New York camera shops

abulense

My sister is going to New York in March and I've put in a request for her to get me a new lens for my camera. (I've heard camera equipment is a lot cheaper over there).
Can anyone recommend any good camera shops in NY?
And while I'm at it could anyone recommend me a good low-medium priced macro lens for canon eos dslr?
Cheers

kmick

www.bandhphoto.com as far as I am concerned is the cheapest and best photo store in the world.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=194451&is=GREY&addedTroughType=search

6ix

I bought my digital camera at B&H, it's an excellent store. However, I'm not sure that the deals are that much better than what you'd get on the net at the minute. Having said that, the strength of the dollar is a good incentive!

Interesting fact about the shop is that it doesnt open on Saturday. The owners, and 90% of the staff are Orthodox Jews so Saturday is Sabbath for them. My sales assistant was of Irish descent though. It's got every kind of camera you can imagine, so it's definitely the best place to look in NYC.

rymus

abulense wrote:

And while I'm at it could anyone recommend me a good low-medium priced macro lens for canon eos dslr?
Cheers

A sigma 105mm I'd say...

As for B&H, mmmmm... going to make a pilgrimage there later on in the month when I get across the pond.

abulense

That seems to answer all my questions!
Easypeasy
cheers.

kmick

6ix wrote:

I bought my digital camera at B&H, it's an excellent store. However, I'm not sure that the deals are that much better than what you'd get on the net at the minute. Having said that, the strength of the dollar is a good incentive!

www.bandhphoto.com They are also a web merchant and are very competitive. I challenge you to find a better price on average. You won't. Orthodox Jews rock.

mloc

BH Photo is camera mecca.

I'm sure the guys working there would appreciate that analogy :rolleyes:

All the same though, it really is amazing. And they know what they're talking about. Queues can be a bit mental at the tills, but they fairly fly along as most people know what they want.

t-stop

I'm also planning to go to B&H in NY soon. Can anyone tell me how the whole warranty/returns thing works? If I buy something and it needs to go back to the manufacturer do you have to ship it back to the US for repair? If so, does customs become a problem then?

I see "USA" and "Imported" versions of some products. Is one better than the other for my purposes?

mikeanywhere

kmick wrote:

Orthodox Jews rock.

SHHHALOM!! :rolleyes:

mikeanywhere

t-stop wrote:

If I buy something and it needs to go back to the manufacturer do you have to ship it back to the US for repair? If so, does customs become a problem then?

It has been known for DHL/UPS or similar to charge you import tax twice. I got out of it as I refused to accept my delivery and then spoke to the depot manager. I proved I had sent the article to the USA to be "fixed" as it happened with the same firm so that resolved it there and then. Got my toy the following day without any charges.

Stephen

I also recommend B&H, brilliant shop.
I was there five years ago, the place is massive and they have pretty much everything. I'm going again next month, and will be picking up a finepix s6000fd there

datk

6ix wrote: »

I bought my digital camera at B&H, it's an excellent store.

I'm looking at getting a Canon Powershot Digital Elph (SD Ixus here). Will I need anything more than a plug adapter to charge it here or will I need a voltage converter?

elderlemon

Ha - Just got one in B&H last week. All you need is the 2 to 3 pin plug adapter. No voltage converter needed.

datk wrote: »

I'm looking at getting a Canon Powershot Digital Elph (SD Ixus here). Will I need anything more than a plug adapter to charge it here or will I need a voltage converter?

quilmore

adorama http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=adorama_inside may be your second best after BH

they also do second hand lenses (I'm waiting to get somebody going over to get me a "cheap" 70-200 vr, some used go for 1200 dollars)

remember some 8.5% of NY tax if you buy on their shop

leinsterman

Strangely enough even though B&H is run by hacidic (not orthodox) jews it is in fact Mecca for photographers ... you are required under Canon law to make a pilgrimage there once in your life ... oh and it not only closes Saturday ... it shuts down early Friday ... and also closes for Jewish festivals ... so check their web site for information on this and plan your trip accordingly ...

If I could give you one piece of very important advice on using B&H it would be this - It is not a normal shop as you are used to in the classical sense (you'll understand what I mean when you go there) ... it is in fact a buzzing hive of activity ... it is not a good idea to go there without first having a list of things you want to buy ... otherwise you'll end up missing out something ... or buying something you didn't want ...

Some other shops I have used (and would recommend) are -

J&R music world downtown near ground Zero ... more of a traditional shop ... less of the B&H bustle ... similar prices (item per item you will find each has its advantages) .... www.jandr.com .... not far from the Brooklyn Bridge

If you are going to Brooklyn (and I recommend you cross the boardwalk on the bridge and sunset if it is clear) ... the try Abe's of Maine (www.abesofmaine.com) ... nice bunch of lads ...

pete4130

I've been to B&H and ordered stuff from them before. I usually try to time my mailorder purchases with friends from the states coming over to Ireland. I tend to order from "out of state" though to avoid the sales tax (for example a friend from NJ is arriving from NYC today in fact with some lenses for me, and as they were shipped to NJ and not NY state I avoided paying the sales tax (7% or 8%?). This might be hard to do as your sister is probably staying in a hotel and they prob wouldn't ship to it. It's just another way I've found to save a few bucks, especially on expensive orders. I've pre-ordered my D3 from Chicago, probably getting it shipped to NY state and avoiding paying the sales tax in Illinois will save me about $400!

datk

elderlemon wrote: »

Ha - Just got one in B&H last week. All you need is the 2 to 3 pin plug adapter. No voltage converter needed.

Brilliant - thanks for that.