Just called Prime Support in the UK (good for us European costomers):
They say the worldwide Mack-support from B&H and other sellers is NOT good for Sony Prime Support. As long as it is not covered by Prime Support they even wouldn't repair a defect EX1 for cash payment. Hard to believe!

The warranty in the U.S. is totally different than in Europe. It is more limited and shorter. Even with MACK-type warranty, which will cover warranty repairs, you will not get the same service as Prime Support.

Should you buy 'overseas/import' you will have no access to Prime Support and will have to use US telephone support (at U.S. Business Hours!) which cannot schedule repairs in Europe. Expect some difficulty.

In Europe Prime Support covers 2 years, parts and labour as well as telephone assistence. It has a repair time of max. 7 days and offers a replacement camera if repairs are expected to take longer. Also the European 'version' comes with the BP-U60 battery instead of the U30.

There were some good introduction deals around here, and feel free to look for them in any EU country, however should you need support it is much easier to have it in your own language and close to you.

George/

P.S. CHF 9400 < EUR 6000 is actually not a bad price...

Since when? I had to buy the BP-U60 extra...

not in the UK it doesn't

Solid company but you are asking for trouble talking about this on DVi due to it's policy of only talking about site sponsors. Creative Video aren't but they are Sony dealers and very good. Got both my XDCAMs from them. Better get that in before the thread is closed!!

Nor in the Singapore or Australian versions...

Robb,

Please clarify - I am a little confused. Is the BP-U60 supplied on Singapore & Australian models as standard?

I'd like to come back to the subject:
If Europeans buy the EX1 in the US or elsewhere outside Europe - is there any chance at all to get the cam repaired IN EUROPE? (Against payment, of course!)
The reason I ask is that Prime support told me they wouldn't repair it even if I'd pay for it.

He said it isn't supplied as standard

You send it back to the US via courier, they repair it under warranty then they send it back to you. That is what I did when my HDV deck bought from B&H went down. It's a bit of a pain with customs though

Did customs try to charge you a second time?

No but lots of hassle both ends, the USA and the UK. If you get charged you can appeal and get the money back. But you have to declare true value and some customs guys can be quite difficult. It slows things down.

The silver support from Europe is second to none and worth paying the extra cash for the camera for.

Example. My F350 had a blown firewire port. They sent me an empty box on the Friday, on the Monday I put the camera in it. They picked it up straight away and sent it to their repair centre in France. Wednesday morning is was back to me fixed.

Think about costs of hiring a loan camera for the 3 to 4 weeks it will be away in the states for.

Sorry, that may have just been an introductory offer from a local reseller then.

George/

George, does the free SxS card from the rebate also aplies in the Netherlands?

Ordered my ex-1 two months ago and the reseller said it will be here next week. I thought i was to late for the rebate stuff but i see they extended it till the end of march? but also for European people?

(sorry for a bit offtopic tho)