what's the name of that street in manila area famous for their camera shops?i'm planning on buying a dslr

Answer 1

If you are in the USA or Canada or Europe you might want to re-think buying your camera in Manila. Why? Because you will have NO warranty coverage.

Camera manufacturers have Authorized Importers, usually a subsidiary such as CanonUSA or SonyUSA or NikonUSA. Although its perfectly legal for anyone to import cameras and sell them, this undercuts the prices of cameras sold by the authorized importers. This is called the "gray market" and while legal its (IMO) rather unethical. The "gray market" seller neglects to tell the buyer that their camera's warranty is only good in the country it was sold in.

Canon - and probably other manufacturers - will release a camera with different markings for different geographic regions. This is done to combat the gray market and seems to work.

Regardless of where you buy your camera ask if it has warranty coverage for your country. If the answer is anything less than an enthusiastic "Yes!" then you're buying a gray market camera. (I'm cynical enough to ask for that in writing).