Can we unbundle the body?
I quite like the kit lens, one lens for all purposes.
Is it much cheaper in HK?
Thanks
P
This site was embedded in an FAQ somewhere - think it's the Newbies forum 8)
http://www.ygdragon.net/
Click on 'Lens Price List' on the menu on top for the relevant list.
On the page that follows, 'small shop list' highlighted in yellow names a couple of shops to go to, while the rest of the page is a relatively updated price list. BRING THIS WITH YOU FOR REFERENCE.
As you can see, prices of lenses, especially top end ones, are good but make sure you get the international warranty. Bodies, grips, etc, are not worth getting as they have only China/HK/Macau warranties.
Note I speak reasonably good Cantonese so I was able to communicate - but of course they can tell straight away from the accent that I'm not local. If you speak little or no Cantonese, I suspect Wing Shing would be the better spot, with little additional bargaining required.
2 weeks ago, I visited:
1) Good World Camera
Relatively small shop, not easy to find unless you know Central well. Seems like they specialise in Canon stuff, which I didn't ask the price of, and they carry some Nikon stuff which I asked about. Prices were more or less the same as Singapore's for the Nikon stuff, and they weren't too inclined to bargain.
Getting there: walk away from Central station, towards Sheung Wan. Gilman's bazaar is a small road leading off Queen's Road Central, close to the Midlevels escalators. I would ask the Hotel Concierge for a map.
Tip: There's a little restaurant next to this shop selling Indonesian laksa (or so they claim). Interesting taste but ask for additional sambal!
2) Man Shing
This is run pretty much like stores in Singapore, i.e. large arrays of goods, multiple salespersons, no visible price tags. I grabbed a salesperson, asked for prices of various items and got discounted prices pretty similar to the list above. Paid for everything with Visa, and got a full receipt with LIST PRICES (yes before discount) printed, to cover the warranty. As I'm pretty paranoid, I called my credit card company right after he swiped, to ensure I was billed the correct HKD amount, and I was. As I left, I heard them telling another customer it's possible to get even better rates if you pay cash but the prices were reasonable enough and I didn't have enough cash on me.
Getting there:
Exit Mongkok MTR by Bank Centre exit, walk away from the station (back facing Nathan Road) to the next street and turn left. You should be on Sai Yeung Choi Street. Wing Shing is on your left as you walk down this street, and there are other vendors like Broadway, etc, which you would not need to go to.
Sai Yeung Choi Kai intersects a major road, Argyle street, which you should cross and then turn right on the opposite side. You will pass a large electronics store (Gome), and cross Tung Choi Street. Turn left and walk down the side of the building and you should see Man Shing a couple of doors down.
TIP: the building Man Shing adjoins is chock full of shops selling discounted mobile phones (beware water goods or -Shoi For-), mobile phone accessories, and anime/star collectibles.
Tung Choi Street is the same street as Women's market, with Argyle Street bisecting. So if you cannot find it, position yourself across the road from the Women's market.
3) Wing Shing
Large store, also run pretty much like the Singapore stores. Difference is that price tags are prominently displayed with DISCOUNTED prices (so there's no need to bargain). I did not buy anything from there as I got to Man Shing first, so I don't know about their credit card or receipt policy.
Getting there:
See (2)
Tip:
In the evenings, Sai Yeung Choi Street is closed to road traffic, and there are street performances, fortune tellers, and a gazillion mobile phone vendors all along the street.
