Where Do You Buy Your Gear From?

[dan_the_man]

Hi Guys

We can use this thread to recommend photography gear suppliers in your area.

I use - My Camera Focus

He is a local WA boy and is extremely knowledgeable with his products. His prices are fantastic and ships to anywhere in Australia

www.mycamerafocus.com.au

Owned by John Mcloughlin.

[25GTT]

Hmmm glad you posted this Dan,

Mrs is getting quite into taking photos, i bought her one of those lumix digital slr's for christmas and now she wants to go all out. Will probably get her something half decent for this christmas coming up. Will have a look at the website.

Will prob need something around the $600 mark. (if you can get anything half decent for that?)

[dan_the_man]

I'm sure John will help you out.

Other alternative is to buy secondhand. You can get a Nikon D300 for around that amount as a used camera. She would be happy with the features of that for a long time.

[luke gtr]

I'm sure I saw a canon eos550 for about 700 incl lens a jbhifi the other day....

Think they're clearing old stock, might be worth checking out.

Had NIKON too....

[barraspalding]

I usually get my gear from Camerasdirect.com.au.

Couldn't beat there amazing customer service, even when I had a mis-focus issue with a Sigma lens and had to send it back twice, fantastic to deal with.

I dont think their pricing is any better than anywhere else, but good range and have had stock of what I have required.

[Jay019]

another vote for cameras direct. fast postage too

[GoldZilla]

I use a few. If I'm concerned with warranty (especially for camera bodies), then I buy locally and use Digital Camera Warehouse. They've got stores in Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne. A bit more expensive sometimes, but at least I'm covered by warranty. I bought a GoPro off them late last year, and they just had it replaced for me, no issues, due to it not switching on at all.

Buying lenses and most accessories, I buy either from B&H Photo and Video in NYC, or DigitalRev in Hong Kong.

All three stores are very quick for delivery - usually 3 business days, even from NY or HK!

[dan_the_man]

How do you find postage costs of b&h?

[GoldZilla]

Sometimes they're reasonable, sometimes it's almost exhorbitant, Dan. If it's only for one small-sized item, sometimes it's not worth it. It really depends on how quickly I want the item, too - but sometimes you have a few options with the same/similar delivery ETA but a difference in what it will cost to have it sent to you.

If I need a few things at a time and can't make it to a local shop, or if I can get it all from one place together, then I bite the bullet and pay a bit extra if I need to.

[barraspalding]

Wont be dealing with http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/ again, just idiotic.

Thursday (early): Called up for an item, yep its in stock So i go back online and place the order, blah blah, put comments on the order that it was "Advised in stock and a same day despatch would be highly appreciated".

Do the credit card verification (which is stupid) and then recieve an email advising that same day despatch is not possible because the item is in stock at one of their stores and would need to be shipped from Melbourne to Sydney, so they can then despatch it to Adelaide. Gotta be fkn kidding me.

Monday (now): Naturally I assumed this mob would have done the internal movement on the Thursday, and had the item despatched on the Friday. OHHH no no no.. that'd be fkn good customer service. No, I called up and was politely (no really, they were very polite) told that its only now being allocated for despatch and probably should arrive mid week.

I guessed i'm just a whiney spoilt brat after dealing with Cameras Direct and having items delivered in under 24hrs.

[dan_the_man]

Sometimes they're reasonable, sometimes it's almost exhorbitant, Dan. If it's only for one small-sized item, sometimes it's not worth it. It really depends on how quickly I want the item, too - but sometimes you have a few options with the same/similar delivery ETA but a difference in what it will cost to have it sent to you.

If I need a few things at a time and can't make it to a local shop, or if I can get it all from one place together, then I bite the bullet and pay a bit extra if I need to.

I needed some studio equipment in a hurry for a shoot. Tried to buy locally buy they were double the price and 3 week wait.

Bought it from B&H and it arrived 3 days later.

Can't complain!

For cameras and lenses I use mycamerafocus.com.au though. He has superb prices and delivers to my door.

[Rob260]

Hi Guys

We can use this thread to recommend photography gear suppliers in your area.

I use - My Camera Focus

He is a local WA boy and is extremely knowledgeable with his products. His prices are fantastic and ships to anywhere in Australia

www.mycamerafocus.com.au

Owned by John Mcloughlin.

Anyone know if this guy is still trading? I tried to get in touch last Wednesday (confirming stock availability) after reading the reccomendation on this site but so far he hasn't responded to the phone message I left (called the mobile number listed on the front page of his site) or replied to the email that I sent (again using contact info from his website).... I'm buying a 5D so probably not the biggest order he's seen but not chump change either!

Edited August 27, 2012 by Rob260

[Rob260]

Anyone know if this guy is still trading? I tried to get in touch last Wednesday (confirming stock availability) after reading the reccomendation on this site but so far he hasn't responded to the phone message I left (called the mobile number listed on the front page of his site) or replied to the email that I sent (again using contact info from his website).... I'm buying a 5D so probably not the biggest order he's seen but not chump change either!

NVM got back to me via email today. Seems like a top bloke but have already placed an order elsewhere, i'll have to buy a lens from him down the track to make up for it

[dan_the_man]

Sometimes he goes fishing

[barraspalding]

Went into B&H today, to say the least, it's very overwhelming.

If you want the 'amazing customer service experience', don't bother. It's all pure business and with the number of customer they have move through their doors you can understand why. Its an impressive store, moreso when I read that over 70% of their business is online ordering from a 200,000 sq feet (18,580.6 sq m, 4.5 acres) warehouse in Brooklyn. Bought some filters and a flash bounce.

Also went into Adorama the other day, quite small in comparison to B&H but a good store. Picked up a great bargain on a set of Audio Technik noise canceling headphones, a mini tripod and a stylus for te tablet. Thanks to their little clerical error on their system I scored all the items for less than the listed price of the headphones.

And I can get another $50 rebate from the manufacturer directly via mail yay

[chiragaegis]

Yep. I was just telling someone this the other day during a discussion about what used to be the best mom and pop store in town. GC coming to town didn't close it, the internet did.

[aaiezz]

I've pretty much bought my gear from all over the place from eBay to second hand dealers and airport duty free spots when traveling around. Over the years I've gone through a few broken lenses like my 24-105L that was the victim of a sand storm, a 50 1.8 that some guy stepped on as it rolled out my camera bag, my 10-20 that fell as broke In two right before a shoot and a few other heart breaking stories. It really doesn't matter any more where you get your gear from so long as it performs and does the job you want it to. Gear comes and goes, if the shot you needed to take was there a the end of the day that's all that matters.

That said, the guys at digitalcamerawarehouse in Sydney are roll isn't with their prices and service. I'd trust them with my money hands down.

[89CAL]

Has noone used eGlobal? I bought my 7D platinum kit from them for near half the aus RRP. Then bought a zoom USM canon lense not long ago much cheaper then aus prices. Purchased thursday, recieved the next tuesday. Been great to deal with. No issues

[niZmO_Man]

I've used eGlobal before. They're fine.