Where to buy photography equipment in Beijing?

When I was in the US, I used to buy all photography equipment online via a few

trusted vendors such as www.amazon.com, www.ritzcamera.com etc. When I

started to live in China in 2004, I had to find a local vendor who can sell the real

camera equipment at a reasonable price.

 

I soon discovered that the Photography Equipment City in Wudesong intersection

on the west 4th ring road of Beijing is the place to go for all my photography

needs. They sell all the popular camera and lenses at almost the same price as

amazon or ritz), mostly with manufacture warranty.

 

This is a large 2 story building and houses more than 100 photography equipment

shops. The shops offer anything related to photography, cameras, lenses, lighting,

photo printing, framing, photography books, even there are a few photo schools in

the building.

 

The camera shops are operated by individual sellers. The building management

rents out space at a fixed monthly rent and the sellers are responsible for

merchandise and the price. (much like the eBay and the individual eBay sellers

relationship). Since each shop is individually operated, you are expected to

bargain a little bit. However, do not try to cut the price in half as you would do in

places like Hongqiao pearl market.

 

For the past 4 years, I have brought 2 camera bodies and 3 lenses and I sold 1

camera body and 2 lenses in the Photography Equipment City. My experiences

are positive. (used camera bodies and the lenses are usually sold at 40-60% of

the new price to the dealers)

 

Price: The price is about the same as the US price.

Rayi has physical shop in the Photography Equipment City in Beijing and an

ecommerce site: www.rayi.com.cn.

Nikon D300 body price:

Rayi online: 11,000RMB which is 1571USD (1USD = 7 RMB)

http://www.rayi.com.cn/static/product_6937.htm

Ritz camera online 1,799USD

http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/541531331.htm

Nikon 70-200 mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Lens price comparison:

Rayi online: 14980RMB which is 2010USD

http://www.rayi.com.cn/static/product_2129.htm

Ritz camera online: 1799.95USD

 

Quality: These are all made by Nikon (factory in Thailand) or Canon or others, why

do you think that they are any difference if they are sold in Hong Kong, USA or in

China?

 

Is it possible that you pay a real Nikon price but get a �knock off� Nikon? The

answer is �very unlikely�. I have never heard such as a story from the local

photography community in Beijing. I personally highly doubt that a small factory

out in remote towns have the skills and technology to produce the �fake� or even

a �look a like� Nikon D3. What�s more, the management of the Photography

Equipment City has every bit of interests to make sure that the sellers do not

sell �fake� camera as the rent they charge the sellers every month is patially

dependent upon the buyers experience. A �fake� camera story travels very fast on

the internet these days and that story will surely put a dent on the reputation of

the Photography Equipment City and surely will hurt their business.

 

Is it possible that you will get a grey market camera? Yes, that is possible! But

you will most like to know it is a grey market before you buy it.

 

A grey market equipment is a camera that is sold in the US or China but it is not

meant to be sold in the US or China A grey market cameras do not include a

manufacturer 's warranty but it is a REAL camera that is made by the original

manufacturer such as Nikon or Canon. The grey market equipment is usually sold

cheaper than the full manufacturer�s warranty cameras.

 

My experience shows: the seller in the Photography Equipment City will usually

tell you that the equipment is a grey market or not. The gray market camera and

the camera with full manufacturer�s warranty are priced differently (usually less

than couple of hundred RMB). I recommend buying a camera with the

manufacturing warranty and pay the extra few hundred just for the peace of mind. I

do not know if the manufacturer warranty is international though.

 

For those of you who stay long term in China or have to pick up some photography

gears in Beijing for your adventure in the silk road, I recommend that you go to the

Photography Equipment City in Beijing and buy the equipments with the full

manufacture warranty.

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Thanks for the tips. How about used gear? How's their English?

There are about 10-15 used equipment dealers in the Photography Equipment City. You can trade in your used lenses and camera (as I did with my old NikonD70s brought in 2005 and after 40,000shots sold for 300USD in Feb 2008).

The dealers there usually take a few shoots with your equipment and offer a price.

 

You can also buy uesed equipment from the dealers.

 

Hardly anybody there speaks English. But most of them will know simple words like OK, Yes, No.

 

A big screen calculator can be used to communicate the price :)

There were also quite a few shops on the ground floor of in the "computer centre" about 2 blocks past the workers stadium when coming from San Litun.

 

I bought some stuff there and did ok - yes English is scarce and I do prefer Hong Kong.

 

Cheers

Nan, do you happen to know where to buy photo equipment in Shanghai? I'm in

Shanghai for 2 months and haven't found a B&H-like photo store. Seen lots of

electronics malls but not true photography store. I have Pentax equipment and it

seems like finding any new (or old) Pentax stuff out here will be impossible.

Can't find any useful info on the web either. Thanks.

David: I am sorry that I do not know where to buy photography equipment in Shanghai. I have only been to shanghai as visitors and have not brought equipment in Shanghai.

Zhong Guancun,of cource,it's the largest digital centre in china,you can find almost every up-to-date photography

equipment here,and foreigeners don't have to worry about communication,they have sales assistant who can speak

english.french,japanese or other languages.If you have other questions about living in beijing,check the site

http://www.learnchinese.bj.cn

<p>How times have changed!</p>

<p>Over a decade ago, Chinese in every city I visited would approach me offering to buy my beat up 8008s and manual lenses. Too bad I only had one body with me, and had to turn them down. The thought of bringing an extra body or two for my next trip crossed my mind. Now I can scratch that idea.</p>

<p>The Chinese are perhaps the most passionate photographers in the world. Everywhere I went, they were out there shooting. Many would strike up a conversation with me about my gear, and shooting techniques.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Is it possible that you pay a real Nikon price but get a �knock off� Nikon? The answer is �very unlikely�. I have never heard such as a story from the local photography community in Beijing. I personally highly doubt that a small factory out in remote towns have the skills and technology to produce the �fake� or even a �look a like� Nikon D3.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Thanks for dispelling this urban legend.</p>

<p>There are two "photo malls" in Shanghai. The largest, very similar to photo equipment city in Beijing, is in Luwan district at the corner of Luban Road and Xietu Road. The easiest way to get there is from the Luban Road stop of subway Line 4. Take exit 1 from the station and walk one long block north. The six-story building is obvious, it is plastered with camera brand posters. An annex building in the back houses many of digital printing vendors.<br>

The second mall is smaller. It is at the south plaza of the main Shanghai railway station (also called the north station). The station is served by subway lines 3, 4, and 8. The location is not obvious; the easiest way to find it is to find the big sign of the KFC restaurant, go in, go to the 2nd floor and out the back door, and there it is.<br>

Shanghai seems to be a more expensive city than Beijing and that goes for cameras and lenses, also. You will find only small discounts from list prices and not much willingness to bargain.</p>

<p>Anybody know of a similar emporium or just a shop with a good range of equipment, including secondhand, in Dalian?<br>

I've only ever found the Nikon shop on Zhongshan; and what an uninteresting, sterile, place that is.</p>