What is the difference between the two?
If I buy the imported model, will I have problems getting it fixed here in the US
Any one?
2006-09-29 09:25:49 · 4 answers · asked by mmtoruno 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Cameras
You will not get problems getting it fixed, but it will not be covered under warranty.
BTW - that's a fantastic lens and it has been trouble free for me for the past 2 years (although I bought the US model jsut to be on the safe side)
2006-09-29 09:32:27 · answer #1 · answered by Cris 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From the B & H Web site:
In most cases the difference between a USA import and a Grey Market, or imported product, is the cost of the item and the terms of the item’s warranty coverage. The products themselves are otherwise identical in every way. Occasionally the manufacturer might change a product name of model number to differentiate between products targeted for US distribution and products targeted for distribution elsewhere.
As a rule, Grey Market items cost less than their USA counterparts. The warranty of Grey Market items are often, but not always, the same as their USA counterparts. Specific details of product warranties vary by product and manufacturer.
If you should experience a problem with a product sold with a USA warranty, it can be sent to any of the manufacturer’s worldwide authorized service facilities for servicing. A "direct import" or grey market item would have to be returned to B&H Photo-Video if it required in-warranty attention.
A resident of the USA may wish to make the buying decision based on price since the cost of shipping to a US service center or to B&H should be about equal.
A non-USA resident should consider the cost of returning a product to B&H in New York for servicing as opposed to the cost of taking the product to a local warranty service center.
2006-09-29 10:06:28 · answer #2 · answered by Petard 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Completely stolen from http://www.bhphotovideo.com
What are the differences as far as a customer is concerned?
In most cases the difference between a USA import and a Grey Market, or imported product, is the cost of the item and the terms of the item’s warranty coverage. The products themselves are otherwise identical in every way. Occasionally the manufacturer might change a product name of model number to differentiate between products targeted for US distribution and products targeted for distribution elsewhere.
As a rule, Grey Market items cost less than their USA counterparts. The warranty of Grey Market items are often, but not always, the same as their USA counterparts. Specific details of product warranties vary by product and manufacturer.
If you should experience a problem with a product sold with a USA warranty, it can be sent to any of the manufacturer’s worldwide authorized service facilities for servicing. A "direct import" or grey market item would have to be returned to B&H Photo-Video if it required in-warranty attention.
A resident of the USA may wish to make the buying decision based on price since the cost of shipping to a US service center or to B&H should be about equal.
A non-USA resident should consider the cost of returning a product to B&H in New York for servicing as opposed to the cost of taking the product to a local warranty service center.
What kind of warranty is available?
Any "grey market" item B&H Photo-Video sells includes a B&H warranty, which covers the same particulars the USA warranty would cover for a period of one year. The only difference is that you would ship the item to B&H for service. Your original B&H Photo-Video product invoice is all that is required.
Why offer "Direct Import"?
Direct Import, or grey market items often cost less than comparable US imports. There are also items sold at B&H that are not brought into the US through normal distribution channels.
PAL (Phase Alternate Line) Video Equipment
Video equipment sold in the US , Canada , Mexico , and Japan is designed to record and playback video images at 525 lines-per-frame @ 60 frames-per-second. This is commonly known as an NTSC format (National Television Standards Committee).
B&H also sells video equipment that is set to record and playback video using the European broadcast standard (PAL) of 625 lines-per-frame @ 50 frames-per-second.
PAL and NTSC are not interchangeable recording formats.
Video equipment sold by B&H Photo & Video designed to record video in the European (PAL) format is only available in the US as grey market and as such does not include a factory authorized warranty.
For PAL-format video products B&H includes a 90-day warranty.
What about film?
Film is also sold at B&H from both US and grey market channels. In most, but not all cases, there is no difference between the imaging qualities of similar film stocks. Price-wise, the grey market products cost less than their US counterparts.
We advertise Kodak film in three types:
IMPORTED - Film made outside the USA and imported for us. This may also be referred to as "GREY".
USAW - Film manufactured in the USA for Worldwide distribution.
USA - Film manufactured in the USA or overseas and imported for domestic distribution.
Agfa, Fuji, and Ilford films are not manufactured within the USA and are available from both US and grey distribution channels.
B&H Photo recognizes that for many professionals, the method of handling the film and its storage conditions during transport are important factors.
Optimum performance is essential for any professional, whether shooting food, fashion or portraits. We know that you need contrast, tonal range, color rendition and saturation to be accurate, reliable and repeatable. We are also aware of the fact that many of our amateur customers devote the same care and consideration to their photography and deserve the same quality.
For critical work it is always recommended you pre-test any film emulsion, US or otherwise, before shooting projects that require critical color and tonal parameters.
2006-09-29 18:25:59 · answer #3 · answered by Picture Taker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did not think the difference was much. Go for the US make.
2006-09-29 13:53:46 · answer #4 · answered by Rustom T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋