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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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1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,003
i almost tried to go for one once, and called customer service to verify a sick deal and found out that they were not legit at all.
Jan 21 2010 12:37AM
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bilalamjad3
Posts: 13 - Karma: 10
nice discussion.
i buy a camera last year ago.
Feb 9 2010 3:37AM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
I have bought from them before. completely legit
Feb 9 2010 1:56PM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
both me and a friend have bought from ecost. we each got jvc camcorders for a great deal. shipped quick. i dont think they should be on the stay away from list. what about a company called primo cameras? anyone hear of them?http://www.primocameras.com/catalog/
Feb 20 2010 8:09PM
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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
As I mentioned, that is a list of non authorized Panasonic dealers.
Feb 21 2010 11:22PM
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mski
Posts: 4791 - Karma: 3,803
word, glad to see great northern video on there.
Feb 25 2010 7:46PM
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The420Times
Posts: 2 - Karma: 10
Sammys Camera has really good deals on cameras, Are you looking to buy a nikon or cannon?
Mar 3 2010 3:25PM
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nick@
Posts: 72 - Karma: 95
my threads
Mar 18 2010 12:54AM
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FREEskiLINE
Posts: 882 - Karma: 17
I assume amazon is safe?
Apr 17 2010 10:02PM
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JStrathern
Posts: 8747 - Karma: 1,536
oh?
Apr 19 2010 11:42PM
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Max-Steeze
Posts: 448 - Karma: 171
how to buy the best camera = Craigslist
Apr 20 2010 9:56PM
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1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,003
how to sell a camera = Craigslist
Apr 22 2010 8:27PM
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FREEskiLINE
Posts: 882 - Karma: 17
yes? no?
Apr 29 2010 4:16PM
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JStrathern
Posts: 8747 - Karma: 1,536
of course its safe
May 1 2010 12:50PM
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assface
Posts: 4319 - Karma: 2,031
has anyone used crutchfield before?
May 1 2010 11:02PM
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Allegrath.
Posts: 250 - Karma: 30
thank you for the sites. prolly gonna get a Canon EOS 7d from one of these.
May 2 2010 10:18PM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
good choice.
May 3 2010 12:38PM
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ODarrow
Posts: 226 - Karma: 154
Thanks man, sick list!
May 23 2010 7:31PM
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ajbski
Posts: 1258 - Karma: 5,049
HONESLTY
just buy a go ro from the website

you get a life time warranty on the case and the camera

i already took advantage of this twice
its actually the greatest thing ever
i love that little thing
May 27 2010 8:40PM
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Plind
Posts: 416 - Karma: 33
Thanks for listing all the important facts
May 30 2010 6:09PM
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ike.
Posts: 2292 - Karma: 93
http://www.camerakings.com/ViewProduct.aspx?ID=11453973&l=Pronto

legit? no? there are mixed reviews on it on resellratings.
Jun 28 2010 5:02PM
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ngates_EC
Posts: 1464 - Karma: 807
you know that is a regular price for that camera?
Jun 28 2010 11:44PM
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muellerc
Posts: 177 - Karma: 26
yeah NewEgg is definitely legit or they wouldnt be boomin
Jul 1 2010 8:26PM
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TheTBagMafia
Posts: 6 - Karma: 21

RESEARCH, you get ripped off that way. i got my VX1000 for $650(great deal) with only 25 houres on heads.

Anything with 3CCD or 3CMOS will produce awesome quality, but overall do your research when it comes to cameras so you know exactly what you will get for your price range.

Jul 20 2010 9:34PM
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dispatchQ_main
Posts: 2619 - Karma: 629
i know this isnt what this thread is about but its not worth starting a new one for...

So should i buy a go-pro hd or spend a little more and get the t2i?

basically im asking is the go pro worth buying.

I had a t1i so i should know how to use the t2i decently...


Aug 29 2010 11:41AM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
Did you really just ask whether to get a go pro or a t2i?
Anyways it depends on what you want
Aug 29 2010 11:50PM
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dispatchQ_main
Posts: 2619 - Karma: 629
basically yes..
but the question is more like is the go pro really worth buying...
or should i just buy the t2i instead ( which is what i was going to do until i realised i like what the go pro offers )

Sounds like a stupid question but there is some logic behind it.
Aug 30 2010 1:52AM
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family_vacation
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 7,841
Do you understand all the costs of using DSLRs?
Aug 31 2010 1:42PM
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Tomthepunk
Posts: 1 - Karma: 10
amazon.com is awesome!
Dec 26 2010 2:29AM
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Dr.D-Sag
Posts: 212 - Karma: 374
b and h photo is the shit
Jan 5 2011 7:08PM
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testboss
Posts: 9 - Karma: 10
Its a close one.
Jan 12 2011 5:01AM
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TBigCat
Posts: 629 - Karma: 4
sketchy sites are a high risk
Apr 1 2011 4:12PM
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lukewalnuts
Posts: 2730 - Karma: 152
http://www.zwee.com/digital-cameras/canon-digital-cameras/canon-eos-7d-slr-digital-camera-deals/

pretty sure this is sketchy i just wanted to know if it wasn't
May 30 2011 6:21PM
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JDUB28
Posts: 372 - Karma: 18
Hey,
So i have had a gopro for the last year for making ski edits, and it is not cuttin it. My birthday is coming up soon and so i am going to get a camera. i was thinking of getting an HDSLR as they seem to be one of the more popular means for filmin skiing.

Any suggestions? T2i?

Also, should I buy any extra parts (microphones, steadycams, wide angle lense) and if so, which ones would you recommend?

p.s. my price range is up to about 1000 give or take

Thanks!
Jun 1 2011 2:11AM
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junnydavis
Posts: 52 - Karma: 10
how around would it cost !

Download Girlfriend movie
Jul 21 2011 5:33AM
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NEEDMOSNOW
Posts: 344 - Karma: 39
Natcam.com is pretty legit bought a cannon dslr from there
Jul 22 2011 11:56AM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14477 - Karma: 10,515
I just bought a pentax off abes and so far I don't know if I am impressed. I got a voicemail from "Fred" the other day asking to call back regarding my order. I just called him back and he was just confirming my order and the shipping address and all that. I get shitty reception at my house and the call dropped, hopefully he got all the info he wanted so I can get my camera.
Jul 25 2011 4:19PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14477 - Karma: 10,515
Boom. Free shipping, camera came the next day. So legit.
Jul 28 2011 1:20PM
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BryantPhoto
Posts: 1574 - Karma: 891
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ is about as legit as you can get. Great deals, 2-day shipping, and the best customer service. After a pretty good history you have with them, they end up giving you some of the most amazing deals/discounts around too.
Aug 4 2011 6:26PM
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TBigCat
Posts: 629 - Karma: 4
very helpful
Aug 20 2011 8:18PM
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CHR[]NIC
Posts: 85 - Karma: 21
Look on the side of the road for one.
Aug 20 2011 10:17PM
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BryantPhoto
Posts: 1574 - Karma: 891
What?
Please post useful information, or don't post at all.
Aug 21 2011 1:52PM
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,399
This, I broke my timelapse shutter remote no questions asked they sent me a brand new one and I dint have the recipt/box or anything. It is hands down the best online store I wish they had a canada one tho so I could get free shipping and not get raped on duties
Aug 23 2011 2:41PM
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spreadeagle96
Posts: 87 - Karma: 15

are gopros with it?

Aug 25 2011 12:44PM
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Toasty.
Posts: 6195 - Karma: 2,278
lookin at getting either the canon rebel xsi or the t1i. i have heard good things about the xsi, and i have tried the t1i out
Aug 28 2011 3:38PM
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PartyHon
Posts: 2019 - Karma: 425
great info. threads
Sep 3 2011 12:18AM
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Toasty.
Posts: 6195 - Karma: 2,278
said fuck it and got the t2i
Sep 3 2011 5:54AM
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BryantPhoto
Posts: 1574 - Karma: 891
Oooh.... should've gotten the t1i...
Sep 3 2011 6:20PM
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1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,003
why?
Sep 3 2011 7:03PM
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Toasty.
Posts: 6195 - Karma: 2,278
nah, i tried my friends t1i in russia. and i didnt like it that much. might as well just get the newer version.

and yes i know their is a t3i, but all it has is a swivel screen
Sep 4 2011 4:51AM
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