Shortage of HV20 in Europe?

[altero]

In the last week I was trying to find a way to buy a HV20. I live in Romania, and I am sure there is no such camera here; it takes more than 2 weeks to get, because shops have to order it from abroad (from Vienna, as I understood). As I will leave for holiday Monday in Sicily, I need to get one fast (yes, I decided I have to buy one prety late...).
My brother lives in France, and we will meet in Palermo. I asked him to look in Paris, and guys at FNAC (big shop there) told him that it's no chance to get one sooner than 2 weeks (again).
Then I looked for a shop in Palermo, and I found one. After two calls and several mails, a visit to the bank to send an advance, and mailing scans of my ID card and passport, it seems that I will get the camera while in Palermo (either the camera, or some big bag full of nothing...; but I am sure the guy is honest).

So, what's hapening in Europe? Any idea?

[wfeu]

try alza.cz in czech republic. i got mine there.

[pda4de]

I think it is PAL...says 1080/50i

EUR 1.015,00

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260146828033

[VideJo]

Bought one two days ago in at a major photo/video shop in the East of Holland and they had sufficient stock, they sayd.

[muroshi]

Have to wait, till 30th of August, Canon has strong delivery problems..

[wolferic]

I sincerely doubt that any kind of shortage is Europe-wide.

I bought mine in Berlin just a few weeks ago. All the large electronics shops had it: MediaMakt, Saturn, etc. In addition, nearly everyone had it for the same price: 1000 Euro

While I was in Stockholm I saw dozens of them in one photo shop alone (can't remember the name) and there were also plenty in Copenhagen.

I'm surprised that FNAC couldn't locate one as they have shops all over Paris and the rest of the country.

Anyway, good luck. I finally just hooked up my camera to a true Sony HD flatscreen TV and have to say that the results were spectacular. With good light (lots of sun here in Iceland at the moment) this camera performs better than many I have worked with that cost 3 times the price. You won't be disappointed...:hv20-smilie45:

[Numbox]

I sincerely doubt that any kind of shortage is Europe-wide.

Seconded. I had to wait two weeks also, but simply because i ordered it pretty much a week or two after it was released and none of the stores had it.

Feels good to be the first to have it :hv20-smilie31::hv20-smilie68:

[altero]

Yesterday returned from Sicily, and I found a camera there. I paid 1100 eur, because the guy had to order it through fast delivery in order to have it at my arrival there.
Didn't hooked yet to my Mac, so I can only guess it's a great device :).

Thanks.

[Dan98]

Hi

I am from Romania too (salut :) ) , and I have a question for US residents. Found the camera local for around 1375-1400$ with local warranty from Canon I think and also I've found it in US for around 900$ + a 50$ delivery fee with USPS to Romania. However, my question is: IF I buy the camera from an US store, is the warranty valid in Romania too ? Can someone look on their warranty card and tell me ? I've also asked someone else on another forum who told me that on his card it's specified only US stores, but I want to double check.

If you were in my place, would you buy the camera without any valid warranty from US but 400$ cheapper ?

Thanks

[peljack]

From page 106 of the USA manual: "This limited warranty does not cover (blah blah blah) nor does it apply to equipment purchased outside of the United States."

So is your US warranty also valid locally in Romania? I would say not.

Is it worth spending the extra US$400 for a Romanian warranty? I also would have to say no.

You are not alone - it is a popular sport even in the USA to buy foreign (china, mexico, even romania) non-warranted electronics equipment at a substantial savings. It's called the "gray market". It's one of the ways those less reputable electronics firms can sell gear for less than the reputable (Vanns, BHPhoto, etc) ones. I have done this myself (usually with cameras, not camcorders) and I always come out ahead.

In the end, you have to ask yourself, do I want to pay US$400 (that's almost half again the price of the damn camcorder!!!) just so my next year's repairs, if they occur at all, will be "free"? I mean, if the camera breaks, you will still have to send it in. You still won't have your hv20 for a few weeks. And a non-warranty camera can still be fixed by canon, by a camera shop, or even by you if you are handy with a tiny screwdriver.

In the end, if the warranty is going to be $400, I'd save the cash and use it to buy a microphone and a wide angle lens instead. If the camera breaks within that first year, oh well you are out some additional cash. Curse canon, complain on hv20.com, and if the repairs are too much, walk away and buy a Sony next time. Such is life.

But do buy a microphone. Trust me on that one!