ssal

Mox,

It is one of those local knowledge. For someone from the outside (although I spent the first 20 years of my life there), we don't know any better and as you said, some of the dealers can come across as very fast talkers.

The D3s is now selling around US$5,400 in New York from authorized dealers like B&H and Cameta, both highly reputable Nikon dealers. If you're courageous, there are some gray market resellers in Brooklyn advertising it for around $3,999.99 but I don't want to deal with them just like I have a problem dealing with the tourist traps in TST and Mongkok.

But if you're buying it new, I think 10% is not too attractive for anyone to buy from the other side of the world.

eBay is a great place to buy used equipment. The US economy is down in the dump. A lot of used equipment are selling at very low prices. I recently picked up a very good quality Nikon 20mm f/2.8D for US220. I also picked up a 2x Kenko teleconverter for only $28. I am very happy with my purchases.

I also sold my used D100, D1x and some of the lenses that fell out of my favor on eBay. It helped me recoup some of my money instead of just having them rot away in the closet.

moxfactor

of course, i wouldn't expect anyone to fly half way around the world specifically just to buy a few pieces of equipment, but it's a good deal if it's already a destination or on extended layover.  i'm trying to sell my relatively new D300 right now, most likely locally, and possibly the Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro as well since both have upgrades coming up that i'm interested in.  DSLRs are such "necessary accessories" these days in Hong Kong it's amazing if you don't bump into someone carrying on every 3-5 minutes.  i'm mildly irritated by the lemming behaviour, but then it does mean the 2nd hand market is quite booming, which makes upgrading much easier for those of us who actually have any patience to take this skill beyond a mere passing fad like the Krispy Kreme franchise's rise and fall in Hong Kong.

ssal

Mox,

With FedEx and UPS Worldwide, or even the good old Post Office Air Service, there is no need to fly around the world to buy anything anymore. That's why we in New York are eating Kiwi from New Zealand, or Hong Kong connoisseurs are ordering lobsters from Australia, or Maine.

Unless the price differential is large enough, I still don't think it is worth the while because of warranty issue. USA Nikon would not repair any non-USA models (they can tell by the serial number). You also cannot get the firmware update, at least not from their site. With digital, i.e. electronic, there is always something that can go wrong. That's why I don't even want to bother with those unscrupulous sellers from Brooklyn. They sell gray market Nikon/Canon. They strip the battery and charger out of the package. They high pressure you into buying lenses and other junk accessories. Then they give you a "third party" warranty servicer, to whom I am afraid to send my $5,000 camera. The same holds true for lenses too. There are a lot of electronics inside a lens these days.

Those are major consideration when you make a good size investment. Of course, if I am buying a throw away P&S for a couple of hundred dollars, I would not hesitate at all buying from whoever sells it cheaper.

Mox, I am sure those photobugs-wanna-be are eyeing your D3s with green. After all, all wannas know that the D3s is the undisputed king of camera. Just don't stick a Sigma lens on it though (LOL).

You know, this thread is turning into a very intellectual discussion that we don't often see in this board. Very good. Very good indeed.

Now, let's see you Hangzhou pictures. It is a place I want to go. My son and daughter in law just visited Huang Shan this week. It was rainy all three days they were there. When we visited there 11 years ago, it was rainy too and the guard told us that it rains 250 days of the year up there. But as we left the last day, the weather opened up and I was able to snap a few shots. One of them was enlarged and hangs in my living room.

I want to go back there and Guilin with my digital. Well, only if this stupid economy turns around and I feel comfortable of walking away. Well, well well . . .

.

norman.ho

Mox and Ssal,
So informative and fun reading your comments, keep up with the good work.  Can't wait to see your new photos, from whereever...
By the way, when you say you are no spring chick (Ssal), my neighbour up the road, he is over 80, and he still mow his lawn, and probably walks faster than me too.  :lol：

moxfactor

just a quick reply today.  my comp went into the shop today as it seems to have some problems with the graphics card/driver i couldn't solve, and it was giving Adobe Bridge as well as all my games problems with freezing and crashes, while playing video is perfectly fine.  so it might be a few days before i can do some edits and post photos as i also have to get ready for Canon Photo Marathon here in HK (Oct 3).

about Huang Shan, I might head there during my december trip as it's only a 2-3hr drive from Hangzhou

ssal

Mox,

Make sure you don't have any pictures that you don't want the world to see before you turn it in to a computer tech. Remember Edison Chen? LOL.

Look forward to seeing you Hangzhou pictures. Isn't Hangzhou the Venice of the Orient?