Higher import tax on Digital cameras

Has anyone seen the latest news in this weeks AP regarding the EU Commission "considering" raising the import tax on digital cameras, especially those that have video capabilities, therefore, they are video cameras!!
I don't know whether this should also be posted on the General post as well, anyway I won't type anymore as it will simply be expletives!!

The simple counter-measure would be to remove the video capability...

Does anyone use this feature? :

A similar thing has gone on for years 'protecting' European video recorder manufacturers. The solution was for Sony and chums to remove the video inputs from the cameras so that they couldn't be used as stand alone recorders.

I've never needed to use it on my Optio. I'd rather take good pictures than poor video! If I wanted to video things I'd buy a proper video camera that was up to the job.

I never understood why a still camera should be making videos. If you want to film a video, you use a video camera, right?

The whole thing is nonsense!

Indeed, this might have the (unintended) consequence of forcing manufacturers to concentrate on improving the basics rather than just adding gimmicks.

It's a different matter with real video cameras, though. Classifying cameras as recorders just because they could save edited footage back to the tape was pretty stupid.

G

They did this with their digital camcorders, but later they enabled the inputs. Just in time before the tools were banned I got a package which enabled me to get the DV-IN working on the Digital8 camera that my father has.

I use it for anotating shoots, adding memos (why buy gps, when you can recoerd an audio note), and quick video grabs for web use (why set up two cameras?)
I also use my video camera to capture video ( Ie vhs tv etc)and stills (directly from my digital camera's video out) for use in my computer.

To the beaurocratic mind, anything called a camera is, well, a camera so next stop treat all cameras the same.
Who knows? One day photographers will be subject to import duty just because "photo" enters their description. Then we will have to fill in reams of paperwork everytime we export/import ourselves.
You read it here first!
Graham

Will they count my mobile phone as a camera or a video camera? It has a 1 GB mini SD card, so can happily take 30 mins of video or 1200 stills! I bet they'll just tax it anyway - anything to pull in some more cash!