cheapest place to buy dslr bodies: Nikon D70s / Canon EOS 20d/350D

Anyone has any suggestions on buying these camera bodies
for cheap?

D70s
EOS20d
350D

Here is the best i can find for now,

1] D70s - $529
(from : http://www.turbobuys.com/index.php?action=item&id=2781569)

2] EOS350d - $569 (from:
http://www.usaphotonation.com/products.asp?product_id=11857&engine=froogle)

But usaphotonation is reputedly a very bad vendor, the next pricing I
have
is around $720.

3] EOS 20d - $900
(http://shop.vendio.com/jepcaru/item/788413937/?s=1121854370)

Anyone has any better pointers to purchase these bodies?

Thanks,
--j

 

2] EOS350d - $569 (from:

That price doesn't count because they'd never ship one out at that price.
They may as well quote you $3.50.

ef

 

I guess the $720 is a more realistic price...Where do the pro's here
buy their cams from? What kind of prices.

Thanks,
--j

 

Most people seem to like:
www.bhphotovideo.com (B&H Photo)
www.andorama.com (Andorama)
I've ordered from both of the above with good results (many more times from
B&H, though)

I've also had good luck with:
www.beachcamera.com (Beach Camera, they also do business as www.buydig.com)
www.flashpointcameras.com (17th St. Camera)

Not known for price, but good dealers nonetheless are:
www.calumetphoto.com (Calumet Photo)
www.porters.com (Porters Camera)

Some people shy away from:
www.focuscamera.com (Focus Camera, they seem to get it confused with Abe's
Camera)
but I've ordered some stuff (usually small stuff like Hoya filters) from
them with no problems at all

Hope that gets you started...of course YMMV and I'd always advise checking
www.resellerratings.com
first to see if your proposed vendor happens to be headed on a downward
spiral OR is drastically improving.

Sorry for commercial info...but maybe it'll cut down on some of the postings
that "ZYX Camera Shysters has
the latest Nikon/Canon dSLR for $1.50 including an 8GB CF card...please tell
me that it is a good deal and btw,
is shipping normally $3500?" sort of postings that seem to be SO prevalent
here.

George

 

"Pro's" usually buy a camera from a place that also provides service, not
the cheapest scam shop on the internet.

 

I guess. If you buy a nikon or canon, do you really require service?
I used to have a P&S canon for 3 years (got stolen), and never had
any problems with it.

 

Those prices seem WAY too good to be true. Which usually means...
Try Cameta Camera. They are all over Ebay and they are VERY
competitive and trustworthy.

Ben

 

Unless you want to clean it yourself, you will need service. Some have
luck doing it, others with heavy hands such as myself, require
assistance.

Ben

 

I guess. If you buy a nikon or canon, do you really require service?

I've got an old Minolta X-1 that still performs as it should. Still have a
Minolta 500si that also performs as it did when new (not that it gets much
use these days however)

"Most" camera's will perform as expected for years if treated well.

Toa

 

I guess that I need service. If I pay $790 (or $7900) for a camera where
*quality* is the primary factor, I really do need service. If I have a
problem, I just walk up to my friendly camera store where they will clean
the camera, or maybe offer a temporary replacement if they have to ship it
to Canon/Nikon if it's broken. I wouldn't compare it with a P&S. And I
wouldn't order a DSLR online to save 10% ... but maybe that's just me.

-Manuel

 

Oh look! Another for me to go get a picture of:

Registrant:
Chakie Chan
2677 Coney Island
Brooklyn, New York 11223

Administrative Contact:
Bellorusha, Sasha
2380 Coney Island Ave.
Brooklyn, New York 11223

I find on their site "Previously IBUYDIG.com"

Don <www.donwiss.com> (e-mail link at home page bottom).

 

It's not a matter of buying online or not -- it's a matter of buying
from an authorized retailer. As long as you buy from an authorized
retailer with a USA warranty, you can get service anywhere.

 

Thank you for clarifying that. What's still not clear to me is the word
"anywhere": if I buy from an authorized US retailer that gives me a US
warranty, can I send my lens/camera for repair to Canon/Nikon in Switzerland
as well, or do I need to ship back to the US?

-Manuel

 

Calumet if mail-order, or Tempe Camera if local. Others really like Ad-orama
[?], and B&H, but I have never used them. Calumet has good, albeit not GREAT
prices, however they ALWAYS follow through, with no selling-up and good tech
advice. Same for the local shop, but you'd need to be in AZ/US to buy there.
Prices good, stock good, friendly, knowledgable salespeople.

Do a Google.Group search of this, and other photo-releated NGs, and see some
real horror stories and caveats on on-line photo buying. Many people also
suggest www.resellers.com for a check on the store/business.

Remember, especially with on-line buying the "best price" is not necessarily
the BEST PRICE.

Hunt

 

You would probably need to ship it back.
However, there's an easy way to find the authorized answer: ask Canon.

 

I've bought two cameras from butterflyphoto.com and got both for
incredibly low prices...my dRebel w/ kit lens was $620 a few months
ago. Bear in mind, they WILL call you up after you place your order
and try to sell you $2000 in extras, but they take no for an answer
eventually. I'd just place my order on the phone in the first
place...and repeat after me: "no, I don't need that. no, I don't need
that. no, I don't need that..."

 

I've been told that here in New Zealand, Canon is a franchise - and as such
if the camera wasn't bought through Canon NZ then they won't consider
warranty issues on cameras. I'm also told that lenses are a different story,
and are covered.

Possibly (probably?) the same elsewhere?

=----

 

I've been told that here in New Zealand, Canon is a franchise - and as

I purchased an Olympus P&S from an American supplier (it saved me a few
bucks at the time). But it developed a fault. Olympus NZ didn't want to
know about it so I had to send it back to USA for repair. Olympus USA did
the repair just fine but it took me 2+ months before I got it back.

Toa

 

They look ok, but not the cheapest resellers
Thanks for the pointer thou, at least one can buy
at these baseline prices.

--j

 

And there are non-scam online dealers that provide the same gear as a
local dealer at lower prices. My D70 Kit was $200 less.