Buying Cameras online

[rockin-photos]

I'm in the market for a new camera, and while searching online, I came across a couple of site that looked "too good to be true". But, they seem to have good reviews and feedback (unless it's bogus). Does anyone here have any experience with:
Photo Dynasty or Sonic Cameras?

Thanks

[CFord]

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Photo_Dynasty

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Sonic_Cameras

Might want to think twice.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by rockin-photos

I'm in the market for a new camera, and while searching online, I came across a couple of site that looked "too good to be true". But, they seem to have good reviews and feedback (unless it's bogus). Does anyone here have any experience with:
Photo Dynasty or Sonic Cameras?

Thanks

I always go to www.resellerratings.com for primary source of info about online dealers.

photodynasty has a rating of .56 out of 10.0 ( they are scammers )
soniccamera has a rating of 1.22 out of 10.0 ( they are crooks ).

I hope that no one here has dealt with them.
That is my final answer.

[Jeff_Green]

Give you an idea of their tactics and how they upsell...

I just bought a lens from Arlington Camera. I paid $550 for a Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 with filter. I could have purchased it cheaper online somewhere, I am sure but I wanted to feel it and try a couple... anyways... Photo Dynasty is offering the same lens for $999. They try and sell you a camera body for really cheap and then jack up the prices on lenses and accessories (including what should come with the basic camera body kit.

[LDB]

Look at Adorama, Cameta, Beach, and B&H online. They are honest and reputable. Don't worry or get sucked in to trying to squeeze the last few dollars. If you can't afford one of those 4 then you can't afford it period and need to wait and save up more money. These guys are in it for the long haul and offer reasonable legitimate prices. I'd also recommend Houston Camera Exchange and Camera Co-Op as good sources. They're a little more expensive because of overhead but you also get the benefit of hands on as well as knowledgeable advice. That's definitely worth something as well.

[johnastovall]

Adorama is on my be careful list. They were the only dealer in the U.S. with a B+W 72mm IR Cut in stock. They charged as much shipping as Popflash does for Express. I was notified it would ship in 2-3 days. Three weeks later no filter, calls to customer service not answered or not returned, put on hold and never gotten back to. The filter showed up 5 weeks after ordering in first class mail with a post mark of three days before.

My top camera stores are Amazon (when it's Amazon LLC not a pardner), B&H, PopFlash and that's it.

[adam75south]

i pretty much buy everything online. as long as you check pricegrabber ratings on them or resellerratings you'll be fine. i bought my sigma 30 1.4 for $365(at the time)...$65 cheaper than b&h and about $120 cheaper than retail from www.47stphoto.com which seemed way too good to be true...but it was true.

[groovyone]

ALWAYS check BBB.org. Many of those sites are complete scams.

[Angelo]

I stick with Adorama and B&H.
In the last 2 years I've never had a problem.

[lhdvies]

All these on-line stores operate on a very close margin, so if you see an item where a price is consistant among several stores (like B&H, buydig.com, etc{the good ones}) and some other stores where prices are 5-10 % less, you can assume the 5-10% ones are cutting you short somewhere and you will be right.
One caveat about reseller ratings is that some time back I bought cameras from Butterfly Camera and also US1 Camera(also known as US1 Photo) which both had reseller ratings of 9.7 or higher with more than 2000 reviews. Neither of them supplied what their website said they would (and not what Canon called for), returning was not an option without restocking fees.

[bht-kevin]

CanogaCamera.com is really great. Better reseller rating than B&H and I've haven't had a problem with them. Really good prices also.

[toverman]

I've always been happy with B&H. When you ask a question, they actually give you an answer. Downside: if you have to return something, and this is the case at several e-tailers, you'll pay a restocking fee.