"import model"

[island guy]

So, I'm surfing around some photo sites. I've noticed some cheaper models have the "import model" designation. Specifically, I've seen it on the nikon D40. What's the diff? Just curious.

[Steve Foss]

I don't know if by import it means what we call "gray market." I would be it means the same thing. Gray market DSLRs come from overseas and often are not warrantied in the U.S. So if you want Nikon to honor their warranty it may have to be a U.S. market product. I'm told that Canon now will honor their 1-year warranty here in the U.S. on a gray market product, so I expect it varies some among manufacturers.

You can tell it's gray market if it doesn't have a U.S. warranty card in the box. Gray and U.S. market cameras and lenses are identical otherwise.