buying a camera body from “Capa Digi Foto” on the 2nd floor of Fortune Town?

http://www.capa.co.th/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=28&category_id=15&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

I have narrowed down my choice for an upgrade and the Canon 5D is at the top of the list right now. I checked with Foto File and was quoted 84,000 for the body. Capa’s price is 80,000. The one he showed me is in a ‘kit box’ minus the lens, but the body appears to be new. The manual is in Japanese language only; which I am not thrilled about but the price is very tempting and is less than B&H where I intended to purchase it in 7 weeks from now.

I realize that a rumored 5D Mk II or what ever Canon will call it is coming; again at a rumored price point of about $3000 US.

For me, I am resigned not to play the waiting game because I always lose, and if the 5D is as good as everyone says then it will be good enough for my needs as it is. In the past I have always bought the 'New Models' only to see them replaced shortly by even 'Newer Models' shortly after the purchase.
Now I am thinking; 'why not buy a very good camera body at a discount and possibly never need to upgrade again?'

All of my glass is the ‘L’ variety with the exception of a 10-22 ES for my 20D.

Any feedback will be appreciated.

Thank you

[Paul Whitehead]

I have never bought a camera there but have bought many other bits and been fully satisfied. I once bought a light table from them and had some problems figuring out how to assemble it - after a quick phone call the owner and his wife turned up at my appartment to do it for me. I was very impressed.

[epixx]

If the manual is Japanese only, it's probably gray import from Japan. That may mean that the warranty is limited. I would check that if I were you.

[Marc Schultz]

Capa I believe used to be in a small house somewhere up in Sukhumvit 77 area. If it is the same people, I never visited their shop, but had once bought a couple of speed light flashes from them which they delivered to me so that I did not have to visit them to pick them up. The flashes I bought were brand new and are fine and were a bit cheaper from them than from other places I recall at the time.

Not sure if that helps much, but if you get a Canon Thailand warranty with the camera body you are fine I think. I agree with Jorgen though that it may be a gray market import from Japan and if it does not have a local warranty I probably wouldn't buy it if you are based in Thailand.

[bkkdave]

Thanks to all for the very helpful replies; I will check the Warranty. I did ask about the warranty yesterday and he said to just bring it back to his shop if anything happens. I will be more specific about it though.

Also do you agree that the 5D would be a better upgrade than the new 40D? I already have the 'L' lenses that would go with it and I really have not needed any fast FPS since I no longer shoot sports. I shoot mainly landscape and mainly am interested in a higher quality than the current 20D I am using.

[Marc Schultz]

Two quick comments: If you have the extra money to spend, definitely the 5D over the 40D. A store warranty is not the same as a Canon manufacturer's warranty. Sounds gray market. I would not buy it if it were me.

[bkkdave]

Thanks Marc! In checking further it is 'Grey Market'.

[Marc Schultz]

Your welcome. Quite simply, if it doesn't have a local Canon Thailand manufacturer’s warranty that by definition makes it gray market.

[bkkdave]

Marc, thanks for the explanation of gray market camera warranties. I do however have just one more question in connection with this subject that I have not found the answer to in my research on this matter:

As I understand;
Canon warranty’s their camera bodies for a period of one year. And no gray market camera will be covered during this warranty period.
(unless it is sent back to Japan) but do not expect any local help what-so-ever.

However; after the one-year warranty period expires; and should the camera body ever need service…

  Will Canon Thailand or Canon USA also refuse to repair or work on a ‘gray market’ camera; even though it is now; a ‘Fee Based Repair’?

I would also say that of all the Canon SLR/DSLR bodies that I have owned which in total is eight now, that I have never needed any warranty service.

Just curious,

[Marc Schultz]

Yes Dave, Canon service centers I believe should always be willing to repair gray market bodies for a fee, regardless of where they were purchased. It is just that if you bought a gray market body, you would not get the 1 year manufacturers warranty you mentioned. I actually bought my 1DS Mark II a few years ago in the States because I could not seem to get one in Thailand at the time. Had I had the choice, I would have bought it in Thailand where I live to have the local Canon warranty coverage. In essecence I was in the same situation as someone who bought a gray market body, not having any warranty coverage with my new body where I am based. Luckily, knock on wood, I have not had any problems with it since I bought it and I am well outside the warranty coverage period now in the event I would need some service on it at some point. Hope that helps.

[bkkdave]

Yes that did help to clarify the issue and now I need to consider where I purchase my equipment; USA vs Thailand for the very reasons you pointed out.

Thank you!

[David Salmanowitz]

As far as the 40D versus 5D even though the 40D is new where as the 5D is 2 years old already, I would still go with the 5D. There surely are some little improvements and tweaking done with the 40D, as with all new models. If you can wait a few months or until early spring at the latest I would think, there will be the successor to the 5D. Then if you did not want to drop the $ for that the 5D should be a lot cheaper.

[gregoire]

Choose your lenses first. Look at all the conversation there is here right now on single focals alone (for full frame). If you buy a 40D, will you be happy with the 10-22 wide angle, the 17-55 f/2.8 IS, or whatever else you plan to put onto it? These are fine lenses, the answer could just as well be yes. For example, this is a very light setup.

Or do you want a 50mm that functions as a 50mm, or a 24-105 f/4 IS L (that's a much wider range than the 17-55 f/2.8 IS, for the same price, with L build), or a 17-40 f/4 L (again, not that much more expensive than a 10-22, fixed aperture throughout, L build), etc. It's the lenses that made me choose the 5D.

[David Salmanowitz]

Real valid point Gregoire, I agree with you--not that I have always followed the lenses first protocol.  :)  Also, it might have been already said on this forum but a full frame sensor camera will really pull out the faults in a lens more so than one that is not.

[bkkdave]

Well I picked up a 5D last weekend. It was part of a kit that originally came with the 24-105 f/4L IS that I already own. The price quoted was less than from the same FotoFile camera store at another location and the sales person said he recognized me from the FotoFile MBK location, so he called his boss and came up with 82,000. The MBK location quoted 84,000. In the same mall ‘Big Camera’ wanted 90,000 and came down to 89,000. The two locations at FotoFile MBK both quoted different prices too.

Over all it was less than B&H where I was planning to get it next month and this one has a Canon Thailand warranty.

I am not sure yet if I want the BG-E4 battery grip that goes with that body, I guess it is a toss up between extra weight and bulk vs just carrying an extra battery.

I agree with David that the price will drop when the new version is announced, but as I said earlier I never win the waiting game and this body seems like all I will ever need.

As for the glass; everything I own is the ‘L’ variety with the exception being the EF-S 10-22, which I no longer need.

I bought the 24-105 f/4L IS to replace the 24-70 f/2.8 L simply for the Image Stabilization. I am not a youngster any longer and find the Image Stabilization is a big help for the hand held shots. But I really do like the f/2.8 apertures for the low light and great DOF.