You point out 1 advantage of buying locally..

Another... if you support the store, it may still be there the next time you want to purchase something related to your photography..

Another... depending on just how busy the store is, you may find someone there that can actually help you understand your gear and photography in general..

Another... there is no substitute for being able to get your hands on a bit of gear prior to making a purchase. What looks good online may be totally unsuitable in person. You could always go to the big-box electronics store to play with a few bodies, but the selection of accessories like tripods and heads is almost non-existent at such a place, whereas the local store will most likely have at least a few brands and price levels available..

An online store has much less overhead than a brick and mortar shop, and can pass that savings on to the customer. There is that advantage. You also have to factor in shipping to the price, and the hassle factor if there is a problem. Only you can really answer how much difference it makes..

Crime Scene PhotographyA small gallery of personal work: http://picasaweb.google.com/PID885..

It may depend on the store you buy from - I've always prefered to buy photo gear from photo specific stores. They're more likely to have knowledge about the particular product, and how to work with it. I'm not the greatest fan of Ritz Camera, for example, but you're more likely to find a knowledgeable person there than at WalMart, Target, et al..

You might be OK with BestBuy - I've heard horror stories, but the ones who work at the one near me ( Gainesville, Fl ) seem to have an idea about what they're talking about with electronics. I don't know their knowledge with photo gear. Got a good small chain here ( Harmon's ) for that...

Personally, I always buy online. For camera bodies, there's not much variability in the spec, so unless it's a complete dud (not often), you won't have any problems with buying online. Even in that case, for big stores like Amazon or B&H and others, returning/exchanging a defective product is a breeze..

There are a few other advantages of buying at a store, as others have mentioned. If you know nothing about the camera, people at the store can help you. But there may not be much chance if the associates are busy, and in all my experiences with photo associates, the vast vast majority of them (greater than 70% probably) have no idea what they're talking about. You'll find far better advice and better instruction on this forum..

The other is testing out the equipment. With bodies, you might try this at just about any store - even Best Buy has bodies on display these days. As I've said, there's not much variability in bodies, so when you buy one, just buy one - there's no testing out for a 'sharp copy' of a camera body..

This is an entirely different matter for lenses, however, which sometimes are highly variable, especially if the quality-control in manufacturing is not great (Sigma). You might want to go to a store to test out a few versions for a 'good copy' of a lens before you buy. However, at least with Canon-made and Tamron-brand lenses, I've found all of them to be wonderfully close to spec. Sigma is a bit more iffy, and I can't speak for any other brands...

If you're confident that you've selected the product you want, then buy online. You spend a little on shipping but you don't pay sales tax, and you can get some great deals..

Make sure you're buying from somewhere reputable, I use BHPhoto.com and I also hear a lot of great reviews from Adorama.com.

These places will have good return/exchange policies. Again, you'll spend some money on shipping but chances are you won't have to deal with this anyway..

Now the other end of the spectrum..

If you want help, in any way, use a brick and mortor store..

They can help you select the right product for you. They can help show you how to use it. They often have classes and seminars to assist newer users and even advanced users.They are also much more customer service orientated. They have to be..

-Porter..

Oceanofapathy wrote:.

If you want help, in any way, use a brick and mortor store.They can help you select the right product for you. They can helpshow you how to use it. They often have classes and seminars toassist newer users and even advanced users.They are also much more customer service orientated. They have to be..

I disagree with this. If you find a good place, yes, but I'm finding these to be few and far between. Most all of the sales associates I meet either a) don't know anything about photography, b) are/were film photographers, and don't know much about digital, or c) are brand fanatics who aggressively push their own brand/system..

Most of them are not 'customer service oriented', which is why the brick and mortar stores are a fast dying breed...

The best things I have found about buying locally at a camera store are:.

1, You can take hold of what you are buying as there is no substitute for holding the camera..

2, You can have a chat, take advantage of their expertise and compare models side by side..

3, My local camera store offers part exchange..

4, I was first introduced/accompanied to the store I get my gear from by a local pro who is a friend of my fathers. As a result of the introduction when I wanted to get a new lens I was allowed to put it on my camera and have a wander around the town take a few photos and check them out on my computer at home to dedide if the lens suited me...

I'll generally pay a little more for a store that can give good advice and isn't part of a big chain. If I don't need the advice, or the only nearby option is a big corporate chain, then I'm after the lowest $$$$ I can find..

That applies to everything, not just photography..

Andy..

If you buy online, do your research and make sure you are getting the same stuff you get at a local store..

See this URL:.

Http://forums.dpreview.com/...forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=24506969.

I bought two lenses through Amazon figuring I could trust them. However, they simply farm the orders out to their partners/vendors who have shipped me lenses that do not come with a valid USA warranty (I only noticed that the orders were not direct from amazon after I had bought)..

Amazon does have a 100% money back guarantee, but I have to wait a week before I can even initiate that process..

I have heard adorama and B&H are good, but buyer beware online is all I can say at this point as I am the one left chasing down what I already paid for .....

Having someone who will go to bat for you with the company if you have trouble is worth it by itself. You will also find your local store probably is a good place to go back and get real answers to your questions. What if you have trouble right before a big event? A good local store can probably help you out.Helping your local economy doesn't hurt either..

JohnnyB2 wrote:.

I am ready to purchase a new DSLR. If I buy online I can save $80. Isit worth it to pay more and buy locally from a chain? My only worrieswould be if something were wrong with the product I could just driveback to the store..

Thanks,John.

Chris, Broussard, LA..

RhysM wrote:.

4, I was first introduced/accompanied to the store I get my gear fromby a local pro who is a friend of my fathers. As a result of theintroduction when I wanted to get a new lens I was allowed to put iton my camera and have a wander around the town take a few photos andcheck them out on my computer at home to dedide if the lens suited me..

Try that out at your internet store!.

Yes, a local store may send off your body for warranty work if you bought it online, but if you just bought it, a brick and mortar store may exchange the body and fight with the company for a replacement. In person. B&H has good prices, but they can't do that while you wait in your local town. Before your daughters 2nd brithday party, for instance..

Chris, Broussard, LA..

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to use a Canon 20D with an EF-S17-85mm for about six months. This gave me ample time to assess Canon's product quality, before my final decision. Needless to say, I was impressed. I purchased a new 30D with their excellent 17-55 lens..

It's probably right at the top end of the scale, but I wouldn't think twice about paying $80 more to shop at a "real" store - for all the reasons given above..

- Or, more accurately, probably up to 8-10% of the price. In my experience the local pro store was able to match and beat online prices without batting an eyelid. (But that's in Australia, and as I have said in another thread, I think conditions are different here.).

Other people have talked about the good and the bad - let's even it out - all other things being equal, a good local store beats a gooc online store every day of the week for convenience, service, and the chance to try things out, etc..

Of course a "bad" local store isn't as good as even a halfway good online store. But comparing apples with apples - no contest..

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As mentioned by others, I think it's worth spending more, but not from a chain/big box store, but from a local camera shop. It's worth supporting a specialty store where the salespeople know what they're talking about and the store stocks a greater variety of gear...

Gentlmen, thanks for all the great replies. I visited a local camera store and told them what was up. They came close but couldn't meet the web prices. They had very helpful and had everything I wanted in stock so I bought from them. I have no regrets..

Thanks again,John..