Alright.

Maybe I'll wait till I start school to buy my expensive glass ....

Still considering it tho.

Let's stay away from using the F-word mmmkay?

F****** canada.

They could, spot checks do happen, but there is no way to know if you will be checked or not. Again, just a reminder, it is illegal not to report items purchased in the US worth over $15 when entering Canada. If they catch you, and you don't report it you will have to pay the duty and a hefty fine. Not worth the risk IMO.

So, I am to buy my equipment from Canada and pay my taxes as well, right?

Hmm...

@ PB PM: I start school in the US in 6 months, and I will stay there for the length of my education. I might as well consider myself a US resident. I think getting US warranty is a smarter choice considering my future.

I think I might do as planned. Now I seek for an answer to my original question: will the border people search my car and bags? I will not pay 12% tax when I am to remain in Canada for only another 6 months, after which I will reside in America for years.

Actually, for the record, Tokina is not like Nikon. If you order from the US, your warranty is still valid (I bought my 11-16 from B+H and had no issues with them over where I bought it), although you should check their fine print as well to make sure.

As far as importing goes, you should balance the cost of possible repairs and replacement with the cost of warranty. Paying an extra 50% just for the warranty implies that you are expecting more than half of what you buy to break down within the next year or so- most stuff is made very well, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Your banks exchange rate is wrong, $1254.40 Cdn is $1,274.46 USD. Still a tough pill to sallow, but if you are living in Canada having the Canadian warranty is worth while.

Canadian prices are not just based on the exchange rate, they also include tariffs that the importer (Nikon Canada, Tokina Canada) pay. US tariffs tend to be lower than Canadian ones, which is why you see a price difference.

Well, I don't think I'll see any sale any time soon. Adorama has MUCH cheaper prices as well as rebates if I buy another body. However, the main reason for all this crap is because of the currency exchange rate. As if Canadian prices were high enough, with the exchange rate, it makes it even MORE expensive than the US models.

For example, tokina 11-16 + SB 700 in Adorama is a total of 930 USD. No tax, free shipping.

In Canada, it's 1120 CAD + 12% HST = 1254.40 CAD.

Using my bank's currency converter: 1,254.40 dollar (CAD) = 1,322.76 dollar (USD)

So I'm paying 400 more dollars just to get the Canadian models/warranties. Makes sense? I think not.

I mean, I would if there was a sale or is going to be at least, but the stuff I'm trying to buy are never going to have a sale.

you dont need to go through all this hassle. wait until you see a sale, buy it at the retailer (in Canada where you currently live and proud of)in future, if warranty service need to be done, you can do so without any problems because you bought it in the same country. the money you spent on shipping your items back and forth will end up costing you more than if you were to buy in Canada with hst implemented, furthermore, hassle free and worry free.

But technically, I'm purchasing a US model camera for my friend, who also lives in the US. Since it's a different state, there's no state tax on it. Then, he returns the equipment back to me, and I take it with me to Canada, and it's now 'used'. :| I mean, if I'm forced to pay tax for that, why didn't they tax everything I wear, including my shoes, and my computer, laptop, furniture, etc. when I moved into Canada?

If they find it you could very well get taxed. Remember that tax evasion is a felony, so you're better off just owning up to the purchase.

Alright, I have a question for whomever is experienced in this subject area.

I plan on ordering some expensive glass from Adorama or B&H. I live in Canada. I'm going to enter my friend's place, who lives in Seattle, for the shipping address. After the shipment arrives, I plan on crossing the border to visit him as well as pick up my stuff.

The question is: Will the border person search my car thoroughly to find stuff like the golden boxes I'm going to take back with me? I'll have a camera bag to hold my stuff in; I'm going to flatten out the boxes and put it underneath my seat or something.

Will I somehow get taxed on them or get caught? My guess is NO.

Thoughts, suggestions, experiences? Thanks

Thank you! :] I'll probably get my stuff the next time I go to Alberta hehe. 12% is too much for meh... I used to pay no tax in America cuz everything I bought was out-of-state -_-;

No, you wont have to pay HST on items that you purchased in Alberta.

Hmm. If I go to Calgary in person and buy my lenses there, would I have to pay HST eventually? Since I live in Vancouver.

Alright. I've been thinking for hours, and I've concluded that I won't be upgrading to an FX anytime soon, because the d7k is still very new and does just as good besides the crop factoring.

Now, to make up for the compactness, there's the MB d11 for balance; other than that, I'll just have to deal with it. ( I really can't care less about size,weight, or portability )

I guess the 18-55 VR will be good enough for me, although I'm not a fan of f/3.5-5.6.... I do alot of concert photography, and although most of the concerts I go to are high-profile, there are some occasions where I need the 2.8 -.

So I guess in the end I didn't have to think so much.

18-55 vr + 35mm 1.8, and 70-200mm vr2 coming soon. I think these 3 will serve me very well for walkaround, friends, and concerts too ^^

Now all I gotta do is find a store that sells for cheapest ^.^ Right now I'm looking at BCCamera.com cuz there's one right infront of where I live, and the manager can offer me free sdcards for incentive. thecamerastore is 50 dollars cheaper but no incentive :P

As it seems that cost does not seem at be an issue with you i'll bring up portability.

From a Pro perspective, the D7000 is a very compact body, for what it offers. I would take some time to consider the lower flexibility and portability that comes from the kit you describe.

I wouldn't bring it up if you were using a D700, but in my opinion, a compact DX body is best served with DX glass.

Hmm, I've done some more reading and I'm leaning towards 14-24 with a 35 or 50 prime. (Since I'll be getting 70-200 in a few months).

I've heard the 24-70 gets barrel distortion at 24, and also a 50 1.4 will cover what 24-70 will cover as well, just have to move my feet. However, the 14-24 has the expansion effect where things in the back look smaller than usual... so for shooting stuff like what I said, I get a feeling where spending so much on wide isn't very cost-productive (and it's kind of a waste on a DX), because I'm probably going to be shooting more with the 24-70 range for walk around. However, I've heard some bad things about the 24-70 like light leaking, barrel distortion and whatnot.

Bah, I guess the 24-70 will do >_< + 35 1.8

I shouldn't have read that persuasive post saying 14-24 + 50mm 1.4/8 + 70-200mm, with the 50mm + feet = 24-70......... Keep having doubts on getting the 24-70

If you know that you will continue to invest in lenses in the future, don't worry about wide.

Get a 11-16, or any of a number of wide-angle zooms later and enjoy the significantly better image quality.

they are $500-ish dollars and are one of the best types of lenses you can buy.

search the forums, we have a number of great threads about these lenses

Galaxy Camera is a legit camera store in Ottawa. I've ordered from them on ebay before and had no issues.

Well, I'm leaning towards the 18-55 and 35 1.8 on my d7000. However, I've read that if I can afford it, the 24-70 f/2.8 will take me long ways, and it's also an excellent walk-around camera. But the problem is the wideangle shots... But I don't necessarily NEED to shoot wide angle.

So, I guess it comes down to either:
- 14-24 f/2.8 + 35mm 1.8 or 50mm 1.4
- 24-70 f/2.8 + 35mm 1.8
- 18-55 + 35mm 1.8

I've already stated what I like to shoot, and basically as of right now, I need a walk-around lens so I don't need to change lenses so often.

Also, does anyone know of GalaxyCamera on ebay? Are they legit? They sell their stuff for ~$200 cheaper ~_~ bait&switch? I might buy my lens from there.

The biggest difference between the 18-55 and the 16-85 is ergonomics and build quality. Those things are still important, because they change how you interact with your equipment, but the difference in image quality is subtle at best (in real situations), and the difference between 16-18 is also quite subtle. A 2mm difference is more significant at the wider end but the difference between 16 and 18 on DX is not very big (different story on FX though), so if 18mm is not wide enough, it's unlike that 16mm will be either.

Alright so I'm using a D7000 and I'm looking for the best price/performance ratio lens between the 16-85mm VR vs. an 18-55mm VR + 35mm f/1.8. I like to shoot generally everything. Just any random thing that catches my eye. People, buildings, scenery, random flowers (no homo), FOOD that I eat.. etc.

does the 2mm make a noticeable difference? I know I have to look for myself, and I will do that when I get some people's input on if the 16-85 is good bang for the buck.

Now the thing is, I'm getting a 70-200mm VRII lens before the end of summer 2011, so I can't really spend all that much on lenses that'll overlap, which means no 18-105mm nor 18-200. I was also thinking of getting one of the two (18-55 or 35 1.8) and living with it till I get the 70-200. With the prime, I'll learn to place myself further/closer rather than using zoom to get the shot.

Just take your sales receipts, and forms that show you paid the taxes already, they wont charge you again.

Wow, so it's not 12% of say... 1200 for d7k body. it's 12% of d7k + 125 for shipping which is 1325? =_=;;; wtfff
I guess I'll just have to take ultragood care of my babies...... And hope that they don't unfairly pwn me when I'm trying to take my camera to school in the US, or when I come back home to Canada from the US....