Earl Grey Loc: Seattle area

I'm looking for advice on acquiring a Canon G5X Mk ii, which is now out of production.

Canon lists this camera in their refurb store -- currently out of stock, but I added my email for notification if / when that changes.

I'm new to this, so I'm interested in advice on refurbs vs gray market vs eBay.

There are new ones on eBay, and they appear to be gray market. I like this because I worry about wear on anything with moving mechanical parts, such as plastic gears in a zoom lens, even on a refurb. It would be important to make sure that all original pieces are included, of course. Typically, there is a quote of a 1-year limited warranty, but that's not the Canon warranty. No worse than used, though, which has zero warranty.

There are new ones on eBay marked "International version". Does that mean it would be hard to have them serviced in the US?

Then there are used ones. Ken Rockwell's advice was to find used equipment owned by a surgeon! His reasoning was that someone with a busy professional life probably bought the camera for hobbyist use but may not have had much time to use it much; the worst choice would be a camera used by a seasoned pro, because it would likely have had a lot of wear.

I think a refurb from Canon would be my best bet, but I still worry about wear on moving parts. But I have no idea whether Canon will actually have any more refurbs for this model before they pull the plug.

Opinions?

Thanks!

tramsey Loc: Texas

In my opinion, even if the camera is out of production stay away from grey market or international version simply because there are camera shops that will repair an out of production camera. The shop here in McAllen won't touch a grey market camera. He said too many odd ball pieces.
I have never had any good luck with E Bay. I send the money and nothing happens. I notify E Bay and again, nothing happens. This has happened not once or twice but EVERY TIME I order something from them. Always been a different vendor but result is always the same. I've blocked them on my computer so I don't even get tempted.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

The entire complexion of support and service by the three major manufacturers is changing in significant ways. The duration of support is shrinking, repair parts inventory strategy is being overhauled, and support for independent repair stations is being restructured ,(and eliminated, in some cases). It is clear that the intent of the changes is to encourage sales of new, current camera models.

I have had trouble with a couple of brand new cameras over the past 5 years. One manufacturer-sold refurbished lens had to go back for repair as well. I believe that both cameras may have been mishandled in shipment or warehousing before their sale to me by my local camera store. Evidence indicates that the lens was damaged by the original purchaser and returned, rather than being submitted for repair. Add to those a camera bought from an individual which seemed to be in good condition, but turned out to have internal problems requiring repair. No way the seller could have reasonably known about those problems to disclose them to me.

So there is always going to be some risk. You have to balance your understanding of that risk against what you are willing to pay, keeping your intended use in mind. The camera that I bought from the individual was originally intended to be a gift. Even repaired, I'm not sure that i can be comfortable giving it away, but I'll still be more than happy to keep and use it myself.

We all want to get the best deal that we can. Just be careful not to give up more than you can stand in the process.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Refurb!

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

If you have a problem with a grey market or international Canon, assuming the model is still supported, Canon will repair. It probably won’t be cheap, but they will fix it. If Canon lists the G5x ii, odds are it’s supported. And, fortunately, cameras are usually pretty reliable. Refurbished are my favorite way to go, but you have check often. If you get contacted that a camera is in stock, it could easily be gone by the time you actually check. Next to refurbished, the likes of KEH & MPB would also be places I’d check “often.” Most reputable used sellers include some kind of limited warranty.

MJPerini

Is there a reason that it has to be a G5? I ask because I have had a couple of G7's over the years and they are usually the same sensor, and the lens on the G7 was pretty fast. I loved those cameras, Passed tense because my last one got dropped lens open onto cement, and I haven't replaced it yet.
I tend not to think of Point and shoot cameras as Repairable, because it is usually not worth it.
I never buy Gray Market items for "Big Cameras"....... But since I probably would not use the warranty, that eliminates that objection.
My first suggestion would be Buy a G7, if you must have a G5 get it where you can, Canon refurb being first choice, new sealed Gray market second.
Good Luck

User ID

You worry more than most. Not an "ailment" but more than most. Your intention to buy a discontinued camera in a marketplace you dont fully understand is sharply at odds with your proclivity to worry or fuss over stuff.

A proper USA OEM warranty is the recognized solution for such concerns or worrys, so accept nothing less. Period. This would likely mean genrally avoiding discontinued gear. You are asking for advice and guidence on how best to do something you just should NOT do at all.

Your going to get more and more bad advice and misinformation that contradicts other bad advice and misinformation about your intent to "thread the needle". Participate in all that and youll "get what you asked for".

Youve locked onto one camera model. If its not available with a straight forward OEM USA warrantee then its not available at all for you or anyone with your concerns. Choose a new target, something currently in normal USA distribution. Theres no discontinued cameras that are better than what has displaced them.

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

I agree whole heartedly.
I shot with a G5 20 years ago and loved it. The Canon G5X Mk II is now 5 years old and out of production.
Even if you bought a brand new one directly from Canon, be aware that if it failed, there most probably will be parts that are no longer available. You will be far better off selecting a current model that suits your needs and is ergonomically pleasing to you.

BebuLamar

You didn't list the price that you can get these cameras for. One of the reason you buy a discontinued camera is price. Without pricing information no advice can be given.

User ID

Without budget info certain advice cannot be offered, but SOME important advice is independent of budget info.

If he lacks the $$ for a satisfactory xamera with USA OEM warrantee then hes just not in the market. $$ is not needed to be known for such advice to be true.

Hawgster phony experts always want to know budget, subject matter, current gear, blood type, etc ... and then proceed to post some of the most miserable "advice" imaginable. IOW, such "qualifying questions" are just boilerplate that Hawgsters ask so as to play the character of the "wise advisor".

BebuLamar

While the OP didn't say that he wanted to buy the G5X MKII because of its specific features that are no longer in a newer camera but I don't think this is the case. The OP didn't say budget but I guess (yeah a lot of guessing) that the money is the important factor here. So without prices the refurb is the safest choice.

Earl Grey Loc: Seattle area

Thanks. My goal was to get a "pocket sized" camera to slim down my overhead bin requirements on airplanes, since I also travel with a musical instrument.

I would like a faster lens and more zoom than my old Canon S95. Everything now has more resolution and is more advanced than the S95, but I don't really care.

Some comparisons:

My Canon S95: 1/1.7 inch sensor, 28 - 105mm eq zoom, f2.0 to f4.9

Canon G7X Mark iii: 1.0 inch sensor, 24 - 100mm zoom, f1.8 - f2.8 -- brighter but I would like more zoom.

Canon G5X Mark ii: 1.0 inch sensor, 24 - 120mm zoom, f1.8 - f2.8 -- brighter and more zoom.

Sony RX100 Mark vii: more than I want to spend, at $1300. More zoom than I need (200mm eq), but at f/2.8 - f4.5 -- not as bright.

So I think I will probably be happiest picking up a refurb G5X, or maybe even a gray market one and hope for the best. I'm just looking to educate myself on alternatives and potential gotchas.

Thanks!

User ID

For you or me, yes.

For the OP who worrys about waaaay too much stuff I emphasized the USA OEM warranty as a minimum requirement for purchase.

I wasnt focused on gear. I was focused on the fearful person who imagines worn out plastic AF gears etc etc

BebuLamar

Well I also think the OP isn't like me that is to use the same camera until it dies. So worn out plastic AF gears isn't a problem. I am still happy using my Nikon Coolpix 5000 bought in 2004 (it was released 2001 at the price of about $800) and I bought my new in 2004 for $200. Hell, it takes about a minute to write the raw file to card but I like it.

Earl Grey Loc: Seattle area

Perhaps I've given a wrong impression. I'm not "worrying" or fretting or hand-wringing or lip-biting. In my job, I'm in the habit of listing all the pros and cons I can think of to make sure I'm thinking logically. Just a habit of forcing myself to think through an issue, which has served me well.

I wasn't expecting a lecture. I had heard of refurbs that needed to be sent back, and I had the experience once of buying a tape deck that was a demo model, and it ended up with a worn out main bearing that was unrepairable. So I thought I should ask whether worn out AF gears were an issue. I have never purchased gray market and have had issues with used stuff on eBay -- so I wondered what more experienced folks have learned about this. I'm grateful for the help; I didn't expect to be scorned and lectured. Do you treat all newbies here like this?

Mainly, what I'm looking to do is address the frustrations I felt with my Canon S95. The G5X looks really good to me.

Thanks.