Last Updated on May 15, 2023 by cameraconsumer
So you purchased the import version of a camera – now what?
It’s something that happens to most of us, of course. Maybe the deal was too good, and you rushed through the buying process to scoop it up before someone else could. Or maybe you noticed “import version”, but didn’t know what it meant.
Maybe you were lazy and didn’t really read all of the item-specific details.
Sellers don’t exactly highlight that they’re selling the import version. It’s just nestled in there in the fine print. Look at the item specifics for this Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body for instance:
The only place in the listing where it mentions “import version” is that last row. That’s it! They don’t mention it anywhere else. It’s really easy to miss.
And why would they highlight it?
You wouldn’t mention your worst attributes in your online dating profile, right? You wouldn’t say “I have chronic bad breath, and I’m really selfish”. No, you would highlight all of your positives.
Camera stores are no different. Why bring attention to the fact that they’re selling an inferior product?
“Import version” will usually be in small tiny letters, and they will distract you with an amazingly low price, a “for a limited time only” sale, how fantastic their customer service is, or the camera’s features, etc.
All of us can fall for these tactics. Whether you’re a first-time camera buyer or a seasoned photography enthusiast. But an import version camera isn’t necessarily a disaster…
So You Bought An Import Version – Now What?
First of all, don’t panic. An import version or “grey market” camera doesn’t mean that it’s defective, broken, or counterfeit. (Assuming it came in an unopened box).
Import versions, for the most part, are the same as regionally correct cameras. They will function, for the most part, just the same. Again…assuming a new and unopened box. (If open, all bets are off).
Having an import version camera basically means three things:
- No warranty provided
- No customer support provided
- Access to regional firmware updates
No Warranty
Import versions are almost always sold by non-authorized dealers. Only cameras that are purchased from authorized dealers are entitled to the original manufacturer warranty.
No Customer Support
Same rules as above – you will receive little or no support from customer service.
Firmware Updates
Your camera will receive the firmware updates for the region in which it was intended to be sold. When you enter your serial number in a manufacturer’s website, you will be sent to the regional website specific to your camera. In other words, if your camera was intended for the Japanese market, you will receive the Japanese version of the firmware update.
Also, if your camera was meant for a foreign language country, you might have pirated firmware.
Again….don’t panic. This doesn’t mean that your camera is going to die a miserable death, and that life will cease to exist.
It just means that you might be inconvenienced down the road.
Next Step
Did you get a great price on your new camera? Are the dollar savings a good trade-off for the lack of warranty and support?
Great!
Keep the camera and enjoy! In my experience, 10% of new cameras end up being sent in for warranty repair. The chances that your camera will break within its reasonable lifetime are very slim.
Most point-and-shoot cameras should last for at least 30,000 to 50,000 images. Higher-end DSLR cameras should provide for at least a shutter count of 100,000. 150K is actually very common.
This means that by the time the camera breaks, the original warranty will have expired anyway.
However, if the knowledge of your camera’s evil import features has soured your purchasing experience, here are some options to consider:
Return policy
Did you recently purchase the camera? Are you still within your entitled return policy? Great! Send it back.
What if you are outside of the return policy?
Go back and check the listing again. Does it say “import version” anywhere in the original listing? If not, you are entitled to open a buyer protection claim (on eBay or Amazon specifically).
Sell The Camera
If you can’t return it, or file a claim, consider selling it. You might lose a bit of money on the transaction though – especially if you’ve opened the package or used the camera.
Use The Camera
If you can’t return the camera, and if selling it will cost you too much money, consider using it.
Again, the camera itself isn’t inferior – just the warranty and support available. For the average person, using a camera in traditional ways, this generally isn’t an issue.
In my experience, most people purchase electronics, and just use them, never worrying about warranties or firmware updates. If and when the product breaks, they purchase a new one.
The vast majority of warranties never come into play.
When was the last time you checked your printer for a software update? Or your camera? Camera firmware is updated periodically, but most of us never even bother to update.
If that sounds like you…then stop worrying. Just use the camera as intended. For all practical purposes, you will most likely never be affected.
What If You Can’t Use The Camera
You might have been expecting your camera to have an English-language menu. But maybe your camera was for an Asian country, like Japan, or China, for example.
And now your camera’s display looks like this…
While a lot of import version cameras do come with the correct language chosen, this does happen from time to time. And it does render your camera all but useless.
But don’t panic. It’s just a matter of choosing the right option in your camera’s menu settings.
Choosing the correct language is fairly easy in most cases.
First, hit the “menu” button, and shuffle through the options until you find the language icon. It will usually be a face with a speaking bubble. Then, after you choose the language setting, just choose your desired language preference, and that’s it.
At this point, the camera should function like the regionally-correct version would.
What If You Want Firmware Updates?
For various reasons, you might find yourself wanting the most updated firmware. While firmware updates aren’t necessary, they do sometimes contain fixes or, enhance certain features.
A recent update might have corrected something that frustrates you, like the camera’s autofocus capabilities, light exposure, image processing, or even noise reduction.
To get access to updated firmware, many manufacturer sites will have you enter your camera’s individual serial number. From there, you will be taken to the regionally specific website.
If that happens to be Japan, then you’ll see the Japanese version. So for example, this is Canon’s Japanese website:
Unless you can read Japanese, how would even know where to find what you’re looking for? This can be frustrating, if not impossible to do on your own.
Fortunately, Google Chrome does a fairly decent job of translating. You can usually most of the page (excluding images) into something more legible.
So for example, the page above, translated into English, looks like this:
That looks better right?
From there you can click on the “Support” drop-down menu to access downloads.
What If Things Don’t Translate?
Sometimes, for certain websites, the translation option is just not good enough. So then what can you do?
If you live in a large metropolitan area, you should have a lot of options. For example, if your available update is in Japanese, and you happen to live in the Los Angeles area, find a camera repair shop in Little Tokyo. They should be able to help you out.
If that isn’t an option, find a reputable camera repair shop in your area. They will most likely be able to set you up with a 3rd party version of the update. In most cases, these will work just as well.
3rd party software will probably void the original manufacturer’s warranty. But in the case of an import version, this obviously isn’t a concern.
The Warranty
We found a workaround for updates. But how about the lack of warranty?
Do you really need a warranty? I personally think of warranties like insurance – you almost never need it, but when you do you’ll be happy that you have it.
That said, as I mentioned above, only about 10% of cameras end up needing warranty repair. This means that for all intents and purposes, your camera will never need repair during the time of the warranty.
First off, check the listing page – if it still exists.
The camera probably came with a “Seller provided” warranty. These warranties are usually between 90 days to 1 year. Remember the listing details for the Sony Alpha a7R II we looked at in the beginning of this post?
Let’s look at it again:
In this case, the warranty period is for 30 days. For most of us, that’s enough to figure out whether we received a dud or not. If the camera is DOA, you should know right away.
But what if 30, 60, or 90 days just aren’t enough for you?
If that really bothers you, consider a 3rd party warranty or service plan. You’ll find these coverage plans from companies like:
- Warrantech
- SquareTrade
- Asurion
- New Leaf
Final Thoughts
An import version isn’t the camera death sentence that most people make it out to be.
Fear mongers like to tell you that your camera will not work, or that it’s counterfeit, etc. But many people unknowingly purchase and use these cameras, without ever suspecting anything, or noticing any discrepancy.
The lower price usually makes up for what you lose in terms of warranty and update convenience.
