FishingLarry Loc: Shreveport, LA

Any thoughts and/or experiences purchasing A International Version of a Lense?

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

No US warranty.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Called grey market in the US. As such, no warranty as mentioned earlier.

FishingLarry Loc: Shreveport, LA

I knew about the warranty. I read online ......a couple of people stated that it was probably worth it to buy the International version because of all the money that is saved......and that lenses very seldom had warranty issues.
And.....I know that one can read anything online!!

Just wanted to know if experienced and seasoned photographers agreed. How are you feelings on that?

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

I haven't had a problem with my camera (Nikon D5100), but one of my lenses quit auto focusing it was a "kit lens" (I hate that term) and it was a 55-300mm DX lens. After four years and several thousand photos, the auto focus stopped working. I sent it in to Nikon in Los Angeles, had it back in about 2 weeks and working perfectly. They order said they replaced the SWM (Silent Wave Motor), cleaned it, checked everything, and sent it back. Total cost to me was about $20.00 to ship it to Nikon. Nikon charged me nothing.

I have no firm idea of what it would cost without the Nikon USA warrenty but I suspect it would have been at least $200. Parts may not be expensive, but labor sure is.

My bottom line is, any lens that has electronics is much more likely to have issues than older lenses which don't have electronics in them. Your choice.

FishingLarry Loc: Shreveport, LA

Thanks for the insight.

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

You are most welcome!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Lots of misinformation here. An International version carries an International warranty. Always. Getting that warranty service is a whole other issue, though.

Of course there is a warranty, but if it is imported by a party other than Nikon USA (or whatever Nikon authorized importer is in your country) which has exclusive rights to marketing, selling, and repairing their goods, you will either have to depend on a third party for repair, or send it back to the retailer which sold it to you who may be able to get it fixed. Since Nikon does not support non-authorized repair with training, parts, manuals and tools, you are rolling the dice on the quality of the repair, or even if you can get it repaired.

If you buy an International version while on vacation in a different country, or if you buy one from a private party that can produce a bill of sale from a Nikon authorized reseller from another country, it is NOT gray market. The one year International warranty applies and Nikon will still fix it after the warranty period provided you have that receipt.

To add more confusion, Nikon is now allowing the repair of certain lenses and camera bodies in their lineup even if they are gray market.

https://petapixel.com/2016/05/20/nikon-now-allows-grey-market-camera-repairs-us/

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Those people are happy because a)they save a few pennies, b)their stuff hasn't needed repair, and c)they haven't tried to sell their gray goods and seen how much of a beating they will take on price and how hard it is to sell gray market stuff.

Lenses and cameras break, and some come out of the box with a malfunction or in need of adjustment.

The risk is not worth the 10% savings at all.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You'll save some money, but getting it repaired could be a problem, as well as selling it - if you're honest.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

It will also be VERY difficult to sell because not only is there no warranty but Nikon and Canon may refuse (probably will) to repair it if necessary. Also, Nikon does and Canon may refuse to provide parts or independent repair facilities if they choose to repair. With Nikon especially and Canon and others sometimes, they are very adamant about stopping grey market. Its not only about the cost of repairing something they didn't get a piece of the sale on but also because their customers (the camera stores and department stores) that do play by the rules demand that they also observe the rules. If you owned Joe's Cameras or some other camera company that worked hard to get approved to sell Nikon, Canon or other brands and jumped through the hoops to purchase through authorized Nikon suppliers to maintain the proper credentials and Mike's camera clothing and liquor store opened across the street selling grey market (non-warranted or questionable merchandise for 25% less than you, you'd be demanding solutions from your suppliers too.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Are you a gambler? Do you feel lucky? If so, roll the dice. If not, forget grey market.

markjay

OMG. Here we go again ! I have been in this forum less than 6 months and I have seen at least a dozen threads in international warranties.

It's painful to just see the topics listed.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Wow! Wait till you're here for a few years. You'll find that other things become painful.

FishingLarry Loc: Shreveport, LA

Great reply!!! I did not think to consider the resale value.

Thanks