Need advise on where to buy digital camera

SLOCOOKN

I am going to be purchasing a Nikon D200 with a 18-200mm lens. The best price I found was at Best Price Cameras.com. Do you have any other suggestions?.

Thanks,
Steve

Strong Bad

B&H Photo. Not the absolute lowest, but still very low and the best customer service in the universe. I've purchased the bulk of my camera gear there. They're very well regarded in the photography community as being the best. Adorama is excellant also.

By the way, have fun with that D200. It's a great great camera. I love mine! Get the MB-D200 extended grip if you have the $$$. What are your primary shooting plans? If you plan on doing any high speed sports photography, look at the Sandisk Extreme III CF cards. The Ultra II's are nice, but the write speed on the Extreme's are faster. I notice a big difference when shooting sporting events.

John

halo

Wolf Camera or Ritz Camera.

nebborjk

I've bought 2 cameras from jr.com. Great turn around time and the lowest prices I found.

SLOCOOKN

I will be shooting a little bit of everything at first. A friend of mine is a serious professional and wants to spend more time with me so he suggested I get a camera and when he is in town he will set up some shoots and some landscape to see what I like best.

I am very fortunate that he is willing to take me under his wing.....I CAN"T WAIT

Strong Bad

Yeah, you are lucky to have someone experienced like that to help you get going. When you're out shooting with him, pick his brain as much as possible! Take a notepad along and take notes. Really!

The 18-200 is a very nice all around lens. Hang on buddy, you'll soon get "Lens Lust" and forget about home audio. A very fun landscape/wideangle lens is the Tokina 12-24 f4. It's about $350 less than the Nikon equivelant and right one par in terms of quality. Now that spring has sprung, I'll be heading west into the mountains one weekend in May to shoot away!

Here is one shot with the Tokina from last year at a winery in PA...

http://strongdigitalart.smugmug.com/gallery/1289066#60589778

By the way, Nikon Capture NX (editing software) is excellant! You'll get a trial version with the camera, then have to shell out $100 for the full blown licensed version. I use it all the time for editing RAW images.

Good luck and post some good stuff!

John

dave shepard

I bought a Nikon D50 kit this past year from Cameta Camera http://stores.ebay.com/Cameta-Camera_Digital-Cameras-Nikon_W0QQcolZ2QQdirZ1QQfsubZ3QQftidZ2QQpZ5QQsclZ1QQtZkm. I did call Nikon and verify they were a dealer and called the store instead of ordering from E-bay but did buy one of the deals listed. Customer service was excellant and informative. It takes extreamly good pics and am very happy so far.

Good luck
Dave

MikeC78

Try Amazon?

izafar

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Best_Price_Cameras_6

Based on the above reviews, I would stay clear from this website. For camera buying, you really need to go with the trusted names. I have read a lot of horror stories where the people had to spent a lot more then advertised price to get the full package.

I suggest the following for camera buying

adorama.com
bhphoto.com
ritz camera
amazon

SLOCOOKN wrote:

I am going to be purchasing a Nikon D200 with a 18-200mm lens. The best price I found was at Best Price Cameras.com. Do you have any other suggestions?.

Thanks,
Steve

Mike682

dave shepard wrote:

I bought a Nikon D50 kit this past year from Cameta Camera Customer service was excellant and informative. It takes extreamly good pics and am very happy so far.

Good luck
Dave

Cameta Camera is near my house. It is an actual store that has been in business for a long time. I like going there because the staff are professionals and are very honest. I took my 10yr Elan there last year to get cleaned and the guy opened up the camera and said nothing was needed, the camera was spot clean. He could have said it needed a cleaning and charge me, but he was honest and sent me on my way, no charge.

Buy from Cameta in confidence

Strong Bad

I've read a bunch of good things about Cameta also. Top 3 on my list are...

1. B&H
2. Adorama
3. Cameta

Ritz and Wolf Camera are expensive. I don't buy anything from them. B&H has seen the bulk of my spending and still do.

Watch the camera places that pressure you into buying "package deals" with sub par lens (low end Sigmas for example) and filter kits (Crystal Optics for example is crap). Sigma makes some fine lens, but also have some low end junk. I stick with Nikon lens almost exclusive, except for the previously mentioned Tokina 12-24mm. Good filters are made by Hoya and B&W. I always get a UV filter for all of my lens. The filter can be replaced if scratched, the lens is way more expensive if that happens.


John

SLOCOOKN

Thanks for all the info everyone! I was sure the price at bcp.scam was too good to be true.

izafar: The link confirmed my suspension. I called to get some back ground info. The scamer was vauge in his response and tried to rush me to buy. A big no no in my book.

jeremie

I have a D80 and love it so i am sure you will love the D200. not sure how available the 18-200 is. I know they have been on back order for over a year for some people. I had my name on a list for 8 months and never got one. they are kinda hit or miss on them still. Unless you go to BB or CC they sell it for 900 vs 700.

SLOCOOKN

Just ordered the d200 and I did get the 18-200mm.....From B&H...Whewwww hoooooo

Strong Bad

SLOCOOKN wrote:

Just ordered the d200 and I did get the 18-200mm.....From B&H...Whewwww hoooooo

Good man! They're really great to deal with at B&H, ain't they?

Excellant choice in lens by the way.

Go here and read away...

http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/


John

Bill Ayotte

I bought my d70s from cameta and my ex's d70 from there as well......God, that was an expensive mistake.......At least I got the ring back.