Buying camera in the US

phog · 08-01-2006 10:37pm #1

I'm hoping to purchase a digital SLR camera in the US shortly, beside a worldwide warranty what else should I discuss with the retailer? What the story with the different voltages for the charger?

rymus · 08-01-2006 10:49pm

most chargers or ac adaptors these days will take I think anything from 100 to 240v. All you'll probably have to get is a 3 pin cord to connect the charger to the power socket.

Subliminal · 08-01-2006 11:11pm

If your flying from dublin or shannon ( not sure where you are ) you can get a travel adopter that works both ways for 15 euro on the inflight shop!

Heading there tommorow, buying a camera too, getting an adopter on the flight. Just fyi.

rabbitinlights · 09-01-2006 12:19am

What camera you(s) buying? and where?

Dizzyblabla · 09-01-2006 12:25am

If it's an expensive one, can you get caught by customs coming back? cause I'm thinking of doing the same thing in June...

rymus · 09-01-2006 12:52am

just be careful/sensible when coming back. I got through ok a couple of years ago with a €1700 camcorder by bringing it on as hand luggage and putting everything else in my checked luggage.

donncha · 09-01-2006 8:25am

Check online retailers in Europe - you might be surprised. They can be as cheap as buying in the US, and you don't need to worry about warranties or customs. If you have a VAT number you might save that way too!
When buying in a store in the US, make sure you add the local sales tax to the price that's displayed.

Carrigman · 09-01-2006 6:11pm

Just a comment on Customs & Excise. I landed in Shannon in October at 6am on the Aer Lingus flight from JFK. There was no C&E presence. Apparantely, they don't come on duty until 6.30am! Accordingly, anyone on board the first Aer Lingus flight of the day gets through without any hassle...provided it's on time of course. As it happened I had nothing to declare anyhow. The week I picked in New York was a Jewish holiday and both B&H and Adorama, both owned by orthodox jews, were closed. Moral of the story: if you're thinking of picking up some photo gear while in the States check that the store you have in mind will actually be open while you're there.

rabbitinlights · 09-01-2006 6:43pm

Its also closed on saturdays IIRC.

cianclarke · 09-01-2006 8:06pm

If you want to find how much the duty WILL cost you check here:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/dds/cgi-bin/tarchap?Lang=EN
And to avoid paying it, just bring the camera as hand luggage and flatten the box and manuals etc.

phog · 10-01-2006 9:21am

rabbitinlights wrote:

What camera you(s) buying? and where?

Either A Canon 350 or a Nikon D50/70. I hope to buy in a high street shop in the US.

Re. Customs - my intention is to walk past without declaring it in the hope that if caught that I can say I brought it into the US on my arriival.

My main concern is the power supply to the charger, we operate 220 V and the US have 110V, with the 220V damage a charger designed for the US?

elderlemon · 10-01-2006 9:10pm

Not sure about the Nikon but the Canon is 110/240 so you're ok. The transformer takes a dual pin main plug so you can swap out the US one and insert a UK/Ireland one and you're all set.

Carrigman · 10-01-2006 9:54pm

phog wrote:

Re. Customs - my intention is to walk past without declaring it in the hope that if caught that I can say I brought it into the US on my arriival.

They will have heard that one before! It won't work. C&E will be able to tell from the reg no of the camera whether it was bought in the EU or not. In any case, the onus would be on you to prove that you brought it with you to the US. The chances of you being stopped however are remote. Best of luck!

Takeshi_Kovacs · 11-01-2006 1:02pm

could you not say it was a gift, or bought second hand or something like... surely C&E are not so miserable that they would waste time and get you to fully prove how you acquired it...

Carrigman · 11-01-2006 5:11pm

Takeshi_Kovacs wrote:

could you not say it was a gift, or bought second hand or something like... surely C&E are not so miserable that they would waste time and get you to fully prove how you acquired it...

They would be within their rights to confiscate the item until you could prove it was not a new item purchased in the States. Trooping through Customs with a shiny new camera and expecting them to swallow a story about it being second hand or whatever would not work. Besides, you are only allowed items - gifts or otherwise - up to a max value of €150 (not sure about the exact fig but it's certainly less than €200) free of duties and taxes. Again, the chances of you being challenged are remote but the risk is there. Thousands of Irish people are going on shopping trips to the States and the Customs are turning a blind eye. They are more interested in the smuggling in of drugs and the like to be bothered with ordinary shoppers. And long may that...and the favorable exchange rate... continue.

FX Meister · 12-01-2006 6:18pm

Jeez, just dont have the box or manuals on you and make sure you have used it a bit and taken some flicks before you get home.

Dredd · 16-01-2006 3:48pm

Don't worry bout customs just carry as hand luggage (almost guaranteed to get damaged if u check it in). Don't have it in its box. No need to worry about charger or voltage. The camera the camera operates around 8v (from memory) and the transformer (supplied with camera) operates at both 110v or 220v. There no need for an adaptor either as 2 cables are always supplied for the US and for Europe. The only worry is Canon do not offer a worldwide warranty but the shop may. I would seriously check Pixmania.com before buying in the states as the prices are usually good and u will have a warranty for Europe. The 350d is a great camera enjoy whatever one u buy. The best way to learn is to join a camera club. Camera clubs always welcome beginners and u will learn an awful lot, get great advice and answers to u'r questions.

Buying camera in the US

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