Hi, popped over from the Oz forum.

I'm going to be staying in LA (Burbank) for a week very shortly, and wondered if anyone could point me in the direction of a good digital camera shop or two. I'm interested in the Nikon D40X and want to try before I buy, hence needing a good shop, rather than a web store.

We have a car and know LA's freeways pretty well so can drive anywhere.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Buzzy

Don't know whether Costco sell it (you have to be a member) but it's the only store I know of that doesn't charge a 15% restocking fee for returning cameras.

Thanks - I won't be in LA long enough to worry about a restocking fee!

Buzzy

http://www.ritzcamera.com/ Ritz Camera is a national chain, with a place in Burbank. Not sure if they will carry your higher end models or not.

There is also best buy and circuit city, which are located pretty much everywhere.

Is there a Frys near Burbank??? Hang on....Yeah! There is. You have to go to Frys. It's--well--it has to be experienced. Think your basic chain computer store, on steroids. You want motherboards? Tons. Memory modules (in cases). You want Solar Panels--they got them. Remote controlled web cams on remote controlled cars--yup. Geek paradise basically.

http://www.frys.com/

http://shop4.outpost.com/template/he...s/D2StoreHours

I think the online stores have really socked it to the small camera shops. The big high-end models are mostly bought online causing a huge profit hit to the mom and pop places.

Not so many bricks and mortar shops selling cameras these days. Those that do sell a handful of models and if you're looking for a higher end camera, the average shop selling cameras may only sell a couple.

Most digital camera shopping is probably done online these days, even from retails stores that have a website. With lower overheads and perhaps charging no sales tax, prices onlin will be better than retail.

Bestbuy stock it ..
http://www.bestbuy.com

You can't try it out...and if you return it they charge you 15%.

samys camera is where you want to go..
take a look at the pentax k10d or k100 or k110. Better build, weather sealing and you get in camera image stabilisation..

Best Buy usually has it...so try there...and circuit city...

The Fry's in Burbank is OK... the Fry's in Woodland Hills is WAY better and its only a few miles down the 101 (get off at Canoga and turn right, you can't miss it).

you have a couple of choices.
You can go and look at the camera in best buy then buy it online from somewhere like newegg.com which will almost certainly be cheaper and you wont be tempted/pursaded/forced/coerced into buying some highly overpriced 'accessories' by the best buy or circuit city salespeople. Be aware that you will almost certainly be majorly hassled as they dont really care about what you want, just selling you those overpriced accessories and useless warranties.
You could go to samys camera which is a real camera shop where they can give real advice, will give you time to properly look at the camera and alternatives and they know what they are talking about. You may or may not pay more than bestbuy but at least these are generally people who know what they are talking about.
Or you could just buy it online. without seeing it.
All digital slrs the d40, the rebel, the pentax etc. are excellent cameras and take good pictures. The canon is very light and plasticky in the hand, the nikon is a little more substantial and the pentax the most hefty. If you have used canon before and liked the interface then you may want to go that way, likewise with nikon. I liked the nikon but physically the camera didnt fit in my hand. The pentax fit me perfectly so I bought it! Just remember that more megapixels does not equal better camera/better picture etc.

Thanks everyone - a few great ideas which I wasnt aware of.

Buzzy

since you're going to be in Burbank - someone mentioned Samy's - Pasadena is probably closest plus you can have a look around old town which is nice:

http://www.samys.com/

And the Fry's on Hollywood Way just before Burbank Airport (coming from the South) is also worth a look, even if just to gawp at the insane experience that is Fry's to begin with. Don't buy anything there which has a sticker on the box saying that the product is good as new, etc. - it means someone has taken it home, messed around with it and returned it for whatever reason:

http://www.outpost.com/