Help - Where to buy my camera??

Curran

Hi folks,

I've decided on buying a Canon 450d / Rebel XSi - but not sure what would be the best / cheapest option....im heading to NY in Sept., so myself and the G/F will be doing alot of clothes shopping and possible X-mas pressies too - so will be tight on cash (thats what credit cards are for eh!!), but i want to get some decent gear to start me off on my photography learning curve.
Im thinking of getting the 55-250 f/4-5.6 and a decent flash on top of the body and kit lens! (Good idea or can someone recommend something else? I know Tamron lens' are an option also!)

Buy the camera...
1. ... in Duty Free in Dublin Airport - and possibly pick up lens in NY or when i get home (2nd hand is an option)

2. ... in B&H, are they willing to do deals (if i bought the 2nd lens & flash, would they throw in a bag / memory etc etc to make a deal or are they strict to the price?)

3. ... in Duty Free in JFK - is there a decent camera shop in JFK with competitive pricing?

4. ... on ebay from Hong Kong or similar and get it delivered direct to my house.

5. ... on ebay from the USA and get it delivered to family I have in NY?

Ideally I'd like to have the camera while im in NY, so I can get started straight away - so # 3 might be a non runner - unless its considerably cheaper
Buying it from B&H or Duty Free, you know its a reputable company - from ebay has some very good deals, with lens / memory / tripods / bags / filters / flashes etc etc - all in deals (alot of gear to be bringing home from NY if i go for #5)

Sorry for the long winded post - any advise is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Curran

Pinarello

Curran, i'm in the same boat as yourself.I'll be going on the 3rd of October for 5 nights.I want to buy a Canon 1D Mark III and a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens. My friend told me to go to B&H for the experience of the shop alone.Whilst i can't answer your query directly, i can tell you that i bought a Canon 400d aka Rebel XTI, with a Sigma 17-70mm lens and a battery grip from them in Febuary of this year.When it was posted to me i got exactly what i ordered in the box, no extras.Even got charged €215 extra in duty but for some reason or other it never came off my credit card...;)

Curran

Oh I'll be going for the experience anyways - like "Disneyland" for Photographers I hear! I'd be like a big kid in it too - im afraid id come out of there with gear that a pro would be proud of!!
Wouldnt expect any extras buying online - but I wondering would they throw in a few sweeteners so to speak if you dealt with them in person!!
Nice one for not getting stung for duty - wow splashing out then in Oct - getting the L lens also - nice one!!!

Pinarello

I've just gotten back to work this week, after being out for a year with Testicular Cancer.Whilst in a haze of sickness of sickness from Chemotherapy last Christmas, that trip to New York and a new Canon camera with a pro lens kept me going.It will be worth it all in the end.Let us know how your experience was when you come back please Curran...;)

Curran

Jezz you are having a tough time of it then - glad to hear you are back to work and healthy again - and that you had something to keep you occupied for a few months while you were sick!!

I sure will let you know how I get on - hopefully it will be good news and I'll have a decent shots (not snaps!! LOL) of NYC to show for it also!!

crazydaize

if i was you i would buy everything in b&h.

remember that it can get very very very busy in that shop at certain times. it's a popular shop, so know exactly what you want before you go in and try to avoid queing for ages just to see two products and deciding which you want to buy. go into camera shops before you leave and play with things!!

regarding the lens choice.... after my walk-around lens (28-135mm) i find i use (and you will certainly use in new york!) a wide angle lens the most. so depending on what you want to photograph in the future maybe have a think about starting off wide.

canon v sigma/tamron..... canon every time for me. sigma/tamron just don't feel right for some reason.

flash? i would put the extra few quid into lens quality starting off.

hope that helps!

henryp

crazydaize wrote: »

if i was you i would buy everything in b&h.

remember that it can get very very very busy in that shop at certain times. it's a popular shop, so know exactly what you want before you go in and try to avoid queing for ages just to see two products and deciding which you want to buy. go into camera shops before you leave and play with things!!

Thanks. Two observations:
We're doubling the size of our store and adding a lot of additional sales associates so the idea you won't have the time or ability to chat with a knowledgeable sales guy is antiquated. The store is busiest Fridays and Sundays, but our sales staff is always happy to help. (We close mid-afternoon Fridays and are closed all day every Saturday, BTW).

Second, we're closed Sept 30 & Oct 1, so the last week of September will be a bit dodgy. Our hours & schedule are online here.

Curran

Hey henryp,
So do you do deals for us poor Irish people when we come over to NY to spend some of our hard earned cash??