Lille Loc: Upstate, NY

So what's the difference between going to EBay and buying a $3000.00 used camera ( with no useful warranty ) and going to EBay and buying the same $3000.00 Brand New grey market camera ( with no useful warranty ) ?

Any real practical difference ?

Thanks !

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Some manufacturers will not touch a gray market camera for any repair.
Some go as far as to not supply parts to independent repair shops for gray market cameras.

BebuLamar

Without the manufacturer support an independent repair shop would have a hard time fixing these cameras. Often you would need software tool to diagnose, calibrate the cameras and those are not available to independent shops.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Just say no. Instead:

Go to KEH.com or MPB.com and buy a used camera there. They include six month warranties. Both are solid and reliable companies specializing in the used camera/lens market. You may pay a little more than you would on eBay, but you aren't taking a crap shoot, and you aren't going to be left in the cold without support.

Other good used (and new) retailers are Adorama, B&H, and Cameta Camera.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

The newer version will probably outlive the used model but not necessarily...depends on your use of it. If you can afford to wager $3K on a Maybe-Camera , you could probably afford to buy the proper warranty as well....of course my excuse would be to use the savings up front to get better Glass for that Grey - CAM with the $$$$ saved in the purchase cost.

Do you also Bet on the Ponies sir?

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Canon will repair grey market gear, Nikon wont

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I have always been a big advocate of freedom of choice around purchasing cameras and lenses. Still am, but now have a different view of the risks involved, especially with current camera models, which are extremely complex and hide lots of things inside that can go wrong.

I have been fortunate to be able to buy three new cameras in the past three years or so, all US models from authorized dealers. The first one is still working fine, and has done so since the day I took it out of the box. The second developed a problem with a viewfinder mask that would not clear, not long after I started using it. The problem did not prevent me from using the camera, but at best it was very annoying, and at worst it did not allow me to easily frame images which filled the frame. Repair (under warranty), involved replacing the mask film in the viewfinder, a circuit board, and two flexible connectors. That would have been about a $750 repair if not covered by warranty, and who could even say if it could have been fixed by someone other than the manufacturer.

The third camera developed a problem with the flash system. At first, there was a significant delay between pressing the shutter release and actually firing the shutter+flash, and finally the flash would not fire at all. Repair (again under warranty) involved replacing the main circuit board, hot shoe, and several flexible connectors. This would also have been a $700-800 repair, and since it involved replacing the main board, it is unlikely that anyone other than the manufacturer or authorized facility would have been able to accomplish it.

As a result, while I still vigorously defend the right of anyone to buy a camera via any legal means that person chooses, I now know that I will never purchase a gray market camera. The risks today are very real, and they are simply to great for me to assume.

Used cameras are a different matter. If you have studied reliability science at all, you will have encountered the "bathtub curve." It simply says that most devices or systems, especially complex ones, are most likely to fail either because of a marginal component or assembly process that causes a problem early on or else fail much later in the life of the device or system as components start wearing out. So while I'd be careful about it, I'd still consider buying a used camera. (I've done so in the past, and those cameras are all still working fine, either for me or for others.)

sbohne

For the record, I've had gray market cameras and lenses, and never had a problem getting them repaired. Even Canon CPS did repairs. Have their policies changed in the past 10 years?

Lille Loc: Upstate, NY

I'm interested in getting a Sony A9 but maybe I'm being penny wise and pound foolish. Maybe I should just spring for the other 500 bucks and get a new one.

Thanks for all the responses. I guess I'll just sit and think about it for a few days and look closely at the state for the piggy bank.

Thanks again !

BebuLamar

I think the A9 is about $3500 now new and not gray. If either gray or used for $3000 I would not consider. That is not sufficient discount. If it's $2000 I would consider it.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I ave been very happy with Roberts.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I'm with you on both counts. I've never had a significant camera problem that wasn't covered under warranty (or happened so many years out of warranty that it was my responsibility to fix, no matter what). I buy new, US warranty bodies and lenses, or used bodies and lenses with at least a six month warranty from a reputable used dealer.

The bathtub curve is VERY real, and applies to most electro-mechanical devices.

When I was buying for my company, years ago, I would always buy gray market LENSES (Nikkor lenses from the early 1980s never failed if used reasonably carefully). But I bought USA warranty bodies. Still, I never had a problem with an F3 until ten years of very heavy use, and that was a depth of field preview lever problem that my local repair shop fixed in ten minutes.

Keen

No diff....which is why I do neither. Long ago I used Ebay 3 times, over the years-for computer gear-and got ripped off by damaged goods each time. So I stopped considering EBay for anything more. Of course, there is no warranty on any used gear....unless the seller chooses to offer one. With Grey gear, you may get a great item, or a lemon, or not get a battery, or charger, with the camera, or whatever. You can take risks, with grey, or not do so, as you choose. Most of my gear is used, purchased from reliable sources. I have had no problems with any of it. I buy used from the same sources I buy new from....B&H, Adorama, etc. I never paid $3,000.00 for any used item, and never will. For me, the point of buying used is so I don't have to pay $3,000.00 for an item.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I’ve not used them, but always hear good things about them from folks who have.

I’m not much of a fan of eBay or Craigslist. And I stay away from 42nd St. Photo and Abe’s of Maine!

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

I didn't think there were ANY formal "stores" selling on eBay - I alway take eBay for being a used marketplace. Even if they say "New" it's still a sale from one individual to another and there's no warranty you can rely on other than the sellers word they will accept it back if there's a problem.

You can buy Grey Market items at stores like B&H or Adorama and at least have the confidence they are legitimately selling you a new item, just without a US warranty.