I would be grateful if Leica users in Hong Kong would give me an idea of how much a new M6 TTL 0.72 would cost over there. I am considering buying in HK when I head over there next month. I usually visit Man Shing Photo Supplies in Mong Kok but perhaps there are other places that you would recommend. I believe I will have a one/two year international warranty that is effective in Canada, but please let me know about international warranty details if you can. If the price difference isn't big or if the warranty is a problem then I'll just buy in Canada before my trip. Any help is much appreciated.

-- Bill Lee (Bill_Lee@telus.net), July 13, 2001

Answers

Hi,

I bought a 90/2.0 APO-ASPH in Hong Kong from Tin Cheung Camera Company (G26, Tung Ying Building, 100 Nathan Road, Kowloon side; phone number 2722 1265 fax is 2722 1043) a few months back. I dealt with Jennifer Tsang. The warranty on the lens was of no significance to me (but it came with all offical papers), because it is quite rare for a new Leica lens not to work properly. I believe I paid $1,260 for the new lens, which is an extremely competitive price. To the best of my memory, I think the M6 is about $1,450 in their store. Good luck.

Eddie

-- Edward Steinberg (es323@msn.com), July 13, 2001.

Check out the M6TTL prices (grey market) at Tin Cheung Camera's website: http://www.tincheungcamera.co m.hk.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), July 14, 2001.

As a long time traveller to hong Kong, here is the definitive version:

When you arrive(or before you go), phone the Leica agent (was "Schmidt and Co", now I think "Schmidt Photo or similar"). They are very helpful and will give you a list of all authorised Leica dealers in Hong Kong as well as the current full "official" price list for everything. The official prices are always discounted by around 30% to 35% depending on the exchange rate for US$ vs Euro or German Marks. The reason for this is that every shipment of leicas costs a different amount for the agent and the wholesale price to the dealers also varies accordingly. The official price list is updated only about every 6 months and this means that the dealers' "discount rate" to the customer (you and me)varies depending on the dealers'cost .

There is also a flourishing grey market in Hong Kong. Many of the dealers offer both officially imported and grey market cameras and lenses. The only difference is that the official imports have an agent's sticker on both the box and the guarantee card. The official imports carry an internationally-valid guarantee and the grey market stuff must be sent back to germany for warranty work. If you buy grey market, make sure that the dealer includes the warranty card, otherwise you have nil warranty. The dealers mentioned in earlier messages are fine. Other dealers of repute are Kinefoto, Stanley St and Francisco, behind the Hyatt Hotel.

Just because these are all reputable, that does not mean that they will give you the lowest price straight off. You need to bargain and compare prices, but don't waste their time. They have long memories.

Here is the absolute lowest-price grey market REPUTABLE dealer in Hong Kong. SALON CAMERAS, in a side street behind the Hyatt Hotel. I have bought repeatedly from this dealer and have never had a problem. His stock is brand new, he has an enormous turnover, and there are no tricks.

Price example in Dec 2000: Leica M6 (any model) HK$11,000; R8 HK$8,700 (they can't give them away in Hong Kong either). I know how these cameras are imported (I have been shown the actual dealer's invoices) but if I told you, I would have to kill you. The cameras are 100% kosher. Perhaps that gives you an idea.

Hope this is useful. Sorry about the length. If any one wants more info, please e-mail me.

-- wayne murphy (wayne.murphy@publicworks.qld.gov.au), July 15, 2001.

I bought an M6 outfit from Francisco in Hong Kong and regretted it for a year. The 21 mm lens I got fogged up in 6 months here in Singapore( I'm a Canadian expat) and Schmidt in Singapore wanted 300 Sing Dollars to send it to Germnany to find out if it was covered by warantee. If it was they would pay-if not, I payed. All this would take 3 months,AND even though I got it at an "Authorized" dealer, they(Schmidt in Singapore) would not cover it as I did not buy it in Singapore.

When I returned to Toronto, the then-distributor Kindermann- cleaned it for me NO CHARGE in 5 minutes. Too bad Kindermann is no longer the Leica agent in canada.

As soon as I could, I sold the Leica, bought a Knoica Hexar RF oufit and get pictures as good as any with the Leica, without having to deal with the distributors- Leica in Solms was no help either- they didn't even bother to answer my queries.

I made a mistake. I shoulda bought the Leica in Toronto, but in retrospect, I would not have been driven to buying the Konica and would still be fumbling with loading the (antique by todays standards) !#$%^& M6.

Saving a few bucks in Hong Kong is not worth it, particularly when you have to look the customs guy at the Canadian airport in the eye and say you did not purchase or acquire anything while out of the counry-they're sharp!

Good luck.

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richardjx@hotmail.com), July 23, 2001.

Quotation january 2002: 12 000 HK$ for an M6 TTL It is possible to negotiate this price. Official Paers and all. Quite a few stores in HK offer the same deal. Have a look at your bank account after you buy.

-- Richard (rmviet@yahoo.fr), January 18, 2002.