what digital SLR camera to get from USA?

sam1970

my cousin who lives in the states is coming to visit me soon and asked me if i want her to get me anything from the states. i have been thinking of getting a digital SLR camera and i thought i should be able to get a good deal from america. any recommendations please about the best deals available and from which sellers....not fussy about the brand (canon, sony, nikon).

trcooke

You should take the time to make an informed decision here about what camera you want to get. Buying a DSLR for the first time is an investment in a manufacturers system so you need to make sure that you get the one that's best for you. For instance, I chose Canon and now I'm tied into the Canon EOS system for lenses, flash etc etc. To change to a Nikon, say, would be a considerable expense.

If you're really not fussy about which brand to go for then I might suggest that a DSLR is not the right product for you. Perhaps look at the 'bridge' cameras that are a middle ground between a compact camera and a DSLR.

The States is definitely the place to get it from, you'll make savings wherever your cousin gets it from.

isofa

The savings aren't as great as people think on electronic gear, the pound is falling all the time. However the more expensive cameras will have better savings.

Remember most states also have a purchase tax to add to the price, and technically you are supposed to declare when you arrive back in the UK, paying additional taxes.

Check prices at www.camerapricebuster.co.uk for UK prices then search US dealers (in the state/city your cousin lives) to see after exchange rates what the best deals are.

trcooke gives some good advice! If you aren't fussy about the brand you haven't done your homework. You need to work out what sort of camera you want, then narrow it down with reviews, have a look in the newsagents at comparative tests.
DSLRs are the most flexible, but if you are just a snapper and not into photography you'll never get the best out of them.

Some links to get you started:
https://www.dpreview.com
https://www.steves-digicams.com
https://www.cameralabs.com

Fifer

isofa wrote: »

technically you are supposed to declare when you arrive back in the UK, paying additional taxes.

Legally too, more to the point.

isofa

Fifer wrote: »

Legally too, more to the point.

Absolutely but I wasn't going to press the point

davetrousers

Just a thought, how do you intend to pay your cousin?

mustrum_ridcully

Then there is the issue of the warranty. If it's a US one then you might have difficulty getting it repaired under the warranty in the UK.

It's not unknown for people to end-up sending their dSLR kit via courier when it breaks down to the US, Singapore... thus wiping out any saving they made.

Oh and finally are you sure you really need a dSLR? Are you aware that dust particles can stick to the "sensor" and you may end up paying to get it cleaned or cleaning it yourself? Yes a lot of dSLRs have an anti-dust mechanism, but stuff like pollen has a nasty habit of sticking and needing a wet clean to get it off.

sam1970

thank you guys for all replies...i am actually a novice and not an experienced photographer and thats why i was looking for advice....i might have to change my plans after reading your comments

gaming_guy

what about a bridge camera?

zzzLazyDaisy

Have a look at the panasonic fx18, it is an amazing piece of kit, 8 mega pixels with a leica lens, and a zoom that goes from wide angle to 18x zoom.

The quality of the photos is fantastic, so much better than my canon powershot compact (also 8 megapixel).

It has image stabilizer (anti shake) and face detection. You can choose to leave it on 'intelligent-auto' or use aperture priority, shutter priority or full manual settings.

I am well pleased with mine (can you tell??)

trcooke

My Dad bought a Sony H Series camera and he loves it. I can't remember exactly which one he has.