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How to buy a camera

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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
I've seen a lot of threads on here lately asking about sketchy camera sites and offers.  Sites that advertise cameras for way less than retail are always grey market or a scam. 

Getting expensive video and camera gear for cheap just doesn't happen.  There are no amazing deals out there.  Sometimes a manufacturer will offer a rebate of some sort, but you will never get a new camera for hundreds less than retail, unless buying used.

If you find a site that is advertising cameras at insanely low prices, turn around.  As tempting as it may be, you will lose your money.

Example of a grey market camera site.  Notice how everything is cheap? THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT TO AVOID.  There are no if's and's or but's, never buy anything from a site like this.
http://www.soniccameras.com/

Example of good sites to buy from. (list taken from dvxuser.com)
http://www.abelcine.com
www.armatosvideo.com
www.avs.com
http://www.bhphoto.com
www.birnsandsawyer.com
http://cinequipt.com/
http://www.digitalvideogroup.com
http://www.fullcompass.com
http://www.greatnorthernvideo.com
http://www.promediamemphis.com
www.roscor.com
http://www.samyscamera.com
http://www.spec-comm.com
http://www.studio-exchange.com
http://www.willoughbys.com

Stay away from these sites
A&M Photo World, www.amphotoworld.com
Abe's of Maine, www.abesofmaine.com
Banana Boat Camera, www.bananaboatcamera.com
Beach Camera, www.beachcamera.com
Best Buy PCs, www.bestbuypcs.com
Best Digital Online, www.bestdigitalonline.com
Best Price Cameras, www.bestpricecameras.com
Brand Namez LLC, www.brandnamez.com
Broadway Photo, www.bwayphoto.com
Butterfly Photo, www.butterflyphoto.com
Buydig, www.buydig.com
California Cellular, www.californiacell.com
Cameras & Electronics, www.camerasandelectronics.com
Central Digital, www.centraldigital.com
Century 21 Electronics, www.century21electronics.com
Chumbo Corp, www.chumbo.com
Computer Online, www.computeronline.com
CompuVest Corp, www.compuvest.com
DBuys, www.dbuys.com
Digital Delivered, www.digitaldelivered.com
Digital Liquidators, www.digitalliquidators.com
Digitally Unique, www.digitallyunique.com
Digital Mega Store, www.digitalmegastore.com
eCost, www.ecost.com
Electrified Discounters Inc., www.electrified.com
Etronics, www.etronics.com
Express Cameras, www.expresscameras.com
Monitor Outlet Inc., www.flat-tv-mounts.com and www.monitoroutlet.com and www.nettv-store.com
Foto Connection, www.fotoconnection.com
I Buy Digital, www.ibuydigital.com
Infiniti Photo, www.infinitiphoto.com
Inoax, www.inoax.com
Leo Barnet, www.leobarnet.com
Mr. Accessory, www.mraccessory.com
NewEgg, www.newegg.com
Onix Electronics, www.onixstyle.com
PC Nation, www.pcnation.com
Atman Inc., www.pccrush.com
Preferred Photo LLC, www.preferredphoto.com
Prestige Camera, www.prestigecamera.com
PriceGrabber, www.pricegrabber.com
Profeel Marketing, Inc., www.profeel.com
Projector.com, www.projector.com
Real Deal Shop, www.realdealshop.com
Red Tag Savings, www.redtagsavings.com
Sunshine Electronics, www.shopsunshine.com
The Twister Group, www.thetwistergroup.com
Trio Computers, www.triocomputers.com
Tri-State Camera and Computers, www.tristatecamera.com
TV Authority, www.tvauthority.com
TVs Depot, www.tvsdepot.com

If you have any doubt about a website, look it up here
http://www.resellerratings.com/

Always remember, if it looks to good to be true, it always is.  If you see the price and think to yourself "Holy sh*t that's cheap!" you know that the site is not a place where you want to be buying a camera.

Hope this helps clear up the cheap camera site questions.
Jul 1 2009 1:12PM
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BryantPhoto
Posts: 1574 - Karma: 891
I was just trying to bust his chops.
Sep 4 2011 5:56PM
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HARVERSACE
Posts: 763 - Karma: 372
I was wondering if anyone had experiance with TriStateCamera, mixed revews on resellerratings. heres the link to the resellerratings. http://www.resellerratings.com/store/TriState_Camera_Video_and_Computers
Oct 10 2011 2:52PM
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gravel
Posts: 5518 - Karma: 42,202
and manual audio in controls...
Nov 20 2011 8:49PM
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ZachMcCarthy1
Posts: 469 - Karma: 432
buy from amazon every time great deals and 100% legtit! got my t2i new in box for 470 (body only)
Jan 4 2012 10:13PM
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Lolocaust.
Posts: 1716 - Karma: 512
Is this legit?

Canon T2i with lens and everything else for only 500 + Free shipping?

Feb 28 2012 5:20PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,234
i would not trust that, at all
Feb 28 2012 5:52PM
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Lolocaust.
Posts: 1716 - Karma: 512
what about.

Feb 28 2012 7:51PM
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Sharpbrick
Posts: 133 - Karma: 20
may i ask y new egg is on the do not buy from list?  i have gotten all of my pc stuff from there get service and prices
Mar 23 2012 2:30PM
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90053
Posts: 2565 - Karma: 3,728
whats a good price for a used canon 60d in good condition? seems to be a massive range in prices and i'm not sure what to trust.
Feb 25 2013 10:47AM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
Seeing as I have a ridiculous penchant for buying cameras, Let me give my 0.02.


Adorama is far and away probably the best option for used gear that I have ever used. Not a single lens, camera, or anything has ever gone bad on me, and even though they have to ship things clear across the country, it always gets to me in a week. They have incredible customer service when I've needed it, and have been lightning quick on any refunds or returns I've asked for. I have spent a shitload of money on Adorama equipment and if I could, I'd go all Kenrockwell and link them to everything I do. They kick ass.

Keh.com is a close second. I usually buy only REALLY used stuff from here, since Adorama tends to have less of that, and it's harder to find on there. Plus, KEH usually has photos. That said, they don't have great shipping options, and they NEVER do free shipping on 100$+ orders anymore which SUCKS because that's when I'd usually spend some money on glass, over there. (then again, maybe it's not so bad, because it prevents me from going all Jamie and buying random shit I don't need on a whim) A few things I've gotten from them have gone kaput after a while (a 3$ T50 I bought went bad after about 100 clicks.. and in the middle of a good roll from San Francisco, and a battery charger was faulty when I got it), but ultimately, they have a very extensive selection of used lenses, and gear in general, and I've been happy with them.

KEH Outlet on EBay is also INSANE because you can get massive grabbags of a shitload of filters or broken lenses or random ass camera straps or whatever by the bulk. Which is funny, but whatever. They also have pictures of things that they don't even have on the real site, and They also give you free shipping on lots of stuff, so that's where to go for that option.

BH is an awesome site for new gear and some used stuff too. They don't have the amount of used gear that Adorama or KEH has, but they have probably the best deals on new gear on the market. I'd likely go with either these guys or adorama for new stuff any day depending on the price.

Amazon.com has some pretty killer cheap options here and there and everywhere. Lots of stores on there and lots of gear. I've been lucky I guess because I research and research, but no matter what, with amazon, you're protected from dipshittery for the most part by independent buyers, which is nice. Plus, lots of free shipping stuffs. I'd only buy new stuff though. Used gear on amazon is no better than ebay.
Mar 16 2013 5:03AM
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