Grey Market

[MOmilkman]

Ive heard the term "grey market" associated with lenses.

What is grey market? And how do I tell if the lens is grey market?

[Saralonde]

I believe grey market lenses are imported by the retailer instead of Canon itself. They may or may not be covered by Canon warranty, but if you buy from a reputable dealer, they will probably honor it.

[Quo Fan]

Gray market refers to lenses sold outside their target market. Such as a lens not intended for the USA, but sold in the USA.

From what I understand, and I may be completely off target, Canon won't honor a gray market warranty.

I would spend the few extra dollars and get a USA warranty lens.

[RexK_Cozumel]

I dunno about Canon but Nikon honors the warranty just need to ship it to Japan. But yeah as already stated spend the extra couple bucks and get the US version so the warranty is valid in the states.

[MOmilkman]

Thank you all for the responses.

So is there any way to tell by looking at the lens itself?

[OsmosisStudios]

Not usually, no, though some manufacturers do include a code in their serial numbers. I believe Nikon adds the prefix US at the beginning.

Sellers are required to list this, however.

[Jim Poor]

Nikon puts US in some of the serial numbers, but I've had a few US model lenses without it.
The 80-400 was one a while back.

"Grey" market lenses are manufactured at the same place and often on the same exact assembly line as the US market lenses. B&H had a good spiel about the differences in terms of warranty service and (it has been a while) I believe they will take care of the service issues with a grey market product.

I own two grey market lenses. The first because the price difference was enough that it brought a 600 f/4 within reach of my budget back in 2004. That lens has been going strong, though now that I do less nature and more close work, I am considering selling it to finiance the D3s.

The second is a 200 f/2. I got it because the US model wasn't available anywhere at the time and I needed the lens ASAP.

I have no fear or regrets about either purchase.