Canon Product Codes

[Sarge (Rod)]

I am considering buying a Canon DSLR for AP using my 127ED. I am seriously looking at the Canon 600D, as it seems to have all the features I require and is within my price range.
The camera is listed on several web sites within AUS as 600D or 600DTKIS or KIS X5 600D, with the KIS models being subsantially cheaper, up to $100 less.
One site states the following:
"This model is Canon EOS Kiss X5. “Kiss X5” is the International model name for the Canon EOS 600D. The two models are identical in features and functionality"

Is that true? If they are identical, why the price difference? I understand the difference with "grey market" overseas items and local, but not the term KIS.

Clear skies

Rod

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by Sarge

why the price difference?

Because they can. They know people will pay for it.
You should see the price difference for software like Photoshop and CAD packages between Aus. and US.

[saysme (Steve)]

My 600d is a grey market version, which has worked fantastic, I have never questioned its quality ( though others claim otherwise about grey products ) IMHO they are well worth the look. Come with third party warranty.

[Sarge (Rod)]

Simon,
What doesn't make sense is that the KIS branded models are available for sale within AUS in AUS stores, right next to the other models! See JB Hi-Fi web page, they list both products, but don't explain the difference.

This is some of the answers I have found on the web;
Canon sells the same cameras using different names in different parts of the world. So the Canon EOS 550D, Rebel T2i, and Kiss X4 are the same camera in different markets.
The Kiss line is sold in Japan, but it is the same camera as sold everywhere else.
and
The name badge is the only real difference.
The other slight difference is the menu in the Kiss is only in English and Japanese options and the other has various languages.
and
They are identical and the differentiating names are purely for marketing. the rebel t3i and kiss x5 and cannon 600d are all the same camera with the exact same specs etcetera.

If this is true, why pay for the AUS model when the same overseas model is available and sold in AUS with the offical Canon warranty, for a lesser price?

Clear skies

Rod

[Astro_Bot]

I've been looking at this myself. As far as i can figure out, the Kiss model has English/Japanese menu firmware (as mentioned already) that may default to Japanese - apparently you can look up on the web how to change the default. Whether the ones sold in Aus have been changed to English default, I don't know.

Also, the Kiss model may not have an English manual, but I think the manual is either on CD or can be downloaded from the Canon website (opinions vary).

Accessories included in the kit version may differ.

Warranties may differ (depending on vendor).

In all other respects, they are the same.

Edit: I had a look on the JB HiFi website, but can't see the Kiss models. They have the 600D body only, single lens kit and twin lens kit - I think they made a mistake listing the body only as 600DTKIS, as I think that's the designation for the twin lens kit.

[Sarge (Rod)]

RG,
These are the KIS models listed on the JB web site under DSLR Cameras - Canon. 5 of the 23 cameras listed. They are all advertised with Canon Warranty and no mention of anything different from the other models shown, except apparently the price.

Canon 1100DKISB 12.2MP DSLR w/18-55IS
Canon 600DKIS 18MP DSLR w/18-55IS
Canon 1100DTKISB 12.2MP "Twin Is Lens Kit"
Canon 60DKIS 18MP DSLR w/18-55IS
Canon 650dtkis DSLR 'twin 'is' Kit'

I wonder why merchants don't state what the differnce is? If there is no difference, why are they listed as KIS? What are they trying to hide? Are they trying to fool buyers?

I'm not commenting on the quality of the product, just asking why the difference?

Clear skies

Rod

[MrB (Simon)]

I think you will find they are JB-internal codes, not Canon codes, hence the single 'S'
KIS and TKIS... not Kiss
KIS = Kit IS lens
TKIS = Twin Kit IS lens

[Astro_Bot]

Kiss x5 (Japan) = Rebel T3i (USA/Canada) = EOS 600D (Australia/Rest of World). It's just branding as dreamed up by Canon's marketing department.

Kiss x5 does not equal "KIS", which, as pointed out, is a part of a packaging designation ... but it seems to be a Canon designation, not JB HiFi, as it appears on multiple websites.

If you buy a Kiss x5, I strongly suspect it will be shipped from an overseas warehouse regardless of where the retailer is registered for business.

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

... but it seems to be a Canon designation, not JB HiFi, as it appears on multiple websites.

Aha! Cheers

[Astro_Bot]

No worries.

[Sarge (Rod)]

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

Kiss x5 (Japan) = Rebel T3i (USA/Canada) = EOS 600D (Australia/Rest of World). It's just branding as dreamed up by Canon's marketing department.

Thanks RG,

I will be buying the Aussie 600D, now need to search for the best price.

Clear skies

Rod