Parallel imported product

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Wills1

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#143625 21-Apr-2014 20:20

Hi there,

I'm looking to enter the world of Dslr photography, and have found a couple of Nikon camera's I am very interested in. I notice the price difference is huge between noel lemming and expert infotech for example D3200 Noel Leeming price $959, Einfo price $597.

Is it really worth paying the extra to buy from an authorised distributor, or should I consider saving hundreds of dollars for the same camera? TIA

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#1028703 21-Apr-2014 20:38

The cheaper one is obviously parallel imported. Look at warranty - if something goes wrong EI may have to send it overseas to be repaired, as often companies won't fix parallel imported gear. You could ask MacAlister Group who do Nikon repairs if they'd repair it, but it probably wouldn't be warranty. Cameras are expensive and fragile. But $350 is a decent amount of money - though any decent lens or flash you buy will cost far more than that. Any accessories will be expensive - a nice lens can be $3500.

There's also B&H, very reputable, but you'll pay shipping and GST, so wouldn't be much cheaper.

Nikon have typically been very expensive in NZ - though I thought they'd gotten better in recent years. I got my first Nikon from overseas, my second locally, a few years back.

alasta

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#1028745 21-Apr-2014 21:32

If you buy through a legitimate channel then Nikon NZ will give you a three year warranty. On the other hand a cowboy importer could go bust a week after you've bought the product and then you're left effectively with no warranty at all.

It's not worth the risk in my view.

marmel

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#1028802 21-Apr-2014 22:22

Expert Infotech have been around a while and are fairly good to deal with and will offer a 12 month warranty. Definately don't pay the inflated NZ retail price it just isn't worth it.

I have been buying cameras from einfo and direct from the US for over 10 years and I have never had any issues at all.

Batman

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#1028813 21-Apr-2014 22:36

if I were you I'd get parallel imported for half the price.

because in 9 months the "NZ new" price will be half the price due to the new model being released.

Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.

Hatch

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#1028825 21-Apr-2014 23:09

Get the camera from the States on sale, have it sent to you via concierge company. Save lots.

It works best for last gen cameras. A couple years ago I bought a Panasonic GH2 on a runout sale via B&H cost be $800 NZ landed. At the time still selling in local camera shop for $1500 NZD.

If you're buying a current gen camera the limited sum you save may not be worth the hassle.

kiwigander

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#1028829 21-Apr-2014 23:17

Within reason, I suggest buying locally. DSLRs are complex beasts.

But you are looking at the wrong shop.

Noel Leeming may be a good place to buy household appliances and consumer electronics but it is not where I would look for a DSLR. Better to deal with a shop that can offer some specialised expertise.

Photo & Video International (Christchurch) is offering the D3200 + 18-55 mm lens + 4 GB SDHC memory card, with a 3 year warranty, for $800. Add the cost of the 3-year warranty ($91) and perhaps $20 for a SDHC card (else you haven't got any 'film') and Expert Infotech are now over $700. So the decision is closer just on the basis of price.

If you are in Auckland and want to deal with a local bricks-and-mortar shop you could try Camera & Camera or Auckland Camera Centre.

The D3200, it seems, is being replaced by the D3300, so you are looking at a close-out model.

Batman

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#1028835 21-Apr-2014 23:40

if I were you I'd get the Nikon 18-200mm ... but ... it'll cost you ... what kind of stuff are you going to be shooting?

Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.

timmmay

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#1028886 22-Apr-2014 06:54

The bigger the range on the lens the lower the quality of the images, generally. Primes (fixed length) are best quality, followed by constant aperture small range zooms (eg 24-70 or 16-35), followed by variable aperture moderate zooms (I don't know any but say 18-85 F3.5 - F5.6), followed by superzooms like 18-200. Still they're probably good enough for amateurs working in mostly good light.

Batman

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#1028893 22-Apr-2014 07:33

One of the things that slammed me hard when I got my first DSLR was the poor flexibility. the 18-55 on a crop sensor means you cannot shoot a whole room - not wide enough, and it cannot shoot anything beyond a few yards - not long enough.

What was it good for? the occasional landscape and the occasional person. Having said that, it is all relative. If you come from a camera phone with only 3x digital zoom it might change your life.

I don't know if a first time DSLR owner wants the best picture quality from the start. They are probably overwhelmed by other things.

But yes, in general a superzoom will not be the sharpest. But allows you to practise composition, lighting, all the other stuff you can't do with no range.

Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.

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#1028894 22-Apr-2014 07:35

just one thing - nikon lenses are expensive (i think more so than canon) but they are superior to third party lenses. every time i bought a 3rd party i ended up biffing them. but the upside is they could be dirt cheap on trademe?!

Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.

Batman

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#1028896 22-Apr-2014 07:37

here you go. hmm sigma is half the price ... if i were you i'd still go sigma and go from there (the way i see it it is cheap for you to experience things and when it dies or you had enough you'd lose say 200 bucks, which is not much in terms of depreciation, as the age has already depreciated the product for you) ... remember it's all about stuff other than PQ at this stage of life IMO

(i have bought from einfo tech, not sure about their service or when you have a problem but their products are very good)

http://www.einfo.co.nz/catalogsearch/result/?cat=0&q=nikon+18-200

Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.

timmmay

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#1028898 22-Apr-2014 07:41

I love wide angles. I took my RX100 (24-100mm) on holiday, I really missed the 16mm on full frame width, so I shot a lot of panoramas. I almost never shot near 100mm on holiday, let along needing 200mm. I use 200mm during wedding ceremonies and for some portraits. Beginners always want huge zooms, but I doubt they use them much.

I don't buy third party lenses either, they've given me trouble over the years. Sigma ART series are meant to be great, but I've had focus problems with Sigma and Tamron lenses - and Canon to be honest. Nikon lenses are awesome.

Wills1

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#1028900 22-Apr-2014 08:01

Ok guys, I've had a think about this overnight and I think i'll suck it up and pay the local price from an authorised distributor.

Now its the choice of Canon or Nikon. budget no more than 1K

Subject matter will be our kids and maybe some landscape photography. But mainly portrait

timmmay

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#1028906 22-Apr-2014 08:15

Either Canon or Nikon are fine for most people. The Nikon focus system is superior in my experience - I sold $15K worth of pro level Canon equipment to switch to Nikon a couple of years back. Canon are a bit easier to use, but Nikon are fine too. Nikon lenses are a bit more expensive, though not always. I'm going to say Nikon as I personally prefer them, but Canon wouldn't be an awful choice.

Have you considered a micro 4/3 system? A lot of pros are doing a lot of work with them, keeping the DSLR as a camera for the most challenging situations.

surfisup1000

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#1028907 22-Apr-2014 08:23

kiwigander:
Noel Leeming may be a good place to buy household appliances and consumer electronics but it is not where I would look for a DSLR. Better to deal with a shop that can offer some specialised expertise.

Google it = specialised expertise.

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