Lens Question: Imported vs. USA

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Alan Wonsowski - 30 Jul 2005 00:37 GMT

While surfing the B&H web site looking at Nikon lenses, there is a
distinction between "Imported" and "USA". All of the lens information
is the same - including the Manufacturers Number. The price difference
is about $20 US. Two questions:

1. What is the difference between these two lenses?

2. Is there a difference between "Nikkor" and "Nikon"?

Finally, I have been very disillusioned about the lack of knowledge at
the Ritz Camera stores in the Williamsburg / Newport News, VA areas as
well as the local Camera shop. If anyone knows of a good Camera Store
in the area, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll probably order my
Nikon D70s from B&H. If there are problems with B&H, please advise.

Thanks,
Alan

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Charlie Self - 30 Jul 2005 00:56 GMT

> While surfing the B&H web site looking at Nikon lenses, there is a
> distinction between "Imported" and "USA". All of the lens information
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> Thanks,
> Alan

All the lenses are imported, but the "imported" one is grey market,
while the more expensive one has a US warranty. With B&H, that
shouldn't be a problem as their customer service is exemplary. It is a
bricks and mortar store in NYC, has been around about three decades,
and has a reputation other stores wish they had.

Ritz: yeah, well. Our Roanoke (VA) Ewald-Clark camera store was
excellent, if pricey, until Ritz bought them something like four or
five years ago. Now, mostly they "don't do that here any more"
regardless of what "that" is.

I mostly shop B&H and Adorama, with some sidesteps to J&R and
Buydig.com. Oh, yeah. Newegg from time to time.

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Ed Ruf - 30 Jul 2005 00:57 GMT

>While surfing the B&H web site looking at Nikon lenses, there is a
>distinction between "Imported" and "USA". All of the lens information
>is the same - including the Manufacturers Number. The price difference
>is about $20 US. Two questions:
>
>1. What is the difference between these two lenses?

Warranty is the big one. The USA lens is warranted by Nikon USA and could
be up to five years depending on the lens.The warranty on the import is
through B&H itself, not necessarily a bad thing, but the term is often
less. Next is there may be a rebate on the USA lens, but will not be on
the Import or grey market lens.

>2. Is there a difference between "Nikkor" and "Nikon"?

Same.

>Finally, I have been very disillusioned about the lack of knowledge at
>the Ritz Camera stores in the Williamsburg / Newport News, VA areas as
>well as the local Camera shop. If anyone knows of a good Camera Store
>in the area, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll probably order my
>Nikon D70s from B&H. If there are problems with B&H, please advise.

In my experience Ritz is ditz. I've gone there for a bag or lens pens or
lens caps as it's close. Have you looked at Camera City down in Hampton?
They seem to be pretty good. I don't know about price wise. FWIW, I bought
my D70 and stuff from B&H. B&H is the of the best places to deal with.
----------
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 (Usenet@EdwardG.Ruf.com)
See images taken with my CP-990/5700 & D70 at
http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html

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Jeremy Nixon - 30 Jul 2005 21:01 GMT

> While surfing the B&H web site looking at Nikon lenses, there is a
> distinction between "Imported" and "USA". All of the lens information
> is the same - including the Manufacturers Number. The price difference
> is about $20 US.

The price difference is often quite a bit more, actually.

> 1. What is the difference between these two lenses?

No difference at all in the product. The difference is that the "imported"
ones have been imported by B&H directly, not by Nikon, so they are not
covered by Nikon's warranty. B&H has their own warranty for them, but of
course you would have to send the lens to them for service.

Basically, you're buying it with no manufacturer warranty.

> 2. Is there a difference between "Nikkor" and "Nikon"?

No.

> Finally, I have been very disillusioned about the lack of knowledge at
> the Ritz Camera stores in the Williamsburg / Newport News, VA areas as
> well as the local Camera shop.

Well, yeah.

> If anyone knows of a good Camera Store in the area, please let me know.
> Otherwise, I'll probably order my Nikon D70s from B&H. If there are
> problems with B&H, please advise.

B&H is the place to go. The only reason to ever go anywhere else is if
you can't get what you want at B&H, and even then, you should first ask
yourself why not.

I was going there before anyone ever thought of online shopping, and
even then, that was the place to go, even though it meant a trip into
the city.

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Jeremy | jeremy@exit109.com

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JPS@no.komm - 31 Jul 2005 03:24 GMT

>> While surfing the B&H web site looking at Nikon lenses, there is a
>> distinction between "Imported" and "USA". All of the lens information
>> is the same - including the Manufacturers Number. The price difference
>> is about $20 US.
>
>The price difference is often quite a bit more, actually.

My grey market Canon 100-400L IS was $100 cheaper than the US version.
Had a problem with it a few months later, brought it to B&H, and had it
back 3 weeks later, fixed by Canon.

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