Jun 19, 2009
Im In The Market For A Dslr Camera, Should I Buy It Before Christmas Or After Christmas? Which Sale Is Bigger?
i wanted to buy a dslr camera (canon rebel xti or nikon d40x) and was wondering will i get a better discount/deal for the before christmas sale or after christmas sale. any input appreciated.
Ahem. “Gray” cameras from Nikon or Canon are not plastic versions of metal cameras sold in the USA. Rather, they are identical cameras that have NOT been brought into the country by official import channels. Since Nikon and Canon do not have any control or share of the distribution, they refuse to provide the same level of support and service. It would be like you buying something from one store, and expecting another store to help you with how to use your new item, or expecting free adjustments. Gray market cameras are physically identical (except for the occasional label), but have not earned warranty or after warranty support. Example: Nikon will never repair a gray market Nikon in the USA, even if you offer to pay in full.
My advise for buying a camera? Buy it now. Trust me, there are huge discounts now for your Canon Rebel XTi or Nikon D40x. Yes, there will be some discounts after Xmas, but there’s two major concerns.
1. You may be buying a camera that someone got as a gift, and returned. The stores will “check” them, and put them back on the shelf.
2. You’ll miss all the great photos for the next few weeks. Missed photos are lost photos.
In either case,since you’ve narrowed your choices down, I make one strong recommendation. Go into a camera store and try both camera bodies out. See which one suits your hands, your style, and feels most like an extension of you. More bells and whistles mean nothing if the camera gets in the way of your photography.
Hope this is helpful.
after xmas
You can get good deals both before and after Christmas. Make sure when you search for the best price that you ask the site whether the camera is a USA model.
Apparently cameras are made in a cheaper plastic version that is for sale in other countries. You find a price that is about 1/2 the price as all the other cameras, but they are gray market plastic non-USA cameras. So be careful! Try to get them to confirm in an e-mail that you are getting a certain model USA version camera.
I just went through this when I bought a camera for my husband so be careful!!
You can also go to the Canon and the Nikon site and look for a refurbished camera. You can get these at a great price but make sure they give you the same warranty as the new cameras!
after