[Rob Barron]

Hi all,

I am heading over to Florida in about 11 days from now and am thinking seriously about buying a second body as I am doing a lot more pro work now and am concerned about turning up with one body and relying on it not failing me.

The two cameras I am looking at are the 30D and the 400D. I know the relative differences and stuff and I currently have the 20D so that side of it is not really the issue. What I would like to know is whether any on here have bought Stateside and how they got on coming back through customs. Should i just declare it and pay VAT? Should I just leave it in my bag and hope they don't ask? (and post the box and receipt home!)

I know you can only buy gifts valued up to £145 which is measly so I'd like to keep the cost as low as possible. Even with VAT the cost would be a major saving over buying in the UK due to the strength of the pound over the dollar.

Any thoughts?
Cheers,

[Warspite]

What people normally say is fold up the boxes and mail them home then hang the camera round your neck as if you went out with it.

One issue I will point out though is that lenses tend to have international warranties - so any problems and Canon will fix it, no matter where you are. Hoever this does not apply to bodies, so if your camera developes a fault within a week of you returning home, Canon could refuse to fix it, or they could charge you full price to do so, they may even suggest that you have to send it back to the region of origin for repairs. Only mentioning this so you no, not meaning to phase you.

You will make a big saving but in a worse case scenario it could cost you more.

[stepheno]

Have to agree with Warspite on this - I like to be able to take my camera back into the shop, if you know what I mean. However, the only codicil is that this is to be a second body, so if it had to be returned to the States you wouldn't be without a camera.

[Chris]

Purchased my first Canon T90 with some lenses and other bits in New York back in 1987 - used it there bought it home and it still works ok.

[yadlihp]

got my 300d from canada a couple of years ago....came with a mack international warrentybut not had to use it......... no duty as far as i know only vat at 17.5%

[Dave]

Now if you could hang a Nikon D200 round your kneck for me

[Rob Barron]

Originally Posted by Dave

Now if you could hang a Nikon D200 round your kneck for me

WHAT??? And be contaminated damned and defiled for the rest of eternity?

Yeeuchhhh <spit>

Oh ok, just kidding, Nikon are sort of OK I guess <washes mouth out with soap and water>

On a serious point to earlier reply, I am still trying to checkout whether I can carry my camera bag (small one, not my entire backpack) on with me. I really don't want to stick it inside my suitcase for two reasons:

1 It would be extremely well wrapped and protected but airlines do lose suitaces!

2 As the plane is crossing the coast at about 10,000 feet she passes the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) at Kennedy Space Centre which I would LOVE to get an aerial shot of! The VAB is the tallest single storey building in the world. You can stand a Saturn V rocket (think Apollo 11) up inside it and if you have been to Kennedy and seen the size of a Saturn V you will know exactly what I mean!

I am prepared to take the risk of the camera breaking down as I have been assured by a friend who works in a Canon Service Centre that as long as I can produce my receipt, they will be happy to repair it if it goes wrong within the 12 month period. They don't care what I paid for it as long as I paid for it! Buying it in the US will not cause a problem on that front. I don't intend buying any lenses as that would cost me too much. After all, I am actually going on holiday and my dearly beloved does have a say on how most of the money is spent

I will happily settle for a 30D body or even a 400D body if I have to. 30D definitely preferred choice but I also have no doubt at all canon will land us with the 40D within 9 months so I might then wish I'd waited. Still, the way I look at it, if I get a 30D, my 20D will become the 2nd body. If I then choose to get a 40D somewhere down the line, the 20D will be the one appearing in the Classified section of this wonderful forum :o)

Thanks all for your replies. Anyone know how to make the next 10 days go a bit faster please?