Purchasing lens overseas

ahsosl1e8 · 20th November 2006

I have a friend going to HK and has agreed to help me buy lens. I'm torn between tokina and sigma ultrawides, not because of the optics, but the after sales support. My friend knows little about photography, so he cannot test lens before purchase. The most he can do is to ensure that lens is scratchless and dust-free.

I've heard that sample variation occurs with third-party lens. Are bad copies covered under international warranties? If not, which brand is at higher risk of bad copies?

ahsosl1e8 · 21st November 2006

hmm... did i post in the wrong forum?

Anybody willing to tell me whether sigma/tokina warranties cover unsharp lens due to sample variation?

ortega · 21st November 2006

best is to ask the agent here, but i don't think so

tokina - http://www.cathayphoto.com.sg/
sigma - Sigma Marketing (Singapore) Pte Ltd

foreverlovex · 21st November 2006

It is true that 3rd party lens have poorer QC as compared to canon or nikon.

Bad copy is NOT covered by warranty. The best they could do will be send it for calibration.

You may like to check the international warranty as well. Should be shorter duration.

20th November 2006	#1
ahsosl1e8 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 329	Purchasing lens overseas I have a friend going to HK and has agreed to help me buy lens. I'm torn between tokina and sigma ultrawides, not because of the optics, but the after sales support. My friend knows little about photography, so he cannot test lens before purchase. The most he can do is to ensure that lens is scratchless and dust-free. I've heard that sample variation occurs with third-party lens. Are bad copies covered under international warranties? If not, which brand is at higher risk of bad copies?

21st November 2006	#2
ahsosl1e8 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 329	Re: Purchasing lens overseas hmm... did i post in the wrong forum? Anybody willing to tell me whether sigma/tokina warranties cover unsharp lens due to sample variation?

21st November 2006	#3
ortega Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: NorthEast Posts: 16,505	Re: Purchasing lens overseas best is to ask the agent here, but i don't think so tokina - http://www.cathayphoto.com.sg/ sigma - Sigma Marketing (Singapore) Pte Ltd __________________ The Law

21st November 2006	#4
foreverlovex Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 688	Re: Purchasing lens overseas It is true that 3rd party lens have poorer QC as compared to canon or nikon. Bad copy is NOT covered by warranty. The best they could do will be send it for calibration. You may like to check the international warranty as well. Should be shorter duration.