I have been using a Pentax K-x here in Hong Kong for about the last 4-5 years. I remember when I bought it, I had to specially order it through a local electronics store, who kept encouraging me to buy Canon or Nikon. But as it was a gift for my wife, who'd specifically asked for that model, my hands were tied... After living and shooting with that great little camera for all this time, I recently decided to upgrade to a K-3...

After searching around on the forums and looking everywhere online I could think of, it turns out, getting Pentax stuff here can be easier than I thought... There are very few (or no) specially Pentax places, but it turns out that's not a big issue.

Here in hk, there are a lot of unscrupulous businesses, who hardly even try to hide that they just want your money and want you to get out... Or, they look at the bag you're carrying, shoes you're wearing and decide on the spot how much they will charge your for something. I get the rough end of this stick all the time, cause despite speaking Cantonese and having lived in hk for nearly 10 years, I still look like a tourist...

Because of this, there is a great website ????? Price.com.hk

Just to be clear, I don't work for this website... But as I'm getting pretty passionate about Pentax, it is gonna be useful to me in the coming months/years!

It works like this... Shops advertise their products on the website, including clear info about how much it is, what's included for the price, whether it's from the local distributor or a 'grey' import and their address and phone number. Other users (customers) can rate the shops after they buy things there...

So, in my case, I found 4 shops selling the k-3 body for hkd$6950 and a few more selling it with the 18-135mm lens for $8750 (us$1,128). I called around, confirmed that the price was correct and went to pick it up. When I looked on B&H, they were asking for us$1,446 + shipping...

The shop I ended up buying from WAS in Mong kok (a touristy, shopping district) but WAS NOT in one of the big camera centers... Instead, it was in a commercial building. When I went to pick it up, I checked the local warranty card was present and the serial numbers matched (which they did)...I tested the body and lens (all in order) and then paid. No dramas at all.

As a comparison, I checked at shop@DCfever (which I'm told is a popular camera place)... They had a decent collection of Pentax cameras and lenses on sale in their Causeway Bay store...but the K-3 was hkd$9990 just for the body... So checking the prices online before rushing into buying saved me a heap!

If anyone is looking to buy camera equipment in Hong Kong (no matter which brand) I encourage you to check the prices on price.com.hk before you actually go visiting any shops, just to make sure you're getting the bargain you're hoping for!!!

Good luck fellow pentaxians!!!

[lawjie]

Prices this morning were not that good on any Pentax lens.

xD. but if you check the amazon China website right now.
http://www.amazon.cn/gp/switch-language/product/B0030GGS3O/ref=topnav_switch...A1AJ19PSB66TGU

It's 3,903.80 Chinese yuan, with current exchange rate(1 USD= 6.11 Chinese yuan), if you're in China, you will be paying $639 USD. They provide free second-day shipping and there're only 5 left. Well, it's not good for you if you're not in China, I think the warranty is only domestic? But Ricoh USA provides international warranty card if ask them, I think.

The main reason of my previous post is only to tell you that some other part of the world can have the Pentax cheaper.

[CJC]

xD. but if you check the amazon China website right now.
PENTAX ??-Pentax ?? smc PENTAX-D FA MACRO 100mmF2.8 WR W/C ????(??)-?? ?? ?? ?? ???

It's 3,903.80 Chinese yuan, with current exchange rate(1 USD= 6.11 Chinese yuan), if you're in China, you will be paying $639 USD. They provide free second-day shipping and there're only 5 left. Well, it's not good for you if you're not in China, I think the warranty is only domestic? But Ricoh USA provides international warranty card if ask them, I think.

The main reason of my previous post is only to tell you that some other part of the world can have the Pentax cheaper.

I did not know the currency exchange rate and everything I saw was written in Chinese so I went to the English version of the site. At that site, everything was in English and the lenses I looked at were priced higher than at B&H. Also, do not like the idea of paying cash when it is delivered; I then have less leverage if something is defective.

[richandfleur]

Great post here, thanks for the info.

I'm looking at picking up either a Pentax 18-135 or Sigma 17-70 lens in Hong Kong, but am having trouble tracking down Pentax specific shops. (Lots of lenses are available in different mounts, so may not actually have the Pentax variant).

Does anyone have any current experience in purchasing 'modern' Pentax digital lenses in Hong Kong?

Thanks.

[Wild Mark]

I would love to know where to go too. I might investigate while on holidays there and would appreciate any guidance on offer.

[gaweidert]

Oh yes, of course... I'm just giving my experience.

---------- Post added 09-15-14 at 05:07 AM ----------

As an additional note, after reading whk1992's reply...

Standard practice at most Hong Kong independent shops is to charge a surcharge if you pay by credit card... I think this is ridiculous... My understanding is that they get charged 0.03%, but charge customers 3%... I might be wrong on the exact figures, and different shops have different agreements with their banks, but in general, I just pay cash to avoid the annoyance...

Credit card companies usually charge 3% not .03%. Some even more. Depends upon the "freebies" that you get with your card. I once checked into a hotel. They had two rates. If you wanted your reward points, the $89 a night room suddenly became $116.

[Malak]

I would love to know where to go too. I might investigate while on holidays there and would appreciate any guidance on offer.

I haven’t looked into any lenses/camera gear recently... However, I’d still suggest price.com as a good place to compare prices on gear. I don’t think there’s an official Pentax store here... and if there is, they’ll charge msrp or higher I’d say.

As for what to do here in Hk, I’ll PM you some of my favourite spots.

---------- Post added 03-23-18 at 07:33 PM ----------

Great post here, thanks for the info.

I'm looking at picking up either a Pentax 18-135 or Sigma 17-70 lens in Hong Kong, but am having trouble tracking down Pentax specific shops. (Lots of lenses are available in different mounts, so may not actually have the Pentax variant).

Does anyone have any current experience in purchasing 'modern' Pentax digital lenses in Hong Kong?

Thanks.

I just had a quick search for you... Seems that the SIGMA lens you're looking for is available from some shops in the Pentax mount... But its worth contacting them before you get there to make sure they have it in stock.

As for the Pentax one, I can only find "grey-import" variants... probably imported from Japan. They'd be fine if you're not worried about the warranty, but personally I'm hesitant to buy grey market goods.

As mentioned previously, I haven't been buying much gear recently, but price.com.hk is still where I go for comparing prices and contacting merchants to check on stock for some of my other interests.

[richandfleur]

I haven’t looked into any lenses/camera gear recently... However, I’d still suggest price.com as a good place to compare prices on gear. I don’t think there’s an official Pentax store here... and if there is, they’ll charge msrp or higher I’d say.

As for what to do here in Hk, I’ll PM you some of my favourite spots.

---------- Post added 03-23-18 at 07:33 PM ----------


I just had a quick search for you... Seems that the SIGMA lens you're looking for is available from some shops in the Pentax mount... But its worth contacting them before you get there to make sure they have it in stock.

As for the Pentax one, I can only find "grey-import" variants... probably imported from Japan. They'd be fine if you're not worried about the warranty, but personally I'm hesitant to buy grey market goods.

As mentioned previously, I haven't been buying much gear recently, but price.com.hk is still where I go for comparing prices and contacting merchants to check on stock for some of my other interests.

Thanks 👍🏻

Please put me on any PM list too 😉

Yes keen on the sigma lens really.

Wonder is there a second hand market in Hong Kong similar to a local eBay or trademe type website?

[richandfleur]

Just found the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 option too, which appears cheaper than the sigma normally.