Comments on: Canadian Dollar Dropping – Good for Canadian & US shoppers

By: Asterisk

Asterisk — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:12:28 +0000

You can always save lots of money when the Canadian dollar is moving. Remember, when you import into Canada across the border, you only pay tax; most camera equipment is duty free. Watch out for brokerage fees.

Canadians, I strongly recommend checking out http://www.photoprice.ca which has lots of info on buying cross-border, and also does price comparisons between Canadian and US stores, including exchange rate and shipping.

By: EdN

EdN — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:48:38 +0000

Follow-up comment regarding buying local: I always try to buy local when I can and support local merchants. The stuff I purchase from out of town is not available locally or the price difference is so great that it can’t be matched. By the way, The Camera Store and Camera Canada are brick and mortar stores. They’re just located in another town, have nice websites and offer great prices and service.

By: Stan

Stan — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:30:05 +0000

1 dollar Us buys roughly 1.15 CAD at the moment. How long it stays there depends largely on commodity pricing

By: PM

PM — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:08:39 +0000

Is it just me or it’s the American dollar that is at 85 cents CAD and not the other way around.

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:58:43 +0000

I don’t call $1246 being cheap.

Our local store is a discount store (www.onecall.com), but no one is discounting the 5D MKII so the price with sales tax is US$4033 versus $2812 US with the Canadian exchange (includes $25 shipping). Thats a total of US $1246.00 less.

Since I am in North Eastern Washington State, I can drive to Calgary or Vancover if need be for a lot less than that. The difference in price ($1246) is just too much to be reasonable. I’ve bought many new DSLR’s and never had a problem.

By: Fred C.

Fred C. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:20:45 +0000

Guys and Gals,

Don’t be cheap and do your best to buy local. As I saw on one post here, a store replaced a camera on the spot. If we continue to support online stores, this kind of service will vanish and you will have no where to go for help. Most stores will price match, but you have to ask, if they don’t I understand. But remember it has to be a bricks and mortar store competing with the SAME service.

By: EdN

EdN — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:21:03 +0000

If you live in B.C., The Camera Store in Calgary is excellent in terms of price, shipping, and service as Jon above says. I’m a lot cash poorer because of them but saved big bucks. I’m on their wait list for the 5d Mkii. I have tried Camera Canada once and they also seem quite good too. But it’s a long way out back east in case you have a problem fut fortunately I’ve never encountered any.

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:40:47 +0000

Thanks. I’m looking for a 5D MKII, I have a 40d. I’ve bought many many items by mail, and I sell several thousand items a year through my online store.

I have always bought my Digital SLR’s locally, but thats been because the price is the same or very close. Money is tight now, so saving $900 + US on the $3700 kit is a huge savings.

I’ve a question into “Camera Canada” Now. I lived in Richmond Hill for 3 years in the late 1980′s, and used to frequent Aden camera.

I’ll check out all the suggestions. I’ve got a 5D MKII on order since 2pm on the 17th from Adorama, but even ordering the first day doesn’t guarantee one in the first shipment.

By: Fred

Fred — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:57:40 +0000

Support your local camera store. Most stores if asked will price match or at least come close. Stores are closing all over because of online shopping. The comment about the one store replacing a camera on the spot is a prime example. If you need service where would you go?

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:06:50 +0000

Best place to buy in Canada is The Camera Store (www.thecamerastore.com) located in Calgary. Their prices are on par or better then Henry’s or Vistek and never has PST and cheap shipping. Service has always been great too.

By: Rox

Rox — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 05:27:10 +0000

I’m from Montreal (Quebec) and I always order my stuff from adencamera.com Toronto (Ontario) to save on GST. I’m pretty sure that they would ship to US. Send an email to have their best price, on a lot of items you could be surprized.

By: Stan

Stan — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:29:10 +0000

Oh, and for Ed,
if the camera is for you and your looking to take advantage of your nieces adress for the warranty id say go to London Drugs and make reference to the kit deal for $1249. Its an old kit so they want to get rid of them(they were unpacking a 50D for the display while i was buying). If its for your niece id say buy from Leo’s, theyre convenient, helpful, theyll price match within reason, and they have the best stock of canon lenses for rent so might as well start the relationship :)

By: Stan

Stan — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:13:09 +0000

Thanks Ed, ill give acdsee a try. CS2 will not open 40d raw even after updating, and im deathly afraid of DPP(crashes everytime i try too convert to 16bit tiff and several other random crashes). Very strange, never encountered this with 10D, 30D, or 5D raw files. Still love the camera though.

On the subject of purchasing, i firmly believe physicaly walking into a store, any store, is preferable to buying online. My first 30D had a small piece of cardboard STUCK to the sensor. I walked back into the store and exchanged an hour later. I exchanged 3 sigma 10-20mm before i got a good one, which ended up being on my camera 95 percent of the last 2 years. Currently waiting for shipment of tokina 11-16 2.8, and id be suprised if my first copy is perfect. Moral of the story, warranty good, buying locally much better

By: Captain Awesome

Captain Awesome — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:59:23 +0000

Canon is one of few manufacturers that actually have a continental warranty. Olympus has International, most others are specific to the Country.
People don’t realize it, but if you’re Canadian with a product that only has a US warranty, unless you have a US address, you’re screwed.
Also, Vistek may have better prices than Henry’s, but they’re assholes and Henry’s is glad to price match.