When to pull the trigger?

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Jim Miller

Jim Miller

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I'm shopping for a new camera, which currently has a "street price" of about $1,200. I've been watching since before Christmas, and the prices have not changed much, but a few of the major retailers are 'temporarily out of stock'. I would prefer to buy from a local small business, such as Midwest Photo Exchange, but a major online retailer, such as B&H, would be OK, too.

Some say prices for consumer electronics take a dip in February and March, around the time that exhausted holiday inventories are replenished. Supposedly, that is when retailers try to maintain sales in the winter 'dead spot', between the holidays and the active summer season.

Do you have any experience with this theory? Should I buy now, or wait a month or two for better sale prices? I'm in no particular hurry, but would hate to buy now and find prices $100-$200 less next month.
 
When you planned to buy in that price-class you must have enough experience with your current camera and getting the best out it. I have two remarks:

- When you are a current photographer you have no weight on your neck to upgrade. You know exact what you like to have new and investigate price-development till now.

- For me personally I can work with a pretty basic camera and invest in a better objective. Lenses are pretty steep but more important as the camera.
 
Prices are not likely to change much unless a "replacement" model comes out. Even then, that doesn't always work as sometimes the "replacement" is touted as being a cheaper alternative, even when it's actually an upgrade that they are able to make cheaper because of newer technology but they know some people will still pay more for the older one because it has a proven track record, or some arcane reason. I just bought a Nikon D7000 from Adorama in that price range, (they were a bit more but the cheapest place I could find that actually had it in stock). If that's the camera you're looking at and can get it for $1200 I'd say go for it. I love mine!
 
The Yen v the Dollar is strengthening every day, the likelihood of the Yen weakening soon is very doubtful.
 
I think trying to guess the market on cameras and electronics is a lot like trying to guess the stock market. In your position, I would call up Midwest and see what they have to say. I do a fair amount of business with them, and find them to be straight-shooters.

You might also want to consider that the CES show is in a few weeks. It is not the game-changer it used to be, but prices and inventory might change then. This might result in higher or lower prices.

One thing I can be pretty sure of is that as a result of some corollary to Murphy's Law you WILL see it for less after you make the purchase. My feeling is that you should just get it when you want it for the best deal you can make that day, and don't look back.
 
I buy new camera equipment when I get a job that needs the new equipment and will pay for it. I bought new in August last and as the seller offered price protection for 4 months I watched prices - max change in 4 months was 10 bucks less and I let it go - would have spent more than 10 dollars in time and effort.
 
The best time to buy is always a few weeks after you have made the purchase. :shutup:
 
Or you can screw the B&M store downtown, just like Internet buyers screw framers and print shops: ask the store clerks if they know when prices will drop, then buy off the Internet. Use the locals, buy from a distance.
 
I bought my new camera from a store 2 blocks from my store.

I only do business with businesses that do business with me.

It was a competitive price but if it had been a couple of hundred more I would have still come out ahead - the photo shop sends a lot of work my way.

My town.
 
Jim, as I recall your looking at a 60D. Have you considered that 600D also know that at T3I Rebel? This is what I just "upgraded" to. I also have a 40D which is considered a step up from the Rebel, but the T3I has many many more features then my 40D. One thing about the T3I compared to the 60D is that it can be had body only for $600+-.
 
I've been researching the 60D and checked it on some review sites including dpreview and it seem like a great camera. I would buy one immediately if money was available.

My theory about buying/prices is simple and based on the fact that items of technology become cheaper as time passes. If you wait until it's the cheapest price ever, it will be at the time it has been superceded by a better model. So do you buy it then and be envious of the features of the new model or wait until the new model becomes almost obsolete so you get it for the cheapest price ever?

The answer, for me, is....buy it when I have the money to spend, but shop around for a good price from a local business if possible. Stay away from gray importers!

After I have made the purchase, I am not concerned if it becomes cheaper. That is almost inevitable, anyway!
 
actually a good time to buy canon, is when they are running their cashback deals

which happen quite often

i think the next update will be the 5D rather than the 60

theres a big jump between the 60d and the 7d in terms of what the camera can do. iso performance etc
 
stcstc said:
theres a big jump between the 60d and the 7d in terms of what the camera can do. iso performance etc
Click to expand...
There's also a big jump in physical size and weight and most of all - cost! Some say it's quite a difficult camera to handle too.

A friend has a 7D and it's apparently very good in low light and other areas. It's outside my budget!
 
its not much bigger than a 60d though is it?, i have a 40D and its similar in size to the 7d

mind on all 3 of my DSLR camera i have battery grips anyway, i find it more stable because of the wheight

these cameras are not heavy in comparrison with the big lenes anyway like the 300 2.8 etc

the 7d is stunning in low light, i just shot a swimming gala recently and transmitted the pictures wirelessly to the reception area, shooting at iso 3200/6400 on a 70-200 2.8 is and they rocked

the other major diff is the autofocus, one of the best i have used is the 7d
 
It's only 105 grams heavier than the 60D, but 290 grams heavier than the 600D.

The 7D is an awesome camera. $2200-2400 compared to 60D - $1200-1500 down here!
 
ah sorry i mis understood i was comparing with the 60d

it is worth the difference, the price i mean.

the 7d is a way different animal, its worth paying the differentce just for the autofocus and the better image processor. but there are sooooo many more things

my next camera will be a 1DX so i dont have to have a full frame and a crop camera for different things
 
I started out looking at the T3i and bumped my interest up to the 60-D because of the better sensor and its performance. For one thing, life expectancy for the 60D is 100,000 clicks, versus 50,000 clicks for the T3i. By the numbers, the 60D is a much stronger camera.

The 60D is a plastic-cased consumer camera, and not considered even close to being a professional grade device. But it should do everything I need, and probably has more capabilities than I will ever use.

The holiday sale prices and rebate deals are gone now, and several of the major sellers have run out of the 60D bodies and/or kits. Apparently they are still trying to recover production in Japan. So, I will probably wait until the new stock comes, which ought to be in a month or two. Meanwhile, I will keep watching for a deal.
 
I recently sold my lightly-used 5D Mark II body on eBay for about $1600 and my 40D for about $600. (I kept a 50D for my every day camera and a Rebel XS for my I-might-drop-it-in-the-lake-so-the-50D-is-staying-home camera.)

I've had no experience with the 60D, so I'm not sure what my point is, exactly.
 
FrameMakers said:
When you go through the lists, they stack up almost identically with the exception of body size and price.
Click to expand...
Other areas where the 60D is ahead of the 600D are:

"Environmentally sealed" - Water and dust resistant
Battery life 1100 CIPA vs 440 CIPA.
Continuous drive 5.3fps vs 3.7fps
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 sec vs 1/4000 sec
Viewfinder magnification is also better.
 
Yes Osgood, but in my defense, I did say "almost" :)

I don't know if any of these factors are worth the $600 increase. The 60D is an older model and most of it's features ended up in the slightly newer 600D.
 
Dave, I haven't exactly given up on the T3i, and I will buy one if that turns out to be my best deal. Like the D60, the T3i would do everything I need to do.

As you say, the kit prices are significantly different. The D60 is about $350 more than the T3i. The EF-S 18-55 lens that comes with the T3i is no big deal; it sells for about $200 separately. The EF-S 18-135 lens that comes with the D60 is much better and sells for about $450 separately. But either way, I'm not sure I would ever use the kit lens.

My Canon EF-S 17-85 lens is a good one, so I really don't need to buy a kit. For a body only, the price difference is about $250-$275 more for the D60. Considering the difference of value for the kit lenses, that is the effective price difference of the kits, as I see it today.

But I'm in no hurry and will consider all the choices available from reputable sellers. I would prefer to buy from our local Midwest Camera Exchange, and they will often match prices from B&H, Adorama, and other well-known dealers. Decisions, decisions...
 
The Rebels use a mirror thing instead of a real prism. The D60 has an actual pentaprism. I have Rebel and a D60 and find the D60 viewfinder far better in low light.
 
FrameMakers said:
I don't know if any of these factors are worth the $600 increase. The 60D is an older model and most of it's features ended up in the slightly newer 600D.
Click to expand...
Down here the difference is only $200, which I think is not much extra to pay for the differences.
I certainly would not pay an extra $600 and maybe not an extra $350.
 
For that price range, I would put in another vote for the D7000. More of a "pro-sumer" camera that you will grow into over time. Lots of good reviews, though there was a waiting list to get one since the demand was so high. Ken Rockwell has an informative web page on this cam, along with many other brands.
I bought mine last summer, and have started shooting more digital than film since. Being able to use all my old Nikon film lenses was a big plus. I recently photographed a house that was renovated (also did the 60+ framed pieces), using the D7000 and a couple sync'd strobes. Magazine quality shots, and the interior designer was very pleased. I LOVE this camera!
Sometimes buying a re-furbished cam can knock off a few hundred (same warranty, complete check-up, etc...). Even still, a $1200 business expense that will last at least 5 years will only cost you $20 / month.
Whatever you end up getting, take the time to learn all it's nifty features, and use it to your advantage.
 
dectrola, you might have skipped over the part that Jim is looking for a body only canon since he already owns some very high quality canon lenses. Switching to Nikon would be quite expensive since it would also require changing his glass.
 
I recently traded one of my customers for a Nikon D200 body. I already have a couple of Nikon lenses from my FE film-shooting days. The D200 is an older model by today's latest-greatest standard, but it's way beyond the point-and-shoot digitals I have been using.
:cool: Rick
 
The week before WCAF I won an eBay auction on a Canon 60D kit with the EF-S18-135 mm lens; a USA model, new, unopened box, with full USA warranty. Good price. It arrived while we were at the trade show.

I didn't realize how much difference a good camera can make. I thought my EOS Rebel XTi was a pretty good picture taker, but it couldn't hold a candle to this 60D. If you are a consumer, serious hobbyist, or semi-pro looking for semi-pro results or better, I highly recommend you consider the Canon 60D.

Me happy camper.
:thumbsup:
 
stcstc said:
Cameras dont take good pictures - Photographers do...
Click to expand...
That truth seems self-evident. For those of us who are totally unqualified to photograph anything, but want to record images anyway, perhaps the camera matters a lot more than it would for a professional photographer. Fortunately, our existence is still legal.

I guess we agree that a better camera is an advantage for anyone looking through the viewfinder, so I'll stick by my recommendation.
 
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