China equipment

[ChrisJR]

I'm travelling to China this weekend for one month but I'm unsure what I'm allowed to take into the country. The information available on the web is fairly vague.

I was hoping to take a Canon EOS 5D with 24-105, 70-200 f2.8 IS, 15mm fisheye and maybe 50mm prime. Also a Hasselblad film camera with 2 lenses, a Gitzo tripod and filters.

If anyone has any experiences of travelling to China and if they've had any problems I could really do with the advice. Is this kit too much? Will it be barred?

Thanks.

Chris

[Andy M]

I'm travelling to China this weekend for one month but I'm unsure what I'm allowed to take into the country. The information available on the web is fairly vague.

I was hoping to take a Canon EOS 5D with 24-105, 70-200 f2.8 IS, 15mm fisheye and maybe 50mm prime. Also a Hasselblad film camera with 2 lenses, a Gitzo tripod and filters.

If anyone has any experiences of travelling to China and if they've had any problems I could really do with the advice. Is this kit too much? Will it be barred?

Thanks.

Chris
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=124849\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Unless you're a journalist, expect no problems

Don't worry, and have a great trip!

Whereabouts are you travelling? And have you taken any precautions re: malaria etc?

[ChrisJR]

Unless you're a journalist, expect no problems

Don't worry, and have a great trip!

Whereabouts are you travelling? And have you taken any precautions re: malaria etc?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=124884\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Thanks for the response. That's reassuring about the equipment. Have you been and did you take a load of equipment? Where did you go if you went?

I'll be going to quite a few places... Shanghai, Suzhou, Chengdu, Jiuzhaghou, Huanglong and Xi'an. I've had all the vaccinations I need, including getting Malaria tablets.

Thanks again.

[Andy M]

Thanks for the response. That's reassuring about the equipment. Have you been and did you take a load of equipment? Where did you go if you went?

[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=124929\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I've not been to China - it's definitely on my 'to do' list - but I have a number of friends who have been, some for as long as 6 months.

What're you carrying your equipment in? And, for the blad, what measures have you taken for protecting your film against the X Ray machines?

[BernardLanguillier]

I feel more insecure travelling around my home town in Belgium than I ever felt in China.

There have no special regulations for tourists regarding camera and the local crowds has more money than you might think.

I saw 2 chinese photographers shooting with Phaseone P45 in Jiyuzaighou and Huang-long last year... and the average Chinese tourists there shoots with a Nikon D80 or Canon 20D.

The equipment you mention will be completely un-noticed.

Cheers,
Bernard

[sbacon]

I'll just echo what others have said - no problem. I went to Beijing and Xi'an.

If you like you can register your equipment serial numbers with your local customs office before you leave. This would help for insurance purposes in case of loss and also prevent customs from attempting to charge you duty tax on your own equipment when you return to the U.S. This assumes you're from the U.S. and may differ in other countries.

Enjoy your trip! My experience was wonderful.

[ChrisJR]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm really quite shocked to hear there is so much money over in China. Two of the places I'm travelling to are Jiuzhaghou and Huanglong so it will be interesting to see if there any P45s

As for how I'm taking things, all of my digital equipment will be taken as hand luggage in a Crumpler shoulder bag but I'm checking in my tripod and blad equipment in either a Peli case or a Tamrac Cyberpack bag inside a suitcase (haven't decided yet but have all these options available). As for film I've got a supposedly X-Ray proof film bag but in any case it will carried on as hand luggage and I'll try to get it processed over there (our base is Shanghai but we're going to Chengdu and Xi'an).

Really desperately excited about going now

[ChrisJR]

For anyone that is interested, I did travel to China in July which was a fantastic experience. Beautiful country with fantastic food and some really beautiful cities and countryside, sadly let down by a lot of people (but that's another subject).

Just a note on the equipment, I had absolutely no problems at all. When I arrived in Pu Dong airport, Shanghai, customs didn't bother to check my baggage at all and through July I took quite a few flights and not once did anyone check the weight or the equipment I carried. The only time I got pulled up was when I accidentally put a pair of nail-clippers in my hand luggage. If anyone is interested in weights, I flew with Emirates and the total allowance was 27kg (1 checked and 1 hand luggage). When I left China my checked luggage was 28kg, hand 10kg. Quite a large amount over the limit and no-one bothered to check

One thing I did discover was carrying two mediums of camera equipment (ie film and digital) is a real pain in the ass. July was ridiculously hot and on occasion reached 45-49C and a couple times my partner, who is from Taiwan, said it was the hottest she had ever experienced. So my recommendation is if you are travelling in the summer, stick to one camera and 2 or 3 lenses but if you travel any other season, go for it with regards to equipment.

One other note which might interest people, buying camera equipment in mainland China is ridiculously expensive. For example, the price of a D2X body was around $6000 / £3000. Ouch!

[wolfnowl]

I feel more insecure traveling around my home town in Belgium than I ever felt in China.

This is OT, but I remember, 25 or 30 years ago there was a 'cultural exchange' where a group of nationally respected photographers from China came to the US.  I remember this still because the American hosts had a hard time convincing their guests that in NYC they couldn't just drop their camera bag on the sidewalk and go running after a shot!

Mike.

[Mark D Segal]

I'm travelling to China this weekend for one month but I'm unsure what I'm allowed to take into the country. The information available on the web is fairly vague.

I was hoping to take a Canon EOS 5D with 24-105, 70-200 f2.8 IS, 15mm fisheye and maybe 50mm prime. Also a Hasselblad film camera with 2 lenses, a Gitzo tripod and filters.

If anyone has any experiences of travelling to China and if they've had any problems I could really do with the advice. Is this kit too much? Will it be barred?

Thanks.

Chris
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=124849\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

If you are travelling into and out of the country through their major international airports you should have no problem. If you are taking a bus from Hong Kong into the country via Shenzhen, this is a known shake-down operation if they see foreigners with elaborate gear, and I've been through the experience.  The ostensible agenda is that they ask you to register your stuff on a form that needs to be filled in Chinese with the serial numbers, so you will be able to take it out again without hassle. Fortunately I was with people who knew how to play that game, the forms got filled, no money changed hands and after some delay we were on our way. Avoid entering or existing China by road and you should be fine. There were no other incidents inside China or leaving the country by air. The overall atmosphere for photography is very relaxed.

[djgarcia]

I took a 1Ds MkII, bunch of lenses, Tablet PC, chargers, tripod, etc. back in Jan 2005 and had no problems whatsoever. Also been to Thailand and Malaysia since and also no problems. I'm always amazed.

[BernardLanguillier]

If you are travelling into and out of the country through their major international airports you should have no problem. If you are taking a bus from Hong Kong into the country via Shenzhen, this is a known shake-down operation if they see foreigners with elaborate gear, and I've been through the experience.  [a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=146201\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

When did that happen?

I was on that same route between HK and Shenzen back in June with my d2x and a good selection of lenses and had no such problems. I was alone by the way.

Cheers,
Bernard

[Mark D Segal]

When did that happen?

I was on that same route between HK and Shenzen back in June with my d2x and a good selection of lenses and had no such problems. I was alone by the way.

Cheers,
Bernard
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=146248\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

This was some time back. It is entirely possible that the authorities are now ensuring correct and visitor-friendly procedures are being observed.

[once2work]

This was some time back. It is entirely possible that the authorities are now ensuring correct and visitor-friendly procedures are being observed.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=146324\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I'm walk in and out through Hong Kong to China even with my brand new lens or Canon 40D camera have no problem at all, they seldom check, you just too lucky.

[once2work]

One other note which might interest people, buying camera equipment in mainland China is ridiculously expensive. For example, the price of a D2X body was around $6000 / £3000. Ouch!
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=146075\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
[/quote]

Now-a-day, camera and software like Adobe Photoshop is the cheapest, because they want to open the local market. Like the Canon 40D body only selling in China is USD1,100. If someone ask $6000 for a D2x body must you went to a wrong place or you brought by a tourist guide.

[ChrisJR]

I only really looked at the one camera store by chance as I was shopping for something else (this was in Xi'an). Perhaps the prices are cheaper elsewhere but in any case, I wouldn't buy any camera equipment in China mainland.