Buying a digital camera

Krusty_Clown

Hi Folks,

Looking to buy a new digital camera (my Sanyo DSC is about 5 years old now, and only works sporadically)...

Any assistance/recommendations would be hugely appreciated..

Price range: €200 - €450 (preferably around the €350 mark!)
Desired features:
3 x Optical zoom
2M+ pixels
Movie capture
Fast capture
Rechargeable long life batteries

Am currently looking at: Kodak DX4330 for about €342. Help me please?!

Krusty_Clown

Oh and if anyone could recommend any reasonable sites, that too would be appreciated.. How about a sticky?

wiensta

i have a great under budget solution 4 ya..

argos are doing a digital camera made by polaroid which has all those things including a colour screen, flash and 64mn memory (+8 built in)

it costs €184!

great value, my friend has one..

only bad things: - sometimes theres a green hue on pics taken at night, and the flash takes bout 6-8 secs to load up...

movie mode is fun tho!
you can also record sound on its own... but its crap quality, you need to know whats being said to understand it..

still tho, good camera..

Samson

Originally posted by Krusty_Clown
Oh and if anyone could recommend any reasonable sites, that too would be appreciated.. How about a sticky?

You won't find many cheaper than:
www.ny-camera.com

Krusty_Clown

Cheers...
That seems to point to the same location as my link above for the Kodak, i.e. einsundeinsshop.de

Are they the same dealer? Are they based in Germany or New York (ambiguous name!)?

I figured there might be good savings to buy from the US, given the favourable currency exchange rate at the moment. Any dealers in the US that ship world-wide?

Samson

Originally posted by Krusty_Clown
Are they the same dealer? Are they based in Germany or New York (ambiguous name!)?

Germany.

Originally posted by Krusty_Clown
I figured there might be good savings to buy from the US, given the favourable currency exchange rate at the moment. Any dealers in the US that ship world-wide?

Unless you are planning a trip to New York, I would be wary of buying from the US.
Reason being, you will get stung for duty (3%) and VAT (21%) on top of the purchase price.
An Post/SDS (who were never too bothered about collecting duty and VAT) have lost the contract with the US postal service, and a private firm has taken over, they are anal about collecting the tax (this featured on Liveline for a few days in January, lots of people ended up paying VAT on Christmas presents sent from the States).
The likes of UPS always seek payment of duty and VAT too, so as far as I can see you are screwed whichever method of delivery you choose.

Having said that, www.bhphotovideo.com are an excellent source, I have bought from them quite a few times (online and in person) and to be honest, if they ain't got it, it ain't worth having.

Krusty_Clown

Thanks for all the useful info Samson...

I may just purchase in the US, and have it delivered to friends living over there... (If they don't mind the extra weight next time they're over!)...

speedfreak

Hi guys, we are hoping to get above mentioned Kodak brought over to us from the US next week. Do you know if there are any issues re transferring photos to PC etc? I presume the software is compatable with an 'irish' windows system. Just that someone mentioned that they were told by an american salesman that an american camera wouldn't 'work' over in europe. ta for any info!

Samson

Originally posted by speedfreak
...they were told by an american salesman that an american camera wouldn't 'work' over in europe.

He is talking horseshit.

speedfreak

...so there's no issues at all then?

Krusty_Clown

It is very unlikely that there would be any issues with delivering Photos to your PC..

The only possible problems you could face would be:
1) Power differences, i.e. if the camera has a power supply, or a docking station that doesn't support Irish voltage levels - However, nearly all modern electronics support both 110/240..

2) If the Camera has TV-out functionality that support NTSC and not PAL.. Most of the cameras I've looked at recently support both formats...

You should be sorted!

Samson

Originally posted by speedfreak
...so there's no issues at all then?

No PC software issues at all.
Only issues as per what Krusty says.

speedfreak

good stuff! i look forward to getting it next week so! cheers lads

Krusty_Clown

So Speedfreak: Did you get the camera?
Any feedback?

speedfreak

Its in the country since Monday!! But I havent had a chance to pick it up yet (at parents house). Might call over tonight or w/end. Got a 128mb memory card as well. Way cheaper than over here. Will let u know verdict when i get it....

speedfreak

so anyway I got the camera! Well pleased with it! Its very ergonomic and so easy to use. Picture quality is fab. (movies not so hot though, but that could be just my crappy pc). Comes with USB cable and cables that link directly to the TV which then acts as the viewfinder. Deffo recommend it....

Krusty_Clown

In the end, went for the Fuji FinePix F601 from NY Camera, at an absolutely cracking price..

€420, including VAT, Delivery and 3% Credit card commission (as I didn't want to pay c.o.d.)

The unusual thing is, NY Camera have this camera listed on their bargain page for €437. However, if you go through the product menus it's only €388 (possible mis-price somewhere?). Doesn't seem to be any difference between the F601 and the S601.

Amazon lists it at: £379stg (~€560)
B&H: $419 + VAT + Delivery (~€500)

Expensive link
Cheaper link

Or maybe it's all just a ruse to catch-out bargain hunters like myself!

Samson

Originally posted by Krusty_Clown
In the end, went for the Fuji FinePix F601 from NY Camera, at an absolutely cracking price..

I told you so.


Nice spec. enjoy it.

Samson

Originally posted by Krusty_Clown
Doesn't seem to be any difference between the F601 and the S601.

Expensive link
Cheaper link

Or maybe it's all just a ruse to catch-out bargain hunters like myself!

Oops, forgot to mention.
The reason they have two different prices and two different model numbers for what appears to be the exact same camera is:
One model is the official european model (most likely the more expensive) and the other is the (Asian?) import model.

B&H do the same, you will often see two identical models listed at differing prices, they just make it a little clearer that one is an import.

They are known as "grey" imports.
Same warranty period applies, however, you just contact the retailer rather than Fuji directly if something goes wrong with it.

Has the camera arrived yet?
If so, check the documentation to see what market it's supposed to be for.

Remember, even though it is (probably) a "grey" import, you are getting the exact same product, with the same warranty period, all for less money which is always a good thing.

Krusty_Clown

I've bought grey imports before (although usually motor-cycles!), and have no ethical misgivings about doing so... Particularly at €160 cheaper than amazon, and almost €260 cheaper than Irish retail prices!.

As long as the manual has English instructions!

Krusty_Clown

Very good customer service too! They contacted me three times in the 48 hour period after ordering, to make sure I was happy with my order... I would recommend their services..

wobble

If you are willing to buy electronics (or any goods) from the USA then check out froogle

You can search most american online stores here. Enter the product you want and do a search. Then after it comes back with the results you can specify the max and min price you want to spend on the product. It is always worth dropping the price by 1/3 of the rrp in the max field. And I usuall keep dropping the price by $20 and keep searching/dropping price ... searching/dropping price etc. until it no longer returns a value.

For example the Fuji a303 Digital camera costs
€324 rrp.
€284 ny-camera
$180 buydig.com [found by froogle]

Even if you pay the VAT and DUTY it still costs only $220 + del

Happy Froogling!!!

Paddy20

Just a thought that may prove of interest. I have often bought goods from QVCuk.com
They broadcast on satellite via Sky etc and Free to Air.They are online interactive as well. As part of the largest American owned shopping channelsthey have specific programmes and operations based in most EU Countries. If you log on to: www.qvcuk.com
and look for Digital cameras you will usually find a selection at unbeatable prices.

Just my 2cs worth, and no I have no connection with them apart from being one of their millions of very happy customers, who also considers their 30 day trial or return no quibble money back policy!.

P.

innisfree

I find cam-ireland.com very cheap also (they seem to be doing the German thing too). At the moment they're the cheapest source I can find for getting a Canon EOS 10D, apart from trying the harder route of getting it over in Hong Kong or the US.

Krusty_Clown

Hmmm.. FujiFilm F410...
QVCUK: £378+P&P (Sterling)
Cam-Ireland.com: €379 +P&P (euro)

I'd go for the Cam-Ireland prices myself...

Krusty_Clown

I like the sounds of the Fuji FinePix M603 for €429, but the need for a 1GB MicroDrive seems implicit (an extra €250)...

Movies at 30fps at 640x480?? Who needs a cam-corder!
The lack of a view-finder could be a pain in the assets though..

Paddy20

Hmmm, Must check out this Cam-Ireland.com for myself?.. although when checking exactly what QVCUK usually offer always bear in mind that usually they have added extras as part of their price which may not be immediately obvious if you missed the actual TV programme where the item was shown live on air.

P.

Krusty_Clown

Cam-Ireland seems to be cheaper then NYCamera, which is quite an accolade...

I bought my last digital camera (FinePix F601) from NYCamera at a time when it was real bargain... Unfortunately, I lost the damn thing...

Stoopid-me...