Bangkok MBK Camera shops?

[limlien]

Hi all,

I have gone thru quite a few search within Clubsnap abt places where you can get camera equipment within bangkok itself and i found that most of them said that it's much more expensive to buy equipment in bangkok MBK becoz of the foreigner there.

But i also read that there are areas that are cheap for camera purchase and i have only a slight idea that it is by the road something like a flea market.

I would like to find out the actually address or the actually road name or say near which landmark, other then MBK becoz it's a shopping centre and it is really expensive as highlighted by most of the clubsnapper.

I also read abt the 7% vat refund. How do i go abt it?

I would like to found out the price of a Brand new 1dmark ii and used canon primes lens in bangkok. Therefore can anyone help me with it as i am going bangkok soon.

Thanks for reading.

 

[loupgarou]

vat refund form must be done by the shop.

if I'm not wrong, you must purchase in a single receipt more than 2000 THB, and your total purchases (of all your vat refund forms in total) must exceed 5000 THB.

 

[ricohflex]

Go to BKK reasonably often.
In MBK there are two shops selling cameras.
One is heavily into Nikon.

Actually the real high end shop is in Amarin Plaza.
All pro stuff. Hassel, Leica, etc.....
If you are also hifi hobbyist, this plaza also houses high end hifi shop.

Any hifi hobbyist can tell you that it is a far more expensive hobby than photography.

Camera prices in BKK are not cheap at all.
Try to understand that BKK is the Thai capital city. So the elite rich are concentrated there. Thailand is a big country and actually there are many rich Thais. I mean those who have maybe...=>$10 Million.
So they can afford to pay for any expensive camera.

If some Singaporeans think all Thais are poor, perhaps they should rethink.

 

[nickmak]

Hmmm... I bought my 500mm f4L IS USM from the shop at MBK at S$9500+... Compared to shops in S'pore, its a pretty decent price don't you think? :think:

 

[ed9119]

Try to understand that BKK is the Thai capital city. So the elite rich are concentrated there. Thailand is a big country and actually there are many rich Thais. I mean those who have maybe...=>$10 Million.

Sorry, that sounds like photography is the domain of the richest in Thailand. .... how about the tens of thousands of ordinary Thais that are either working professionals or serious enthusiasts.

Please check out the photography section of www.pantip.com (otherwise known as pantown at http://www.pantown.com/ ) . The Thai photo community is huge and I assure you that they are not massing in MBK's 2 photo shops

No offence meant but just need to straighten the facts as most visitors get to see only one or two faces of Thailand

I like buying 2nd hand or grey market camera stuff in Bangkok. My favorite area is Charoen Krung Rd beginning from its junction with Vorachak (or Worachak Rd spelling). Walk eastwards all the way down for 2 km in the direction of Hualompong Train Station and u will hit at least 5 photo stores carrying serious new and 2nd hand equiptment.

The last photo store will be the one on left before the traffic circle. If u veer a little off course along the way, you'll find little niches along the streets selling photo related equiptment (picked up an absolutely filthy and beat up Domke for 300 Baht once from a road side seller) . Some of these stores will be totally shitty looking from the outside but sure got some kind of camera/photo equiptment brand ads pasted on the windows that indicates them as photo stores.

Good stuff I picked up in the past included several early generation manual focus cult status lenses from Nikon, Tamron and Olympus and flash units (eg a Sunpack with 20GN and 4 different output levels (full, half, 1/4 and 1/8))

Another good area to go to is Lad Phrao Rd across from Central. U will see about a dozen photo labs within a stretch of 500m to the traffic junction. These labs process E-6 at S$1.50 a roll, do digital scanning for S$2.50 a roll etc etc etc I like to come this area to buy film that is already nicely BULK rolled and labelled for you (provia, velvia, t-max) ....... super cheap.

Within this stretch are 3 camera stores, 1 selling mostly serious studio stuff, 1 like CP and 1 selling only 2nd hand equiptment.

There are at least 2 more areas where local Thais go to get their photo stuff, I cannot remember it offhand now but try the 2 places I mentioned above first ...... they should keep u busy for at least a couple of days.

Overall camera prices in Thailand have been coming down over the last couple of years but Singapore and HK still better. If u are looking for unique, rare, weird photo stuff, Bangkok might give you a good time.

I hear that some Nikon dslrs are made in Thailand but never checked the prices....... me dont use Nikon.

Chok Dee !

 

[ricohflex]

what is the singapore price for this? 500L
too costly for me to consider, so never asked in s'pore.

but have some friends who actually have 500L and also 600 L
bird shooters.
never asked them the price.

 

[ricohflex]

Sorry, that sounds like photography is the domain of the richest in Thailand. .... how about the tens of thousands of ordinary Thais that are either working professionals or serious enthusiasts.

.....

Within this stretch are 3 camera stores, 1 selling mostly serious studio stuff, 1 like CP and 1 selling only 2nd hand equipment.


Chok Dee !

(edit of previous message which I think was not well expressed)

Very good lobang for photo stuff in BKK. Nice of you to share this with us. Will check them out.

Certainly the masses in other countries have access to photographic gear.

Some of the rich (anywhere in the world), after they past a level of 'richness'; want to dis-associate with the rest of the population, to be 'exclusive'. Not all are like that, but some do.

I just mentioned the last shop which I spotted. I believe it caters to the exclusive clients who will not like to be caught shopping in 2nd hand stores. It's bad for their 'image'. It may be considered shameful for them to be seen buying 2nd hand.

In Singapore, we have such people too. I have heard one loudly declaring to a salesman in a local 2nd hand shop that he NEVER buys second hand and was only forced to look for one in that shop because the Laser Disc player model he likes, is no longer made or available new in the retail outlets.

 

[ed9119]

The one on the ground floor has photos pasted inside showing PM Thaksin visiting and chatting with the shop boss.

 

[limlien]

Thanks guys!! This should be able to help me into searching for something good over there while i am there!! Thank you very much!

 

[nickmak]

The one on the ground floor has photos pasted inside showing PM Thaksin visiting and chatting with the shop boss.

Yea, and i personally know both the people in that picture.

 

[Tango7]

Hi all

MBK is the best place to go. Prices will not e increased because you are a foreigner but make sure you go to places like Foto File, Sunny Cameras or Foto Thailand.

Try the following website for information on Nikon dealers in Bangkok and there are other sections about camera shops on that site too.

With the exchange rate being bad for UK citizens, Bangkok might be more expensive.

By the way, there is a section on that site about getting VAT back.

Hope this helps

 

[gunawan]

Sorry, that sounds like photography is the domain of the richest in Thailand. .... how about the tens of thousands of ordinary Thais that are either working professionals or serious enthusiasts.

Please check out the photography section of www.pantip.com (otherwise known as pantown at http://www.pantown.com/ ) . The Thai photo community is huge and I assure you that they are not massing in MBK's 2 photo shops

No offence meant but just need to straighten the facts as most visitors get to see only one or two faces of Thailand

I like buying 2nd hand or grey market camera stuff in Bangkok. My favorite area is Charoen Krung Rd beginning from its junction with Vorachak (or Worachak Rd spelling). Walk eastwards all the way down for 2 km in the direction of Hualompong Train Station and u will hit at least 5 photo stores carrying serious new and 2nd hand equiptment.

The last photo store will be the one on left before the traffic circle. If u veer a little off course along the way, you'll find little niches along the streets selling photo related equiptment (picked up an absolutely filthy and beat up Domke for 300 Baht once from a road side seller) . Some of these stores will be totally shitty looking from the outside but sure got some kind of camera/photo equiptment brand ads pasted on the windows that indicates them as photo stores.

Good stuff I picked up in the past included several early generation manual focus cult status lenses from Nikon, Tamron and Olympus and flash units (eg a Sunpack with 20GN and 4 different output levels (full, half, 1/4 and 1/8))

Another good area to go to is Lad Phrao Rd across from Central. U will see about a dozen photo labs within a stretch of 500m to the traffic junction. These labs process E-6 at S$1.50 a roll, do digital scanning for S$2.50 a roll etc etc etc I like to come this area to buy film that is already nicely BULK rolled and labelled for you (provia, velvia, t-max) ....... super cheap.

Within this stretch are 3 camera stores, 1 selling mostly serious studio stuff, 1 like CP and 1 selling only 2nd hand equiptment.

There are at least 2 more areas where local Thais go to get their photo stuff, I cannot remember it offhand now but try the 2 places I mentioned above first ...... they should keep u busy for at least a couple of days.

Overall camera prices in Thailand have been coming down over the last couple of years but Singapore and HK still better. If u are looking for unique, rare, weird photo stuff, Bangkok might give you a good time.

I hear that some Nikon dslrs are made in Thailand but never checked the prices....... me dont use Nikon.

Chok Dee !

Hey Ed! I took like almost 4 years to read this thread of yours! Very informative, and thanks for sharing. Will definitely follow yr written map guide and visit these stores if I happen to visit Thailand.
My friend just went MBK recently and was quoted prices that are slightly above Spore, but I'm sure if he had nego a bit harder, will get much lower price, bcos knowing this friend of mine, his face is thinner than his wallet: he rather pay more than bargain more... wat a sucker... morale of story for the middle class is: if u at MBK, must bargain HARD! just like pat pong market...

 

[ch12fan]

I've just come back from Bangkok and was looking for camera shops selling Nikon lenses & accessories. Here's what i found. The shops in MBK were in general about 10-20% more expensive than in Singapore, i can't say this for all items but only for those items which i was looking for. A much better place would be IT City (which is kinda like our Sim Lim Square) which is just beside the Platinum Fashion Mall , the camera shops there were about the prices in Singapore or only slightly more expensive, but many shops i spoke to didn't have International warranty for the items i wanted, only local warranty, so perhaps it's a better idea to get it here unless if you need items desperately there. Happy Snaps!

 

[lightning]

Got a 85F1.2M2@ less than S$2800 from MBK FOTOFILE. It comes with international warranty and has verified that Canon Singapore honors the warranty. I think that is a decent price compared to what you will pay in Singapore.

 

[wolf99]

Bought a flash with international warranty in MBK from Foto Thailand. Definitely cheaper than in Singapore. You need to compare prices, not all items are cheaper. The shop needs to fill in the VAT rebate form and you claim this at the airport, less I think 100 or 200 Baht processing fee. Note : Need your passport details to fill in the VAT rebate form.

 

[Anson]

Bought a flash with international warranty in MBK from Foto Thailand. Definitely cheaper than in Singapore. You need to compare prices, not all items are cheaper. The shop needs to fill in the VAT rebate form and you claim this at the airport, less I think 100 or 200 Baht processing fee. Note : Need your passport details to fill in the VAT rebate form.

If I am not wrong the Canon external flash does not come with international warranty if you want to go to CSC sg, even if you have the "international warranty" card.

 

[ggodetucsamoht]

I've just come back from Bangkok and was looking for camera shops selling Nikon lenses & accessories. Here's what i found. The shops in MBK were in general about 10-20% more expensive than in Singapore, i can't say this for all items but only for those items which i was looking for. A much better place would be IT City (which is kinda like our Sim Lim Square) which is just beside the Platinum Fashion Mall , the camera shops there were about the prices in Singapore or only slightly more expensive, but many shops i spoke to didn't have International warranty for the items i wanted, only local warranty, so perhaps it's a better idea to get it here unless if you need items desperately there. Happy Snaps!

referring to pantip plaza which is beside platinum mall, brought my tripod head there also.

 

[paapoopa]

was wondering if we can find those old camera/ rangefinders there, like the yashica gsn or nikon fm series....

 

[ricohflex]

 

[xylestesins]

Hey Ed, great advice for all the forummers man!

I'm damn attracted to the super cheap bulk rolls, and i can't wait to get my hands on lots of provia 400x. Kinda pricey around here, even though Singapore is averagely priced compared to some other places. Their E6 and scan prices are pretty fantastic too
I wouldn't mind shooting one roll a day at those kinda prices!

Do they carry a good amount of RF gear? I'm looking into the vintage canon/nikkors.
Also, anybody on that side whos experienced with lens mount conversions?