Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sjglover28]

i want to buy a new camera (high end point and shoot or dslr) and want to know where is cheapest to buy. i am going to hong kong at the end of january, but will also be in seoul before then. anyone have experience of buying cameras in these places. my friend got a pretty good deal from the seoul electronics market, and i would prefer to have it sooner rather than later, but cheaper is also better!

[AsiaESLbound]

You want it for sure before you go to Hong Kong rather than blowing time and effort treading feet through an insanely over crowded city looking for a camera deal. Hong Kong is all about the heaviest pedestrian traffic and longest queue times for everything (feet aching b4 they finally fall off), but rude mannered people make it an extreme version of the Korea with manners of aggressive pushing, shoving, and cutting line. It's one exhausting foot ache of a city to shop and tour. You'd be much better off getting your camera in Seoul B4 your trip for Seoul is much easier to walk and find your way around easy enough. If it's just a 2 or 3 day stop over in King Kong, take your new camera on the funicular peak tram up first. Even though it's only 5 to 10 minutes ride, it's a whole day trip, because you wait 1 to 2 hours each way in line and it's nice up there with a circle hiking path offering the best panoramic views. Hong Kong shopping seems to be geared towards 2 things. Real Rolex's and fake Rolex's.

[iRock]

I love Hong Kong and prices seem a little better there. If you're already going I say get it there. More people speak English so if that's an issue it will help when you bargain!

[Andyc24_uk]

It will be cheaper in Hong Kong for sure. It's arguably the best place in Asia for DSLR bargains (Malaysia perhaps comes close too).

Take a look at this website - the guy is from HK and he updates the 'street' prices for cameras and lenses - find what you want to buy and use it as a baseline when bargaining/haggling down the price.

http://www.ygdragon.net/

(click on 'lens price list' at the top).

There are numerous camera stores in HK - the cheapest (but perhaps slightly dodgy) ones are in Mongkok; the ones on Hong Kong island above central are a little more expensive but more reputable.

[jb99]

Why not just go to a camera store in Namdaemun? They tend to have good prices.

If you buy one in Hong Kong, then you should factor in the time spent looking for a good camera shop and exchange rates.