Today I saw that Canon started a rebate in the US. Since I'll probably buy new gear in the next couple of months I was interested how much would the same equipment cost here and how much in US. Here's the comparison:

US: Canon 40d (1,139.95$-200$ rebate=939,95$), Canon 70-200 f/4 IS USM (1100$-75$rebate=1025$), Canon 17-40 f/4 USM (700$-50$rebate=650$), Canon 50 f/1.4(325$). Total: 2939,95$(1900€).

SLO: Canon 40d (989,9€-150€ cashback=830,9€),  Canon 70-200 f/4 IS USM (1095€-60€ cashback=1035€), Canon 17-40 f/4 USM (775,9€-50€ cashback=725,9€), Canon 50 f/1.4(339€). Total: 4560$ (2930€).

I think I'll go to NY and buy it from there. I'll get a free ticket and some money to spend there if I buy the equipment there. The prices are almost the same, only that we pay in euros

We have full warranty on lenses here, not on the camera though. Also manufacturer should cover shipping costs, so only bad thing about it is that I'd be without my camera for a longer period of time if something went wrong.

Also you are breaking the law by not paying import tax to SLO (Slovenia I presume?)

We have full warranty on lenses here, not on the camera though. Also manufacturer should cover shipping costs, so only bad thing about it is that I'd be without my camera for a longer period of time if something went wrong.

That's not necessarily true.

Although lenses have an "international" warranty, you have to give a good reason why you are not getting it serviced in the country that you bought it from.  Canon will not accept "I was on holiday" as a legitimate response.  Also you have to pay the cost of getting it to the service centre for both bodies and lenses - I should know, my camera body has been in three times this year!

That's not necessarily true.

Although lenses have an "international" warranty, you have to give a good reason why you are not getting it serviced in the country that you bought it from.  Canon will not accept "I was on holiday" as a legitimate response.  Also you have to pay the cost of getting it to the service centre for both bodies and lenses - I should know, my camera body has been in three times this year!

I was reading one of our slovenian photography forums and a few people there said that is no problem with lenses (if you pay import tax and VAT).

About the cost of getting the equpiment to the service: you are probably right. It's a part of our law and stands only for companies from our country. I've sent my previous laptop via mail to the distributor twice and have been refunded both times.

Just one word of advice... contact B&H or whomever and make sure that they have the items on hold for you.   It would be a bummer if you got there and they don't have the items in stock or if Canon has backorders in manufacturing.

If I decide to go trough with this I'll make sure they have it ready for me