mjgreen53 Loc: Christchurch NZ

Any suggestions or recommendations please for purchasing Canon 6D camera and 24-105 F4 L lens on trip to Singapore in August as against buying in New Zealand my home of residence ?
Not sure if prices will be better.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's the first thing to check. Then see if the warranty will work back home.

Noledge Loc: Sweden

Hi,

I do not about NZ but SG prices are good compared to European prices. However, I think warranties are restricted to SG only. I would recommend checking out the stores in the Funan Digitalife Mall as they have a decent reputation. I would stay away from the Sim Lim Center.

Good luck !

photodad34

Some years ago Singapore was a great place to buy things. More recently I was there again working on the new US Embassy and found out it had become very expensive.

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

You will have the international warranty, as long as you can produce a receipt that is the result of a face to face transaction from a Canon-authorized retailer. It's only gray market if you purchase from a third party, in NZ, that imported the equipment from another location, and not through the proper channels.

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

I was in SG and HK last year and thought I might find a deal on photo gear but in reality there was little difference with US prices. In fact, I picked up a couple of Canon remotes and should have checked Amazon first because I paid too much. I would assume NZ would be covered by the international warranties.

As far as NZ prices are concerned, I was there this year and feel for you with the high cost of living both there and AU.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Last time I was in Singapore (which was some time ago).... Everything was far, far more expensive than here in the U.S.

I'd always heard what great deals you could get there.... was surprised just how untrue it was. I desperately needed to buy a pair of shoes and couldn't find anything for less than $150 US. That was for cheap pairs that sold for $25 or $30 at home. Higher quality, leather dress shoes were $350 a pair... while they were selling for little more than a third of that back here in the U.S.! Prices will vary, though, I'm sure... depending upon type of product and currency exchange rates.

You also might check in duty free stores in or around airports. Might find better prices there.

However, in addition to the problems with warranties (as mentioned above), you also have to think about import duties. When I traveled with camera gear, I registered it with the passport office before leaving, so that I wouldn't be charged duties on it upon returning. If you get inspected when re-entering the country, they find a few thousand $ worth of camera gear, and you have now means of showing that you bought it at home, here in the U.S. they can and will levy duties that will likely wipe out any savings you got buying overseas. It might be different in NZ, but here, essentially when you try to sneak in an item without paying duties, you're smuggling. I don't know what the current import duties are on camera gear, here in the U.S. I know at the time I was traveling a lot with it, some of the duties were as much as 30% (so to enjoy any real savings, I'd have to buy it for less than 30% less than it cost at home)! There is a purchase allowance or "personal exemption"here... you can buy something like $800 or so worth of stuff overseas without paying duty on it when you bring it in. There are some other exemption limits on specific types of items (such as liquor and tobacco).

You should check NZ's rules and regulations regarding import duties and personal exemptions. They are undoubtedly quite different than here.

By the way, I "smuggled" a pack of gum into Singapore. If they'd inspected my luggage, someone told me they would have seized the gum! It's illegal and you can be fined for chewing gum, or even eating anything on the subway trains there. You also can be ticketed and fined if you fail to flush a toilet after use, in a public restroom!

The "Thieves Market" in Singapore is interesting to walk around, but you aren't going to find any deals on camera gear there!

Finally, if it were me I think I'd look at the much newer 24-70/4L IS USM lens instead of the 24-105L (which isn't much better in a lot of respects, than the far less expensive 28-135mm).

mjgreen53 Loc: Christchurch NZ

Thank you everyone for the good info. Lots of points to consider. Maybe I'll just have to do window shopping and try to refrain from parting with money.

supadoc19 Loc: Perth, western Australia

Having worked and lived in Singapore a number of times, I found Singapore cheaper than Australia (where I live) and I would say it would be cheaper than NZ.

I always do my homework in that I'll know what I'm after and then I'll get a home country price or two. make sure you have it written down so you can compare.

Then I check duty free in my home country. Then I go to Ebay and there is an Ebay Singapore. That will give you some idea of prices in Singapore and if duty free in your home country is the way to go.

There are plenty of places in Singapore to check for photographic equipment such as the already mentioned Funan centre or the ground and first floors of Sim Lim plaza. It is also worth checking Lucky plaza up Orchard road although most things bought along Orchard road are more expensive. I would not forget to walk the markets at china town. Most stalls are in front of shops and there are a lot of Photographic shops along the market routes. remember you will need walking shoes as you'll be there a while.

On the day you're ready to leave, don't forget to go to the airport early. There is a two level butterfly farm at terminal 3 with waterfall. There is a very large koi pond and a great variety of orchids at terminal 2. All great for photos. And once you check in your luggage, do not go straight through passport control & security.

Go downstairs to where the car parks come into the airport. There you will find a vast array of food stalls serving most of the beautifull Singapore dishes (Malay, Chinese, Indian and Western) at very cheap prices. A lot of Singaporeans will come there on the MRT (train) to eat.
Once you've had you're fill, go through passport control and take photos of the butterflies, Koi and Orchids. The terminals can be reached via the small trains going between terminals.

I hope the above helps.

Regards
Dr Pieter Berveling

mjgreen53 Loc: Christchurch NZ

Thank you for the detailed info. Always good to have local knowledge. Who knows I might be able to photograph the flora and fauna with a new camera.