Guys - need your inputs. I'll be visiting HKG soon ... while I'm pretty familiar with the usual shopping places, warehouses, electronics, etc - I am not that familiar with the photography shops. Is there an equivalent of a Hidalgo in HKG? If yes, can anybody enlighten me kung saan dun?

Thanks!

A.:)

most on my 'maestro" advises me to get the gear locally if possible...

specially to known shops that have good credibility...

(in no order)
avenue
mayer
watson
24k
henry's

if HK, try to visit SUNTEK(haiphong street) or Tony Leung(below holiday Inn) both are at TST.

ok din daw sa Wingshing(sp.?) pero no experience pa.

Thanks Kix and Joel :>

wing shing is where most of the hk locals get their gears.
click here (http://www.pinoyphotography.org/forum/index.php?topic=468.0) for reference

Guys - need your inputs. I'll be visiting HKG soon ... while I'm pretty familiar with the usual shopping places, warehouses, electronics, etc - I am not that familiar with the photography shops. Is there an equivalent of a Hidalgo in HKG? If yes, can anybody enlighten me kung saan dun?

Thanks!

A.:)


Hi Alan,


I guess from ur post above, I assume Hidalgo is a photography specialty shop here in Manila ba? If it is, can you advise where is Hidalgo located? If not, are there any photography equipment specialty shops for DSLRs in Manila?

As for you trip to HK, for specialty photography equipment with warranties, Broadway and Wing Shing in Mongkok is very competitive in price. As for equivalent parallel import equipements, try to find it in one of the store in of the following store:

Mong Kok computer center - forgot the store name, but it is on the second floor then make a u-turn after you get up the stairs, its the one at the end of the hallway.

Another is at Golden Computer Center at Sham Shui Po, again forgot the store name, but it is on the second floor (the level that sells alot of PSP games), it is just as you get up the stair.

Hope it help.

Atong

i get most of my stuff from Tony Leung of Sankyo. thats the shop
in the ground floor of Holiday Inn

As much as possible I would stick to getting things in hidaldo for the sole reason that if something goes wrong, it's easy to go back to the guys in hidalgo.

Hi Alan,


I guess from ur post above, I assume Hidalgo is a photography specialty shop here in Manila ba? If it is, can you advise where is Hidalgo located? If not, are there any photography equipment specialty shops for DSLRs in Manila?


Atong

it's beside quiapo church,, i'm going there later if you want i could show you around,, just pm me before 11 k:D

Yes - Hidalgo is near Quiapo church. Getting there - you can either commute or bring a car. If your bringing a car - which is a major headache pag traffice - you can park near Mercury Drug --- near the bridge there's a paid parking lot. If you're going to commute - the MRT is great or just take a cab na lang. Getting out if you're commuting is a hassle though ...

Hi Alan,


I guess from ur post above, I assume Hidalgo is a photography specialty shop here in Manila ba? If it is, can you advise where is Hidalgo located? If not, are there any photography equipment specialty shops for DSLRs in Manila?

As for you trip to HK, for specialty photography equipment with warranties, Broadway and Wing Shing in Mongkok is very competitive in price. As for equivalent parallel import equipements, try to find it in one of the store in of the following store:

Mong Kok computer center - forgot the store name, but it is on the second floor then make a u-turn after you get up the stairs, its the one at the end of the hallway.

Another is at Golden Computer Center at Sham Shui Po, again forgot the store name, but it is on the second floor (the level that sells alot of PSP games), it is just as you get up the stair.

Hope it help.

Atong

We always go to suntek. try to find Phillip Mo. My family always buys from him.

if HK, try to visit SUNTEK(haiphong street) or Tony Leung(below holiday Inn) both are at TST.

ok din daw sa Wingshing(sp.?) pero no experience pa.

Tony Leung
----------------------------------------
New Sankyo Camera Co Ltd
Shop G-19 Golden Mile Holiday Inn
50 Nathan Road, Kowloon, HONG KONG
Tel: +852-2367 0350, 2369 9491 Fax: +852-2739 2932
Hours: 10:00 -- 20:00, Monday to Saturday
Email: newsanky@hkstar.com (http://us.f334.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=newsanky@hkstar.com)
in case of difficulty: tonymkleung@hotmail.com (http://us.f334.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=tonymkleung@hotmail.com)

Sorry about the OT but speaking of Suntek...

I was going to buy a Compaq Ipaq a few ago and one of their sales reps actually gave me a "good" price for it. He also said that I can get an SD card and leather case to go with it for only HK$xxx since there's a promo. So I happily promised that I will come back to pick it up later that day since Suntek is very close to my hotel.

However, I happened to visit Mongkok Computer Centre on that same day and saw several Compaq Xmas promotional posters (in Chinese) saying that the same SD card and leather case came for free if I bought that Ipaq model! Hay nako! I thought safe yung Suntek cuz I always see Pinoy tourists shopping there. Turned out namimili ren pala sila like those typical "tax free" TST electronic shops!

Btw, anyone shop for their camera gear in Mongkok (where Wing Shing is)? Which shops ang ok doon usually? Or is it better talga in TST (minus those cheater shops)? I often hang out in Mongkok when window shopping for electronics used to buy my laptops in MKCC until I found out that its much cheaper sa US.

Sorry about the OT but speaking of Suntek...

I was going to buy a Compaq Ipaq a few ago and one of their sales reps actually gave me a "good" price for it. He also said that I can get an SD card and leather case to go with it for only HK$xxx since there's a promo. So I happily promised that I will come back to pick it up later that day since Suntek is very close to my hotel.

However, I happened to visit Mongkok Computer Centre on that same day and saw several Compaq Xmas promotional posters (in Chinese) saying that the same SD card and leather case came for free if I bought that Ipaq model! Hay nako! I thought safe yung Suntek cuz I always see Pinoy tourists shopping there. Turned out namimili ren pala sila like those typical "tax free" TST electronic shops!

Btw, anyone shop for their camera gear in Mongkok (where Wing Shing is)? Which shops ang ok doon usually? Or is it better talga in TST (minus those cheater shops)? I often hang out in Mongkok when window shopping for electronics used to buy my laptops in MKCC until I found out that its much cheaper sa US.


Wing Shing
G/F, 91-95 Fa Yuen Street, Mongkok, Kowloon
Tel. # 23966885

Look for Simon (code 1005Simon)

Forgot his first name.

And try Broadway & Citcall as well.
In TSt delicado ka dyan. That was an old trick what they did to you.
Good Luck !

I always buy my gear in HK.

1). Tony Leung of New Sankyo Holiday Inn TST along Nathan Road
2). Mongkok: Wing shing and Man Shing, Citicall
3). Marco Polo Gateway - Standard audio and Video - their prices are only about the same or HKD$100 higher than the others. So if you're staying in TST and you're tired of going someplace else...
4) Stanley Street - there's some really good photo stores there. Try going to Mirama Photo. Lots of good stuff. Prices are great. Benny chow is the owner...
5) In TST, for non-warrantied units, go to Tin Cheung Camera in Carnarvon Road...

HTH

Dito ako nakatira sa hongkong....i bought my stuff here....there are actually a few places which are good...kung lens bibilin mo sa Wing shing in mongkok....i bought my camera there as well....they actually know what they're talkin about......if you by anychance come here this season (x'mas).....try to go TST east for some nice flicks kasi the lights are awesome and u can take some more by seaside (also in TST East) to take some awesome lights ng HK side sa may bandang part ng central.... Beginner lang ako kaya i think it's good for pictures....

I tend purchase stuff in HK that I cannot get locally. But I will buy my gear locally from a friend Manila-based suki because it helps maintain a good long term relationship.

I've had several situations wherein I needed gear and it was my friendly sukis who helped me procure the gear at a good price and sometimes even on installment.

Some photographers have such a good relationship with certain photography shops that they even get to try out the gear for a week so that they can decide whether or not they would like to purchase it.

I tend purchase stuff in HK that I cannot get locally. But I will buy my gear locally from a friend Manila-based suki because it helps maintain a good long term relationship.

I've had several situations wherein I needed gear and it was my friendly sukis who helped me procure the gear at a good price and sometimes even on installment.

Some photographers have such a good relationship with certain photography shops that they even get to try out the gear for a week so that they can decide whether or not they would like to purchase it.

Care to share who your "suki" is? It helps to know who's patronizing whom ... follow the leader as they say. Of course, I would imagine we can't get the same price as you ... but just the same, purchasing from a source that is supported by a pro gives us newbies some confidence :>

:)

Care to share who your "suki" is? It helps to know who's patronizing whom ... follow the leader as they say. Of course, I would imagine we can't get the same price as you ... but just the same, purchasing from a source that is supported by a pro gives us newbies some confidence :>

:)

I purchase gear from either Aperture Trading in Banawe, QC or Avenue Photo in Hidalgo, Quiapo.

My Mac units are supplied by Ynzal Marketing in Sct. Rallos, QC.

I got my inkjet printers from Canon Marketing Philippines.

Actually, all of us are eligible to receive a discount from local photography shops if we are willing to find an establishment that we like doing business with and stick with them.

Its all about establishing a good long term relationship by making the first purchase. Besides, purchasing locally is good for the local economy :D

If you are a heavy user, i suggest you to get ur items locally. You may need to pay extra for international warranty for HK items.

Like Mr. jay Cu, I always buy my electronic stuffs at suntek but i look for tony mac. I think hes the owner (he's a tall, fairskinned guy with short curly hair and always wearing yellow polo shirt and speaks fluent english)

tips:
1. Try buying your stuffs on your first or second day so you still have time to try it out. If there is a problem, you can always return and they will replace it without a fuzz.

2. Hong Kong is a nice place to shop but beware of "bait and switch". If they keep on offering an item other than what you asked or if you waited for almost an hour for them to get the item from their "warehouse", leave right away. And one more thing, do not tell anyone in the store your departure date coz they might give you a busted one.

3. BUY YOUR CAMERA ACCESSORIES LATER. The main product is usually cheap but they will cover up their lose on add-on accesories that they "push" (ex. cf/sd cards, uv filters, bags, tripods, etc).

check out my flickr for a photo of the haiphong st. area (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stillpug/324729288/)


If you are a heavy user, i suggest you to get ur items locally. You may need to pay extra for international warranty for HK items.
I'm not sure of this info but i heard from white friends living in hong kong that there is no such thing as international warranty. If you buy your stuffs in hongkong, you still will have to pay for the labor and parts here in the philippines. This is the reason why its best to just buy your stuffs locally. But for us promdis, its scarier to roam around quiapo loaded with saved money than in mongkok.

Just got back from Hong Kong. All I can say is that prices in Hidalgo are competitive to the prices in HK. So buy na lang at Hidalgo, at least you can take it back if there is a problem.

depends on what you are looking for. i normally source some rare items in HK if its not easily available locally or in hidalgo. if we're talking about camera bodies, get it locally. accessories, filters, leica's, film.. HK. no choice since its the only way to acquire them.

Im at hong kong now, just saw at one of the stores earlier that they are selling the 400d at hk4800!`

how about expensive lenses? phil or hk?

a friend will bring me a cable release for my 350d,, i think from suntek,, cost around 1600,, in hidalgo i think it's around 2400,, i think for accessories i could buy stuff from HK,, somehting expensive like lens and body i'll buy here at hidalgo:)

Konti na lang din difference, go to Hidalgo. Just be sure to checkout all the stores, also look for local warranty. =)