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Post by Will Teach For Tea on Sept 11, 2006 1:34:04 GMT 7
Hi all, Well, I'm no slated to show up in Luoyang on October 16th...
I'd like to have a digital camera and audion recorder there, and I was wondering if one can get good quality versions of these in China without too much of a hassel. If I have to go on a long search in Zhengzhou, I'll likely just get them here. Any suggestions?
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Post by Raoul Duke on Sept 11, 2006 2:08:51 GMT 7
I don't know about the recorder, but most advice seems to say buy the digital camera in the West or in Hong Kong. China has them, and they seem OK, but I'm told that you'll get better quality and lower prices elsewhere.
There are ugly rumors that a lot of the consumer electronics produced by the global name-brand companies for the mainland China market are of lower quality. The brands and models may read the same, the story goes, but the ones for China are made with cheaper components. I don't know if there's anything to this or not.
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Post by Will Teach For Tea on Sept 11, 2006 2:32:27 GMT 7
I've heard others say this as well. My inclination was to do this anyway, but it's good to hear it from the man himself. Time to go on Amazon!
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Post by Raoul Duke on Sept 11, 2006 2:39:43 GMT 7
If you're going to buy online, also try MySimon ( www.mysimon.com). That's how I bought mine many years ago, and I got a pretty good deal!
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Post by Lotus Eater on Sept 11, 2006 13:37:11 GMT 7
I have bought 99% of my electronic stuff in Xi'an and have had very little trouble. I go to the main stores and buy name brand stuff. I make sure I get the warranty (label it because it is in Chinese!0 and if I've ahd to take stuff back, they repalce with genuine parts.
I bought my MP3 in Malaysia, along with my daughter who bought 2 expensive ones - they didn't work for more than an hour after she got them back to OZ and gave her boyfriend his. Mine is just fine.
Zhengzhou should have plenty of stuff there.
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Post by ilunga on Sept 11, 2006 21:02:40 GMT 7
I don't think Luoyang has a specific area for electronics like Xi'an and Zhengzhou (probably) do. Are Digital cameras really cheaper in the west? I was looking at some top of the range ones today for around 2500RMB. It's hard to imagine the same models costing less than 200 quid back home. Could be wrong though.
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nolefan
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Post by nolefan on Sept 11, 2006 23:38:26 GMT 7
I'd say get the camera here if you're looking for your average Sony/canon/nikon or back in USAnia if you're looking for high end SLR style stuff. As far as the recorder goes, bring it along.
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Post by Mr Nobody on Sept 12, 2006 14:56:24 GMT 7
It isn't cheaper components, it is a reliability factor.
When a batch of electronic components are made, they are of variable quality and reliability. I can't recall the exact figures but it goes something like this: the top 1% go to the military, and are very pricey. Next 2-3 % to scientific equipment (costing a little less), then about 10% are for industrial, then the next 30 or so are for export. The next are domestic, and are cheaper. As you can guess, some of the domestic stuff would be as good as some of the export stuff, simply due to stats and innate variability. Some of the stuff can be sort of overclocked too, which can be both good and bad - shortens life maybe, but works 'better'.
Typically, camera stuff is from the higher end of whatever bracket it is from, along with computer components and anything to do with weapons.
The remainder of the chips (about half) are crap, but unfortunately get used in shoddy copies.
I actually understand that modern manufacturing now loses less chips in the useless basket and are generally more reliable, but still, the approximate ratios hold.
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Post by Raoul Duke on Sept 12, 2006 19:03:47 GMT 7
Uh...the less reliable ones will be cheaper, right?
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Post by Mr Nobody on Sept 13, 2006 11:59:24 GMT 7
Yeah, sorry. I meant to explain that it wasn't workmanship etc, but components. Bad wording.
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Post by Nate M on Sept 17, 2006 21:35:53 GMT 7
I don't think Luoyang has a specific area for electronics like Xi'an and Zhengzhou (probably) do. Are Digital cameras really cheaper in the west? I was looking at some top of the range ones today for around 2500RMB. It's hard to imagine the same models costing less than 200 quid back home. Could be wrong though. Yeah, the distinction should be made between North America and Europe. Europeans, especially Britons, tend to get the shaft when it comes to buying, well, anything. If you're in the 'States, however, buying electronics will likely be safer, cheaper, and more reliable. I'd like to put in a plug for www.newegg.com. In general one of the best online sellers out there.
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Post by gingko on Sept 18, 2006 2:13:06 GMT 7
This experience is a bit out-of-date...I lived in Henan 2003-4 and for a while had a weekend job in Zhengzhou. Z has an electronics market but it does not have the low prices and latest models that the Beijing market has (Z has fine Uygur stuffed flatbread and try the all you can eat buffet at the uuuh, I forgot the hotel ). I tried to buy a digital camera there and in the end found it was cheaper for a friend in the UK to buy it on the net and DHL it to me in the sticks, rather than go to Beijing to get the latest model or buy an older, expensive one in Z. Luoyang is a much smaller place and the shopping is not as good (esp supermarkets and department stores) but it's not as small as Chinese cities get. So yes, I agree with what's been said....buy the camera online in the States (check warranty details), test it out, and you can buy more accessories (memory cards, batteries etc) when you arrive in one of the bigger cities. For an audio recorder and other things Carrefour and prob other multinational stores have a proper western-style returns/customer service policy. I *think* Carrefour and Walmart are now both in Z. I was in Xinyang (SE of Luoyang) and going supermarket shopping in Z was a joy!
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Post by Dragonsaver on Oct 5, 2006 20:24:49 GMT 7
Digital Camera Mine disappeared. Don't remember taking it out, but its not in my apartment. Gonna need a new one. One of the other teachers just bought a Sony Cybershot 8.1 Megapixel camera. He paid about 3500 RMB, plus he bought a 1GB card for it for another 400RMB. I'm not sure I need that expensive a camera, but I like the large viewing screen it has. With my former camera, I couldn't see the pictures I took so it was just a guess most of the time. I suppose I could get my son to buy one in Canada and ship it to me. Shipping will probably cost approx $50+Cdn. I need advice!! I am a newbe when it comes to digital cameras. I had only taken about 20 pictures on the missing camera. I still hadn't figured out how to use it. My youngest son gave it to me and I hate having to tell him I lost it. It was a Vivitar VivCam3785. Looking online it is less than $100.00 on e-bay but don't know if that is a new price. I need something that will take decent pictures, is easy to use by a camera-dummy, that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, but....but I am in China and want to take some pictures to send to friends and remember the place too.
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Post by gingko on Oct 6, 2006 2:18:54 GMT 7
The viewing screen eats battery juice. If you can get one with a viewfinder like the old film cameras and a screeen (you'll be able to turn the screen off) then you don't need to carry extra batteries around unless you're using the flash a lot or going away from the weekend. Only big expensive cameras are SLR (that's true for both digital and film cameras), so the picture you take is not exactly what you see through the viewfinder...you just pan out a bit to leave a little margin around your subject. I've got a middle of the range Olympus digital camera and am happy with it.
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Post by Non-Dave on Oct 6, 2006 9:09:04 GMT 7
I bought the Sony T5 - a 5 megapixel model with a nice viewscreen, included a 1Gig Memory Stick - cost about 2500RMB in a Sony shop in Harbin about 6 months ago. If you don't need all the latest bells and whistles buying a model a bit older is a good way to go and get good quality for a cheaper price. I got this one because it's small and easy to carry. I recommend Sony because of the qulity and reliabilty - good pictures, good batteries, easy to use, English menu. When buying a camera I'd rather pay a little extra and get better quality.
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Post by Newbs on Oct 6, 2006 14:43:17 GMT 7
The viewing screen eats battery juice. If you can get one with a viewfinder like the old film cameras and a screeen (you'll be able to turn the screen off) then you don't need to carry extra batteries around unless you're using the flash a lot or going away from the weekend. Thanks for that Ginko.
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Post by Dragonsaver on Oct 7, 2006 17:53:51 GMT 7
I bought the Sony T5 - a 5 megapixel model with a nice viewscreen, included a 1Gig Memory Stick - cost about 2500RMB in a Sony shop in Harbin about 6 months ago. I got this one because it's small and easy to carry. How do you carry it?? I want to be able to carry it but keep it safe from being borrowed like my last one. Did it come with an English menu as standard or did you have to ask specially for it??? The English is important to me as I'm a dunderhead with some electronic stuff and if it was in Chinese I would never figure it out. This info would help before I go to the Sony store in Dalian.
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Post by Crippler on Oct 7, 2006 21:56:58 GMT 7
MAjor brands have English menu option and come with a multi language booklet. Just check before you buy and make sure....
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Post by Raoul Duke on Oct 7, 2006 23:51:52 GMT 7
Indeed...this is a strong argument for buying international brands rather than domestic ones when getting electronics that have many features and are complicated to use. If what you buy doesn't come with English-language software and support, it can often be downloaded from the net. It's a nice thing to look into before you put your money down. As indicated elsewhere, I bought a Lenovo (the company who bought IBM's laptop-computer business) mobile phone thinking it would have good international support. I was sooo wrong...the phone has English menus, all right, but the manuals and connectivity software are all solely in Chinese. Pah!
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Post by Non-Dave on Oct 8, 2006 11:37:30 GMT 7
It's small and really easy to slip into a pocket. I have a few carrying pouches that go onto a belt as well. It is also small enough to be worn on a strap around the neck. The small size and good quality lens/pictures were the main reasons I bought it.
I got the sales dude in the shop to change it to English for me when I bought it. I think doing your research before buying is a good move with things like cameras. Just go looking, find one that look okay, write down the details and then check them out on the net - the manufactureres site and review sites are a good starting point.
Then when you're armed with enough info make your decision and go back to buy the one you want. I payed a few hundred more than I could have elsewhere, but I wanted the security of buying form the Sony store and making sure I got the full warranty - it's also where I got the best service. Hope that all helps...
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Post by Lotus Eater on Oct 9, 2006 12:45:29 GMT 7
My first digital was a Canon Powershot S45 and it was fine - not too big, not too small. Bought it in Oz. Then the photography bug bit - and I upgraded to a Canon Pro1 - because I wanted a bigger zoom. 8 megs, with 5 different size cards and 4 batteries! Bought it here.
But everytime I go into my favourite camera shop here I begin to drool and lust over the big SLR's with the whacking great big zooms. I want to be able to photograph the eye of an eagle from a couple of hundred metres!!
Drawback - WEIGHT! The camera I have now isn't too heavy, but heavy enough when you carry it all day, everyday as I do. Number one rule regarding leaving the house - don't leave without tissues and camera. I use my camera bag as a handbag - not elegant - but very functional and it means my camera is with me.
But the Canon's have been good cameras for me. My optical is an Olympus, point and press, with their biggest zoom lens as well.
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Post by Nate M on Oct 9, 2006 18:28:58 GMT 7
I ended up buying a Panasonic TZ1 not too long ago. It was quite a bit more expensive than it is in the U.S., in part because they just introduced the model here, and it's been on the market back stateside for a good 8 or 9 months now. You can check out a review of it here: www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_tz1-review/It just needs an optical viewfinder and some good low-light performance and it would be perfect. Still, I've been loving it. Might be just the compromise you need, lotus.
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Post by Dragonsaver on Oct 16, 2006 12:22:59 GMT 7
I bought a real nice Sony W-50. I took real nice pictures, unfortunately I didn't get any of them downloaded before it was stolen. Cost 2,600RMB. Life cycle 24 hours. Either a student who helped me with shopping (I hope not) or someone has a key to my apartment. But if someone broke in why didn't they steal my laptop, DVD player or other valuables? Can't afford a 3rd camera so I am camera-less in China.
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Post by Lotus Eater on Oct 16, 2006 12:59:19 GMT 7
Dragonsaver - sell the DVD, TV and everything to buy a camera - this is one place NOT to be camera-less!!
But - bad luck - will your travel insurance cover it?
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Post by Dragonsaver on Oct 16, 2006 13:13:53 GMT 7
Don't have travel insurance.
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