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View Full Version : Colon-free-zone, Panama

chiefster69
12-10-2009, 20:59
I havenīt been on here for a while as Iīm travelling through Latin America but I once again find myself in need of some good advice, I hope someone can help.

I was the proud owner of a D50 but due to an unfortunate incident in El Salvador involving guns I now find myself cameraless. I have heard you can buy very cheap goods in the "colon free zone" (tax free) in Panama and Iīm hoping to pick up a cheap D90. I canīt seem to find any information via google on what you can buy in the free zone and what the prices are.
Has anyone either been to this area or purchased something and had it shipped over? I will be passing through there in a few weeks but I donīt want to be without a camera for that long unless I can get a good bargain.

Any tips or info would be greatly appreciated

A cameraless photographer :(
chiefster69
20-10-2009, 23:14
Well I guess nobody has any info. I will add any info on prices of kit when I get there in a few weeks just in case someone else comes on with the same issue me. If anyone wants any specific information then post it here and I will find out what I can.
I have heard you can buy a D90 body for US$500 :clap:
Woz
21-10-2009, 10:58
Sorry to hear you lost your camera - my mate had his camera gear nicked in South America too. Can't remember which part...Equador rings a bell. One guy made a feint for his main luggage, and while he was watching them an accomplice nicked his backpack with all his important stuff in :(
chiefster69
20-11-2009, 14:47
colon was a total disaster, the prices are slightly more than in Jessops and there were no D90s to be found :(
In fact I have been unable to find a D90 anywhere in central/south america let alone a bargain.

I have been thinking of setting my sights lower and trying to pick up an old D40 or a D5000. I know the D5000 has the same internals as the D90 but without all the custom controls and better body. Any opinions on whether it is worth the extra over a d40. Hopefully I can buy them in Colombia somewhere as a body only and then splash out on a travel lens like the nikon 18-200 VR.
Fingers crossed.
Woz
20-11-2009, 16:25
You thought of getting an older film SLR to tide you over? I should think film's still relatively easy to get hold of over there. Get an old Nikon/Olympus/Pentax pro body and it should stand up to serious knocks and not cost a fortune. Would save you speding big bucks on a camera that's not really what you want.
Nikon F (I think), Olympus OMx (single digit OMs are the pro models) or Pentax LX would be what I'd look for.