Beach Camera

[jann1033]

just being paranoid probably but wonder if anyone had bad experiences with them. i recently bought a powershot A620 and was happy with the purchase but want to make sure that's the norm for them since my next purchase will be more money.

I looked them up on reseller (thanks jfulcer) provided in my rainbow tronics ?
and saw an article which scared the bejabbers out of me about buying online

( the more recent Beach gripes imo weren't accurate as i saw a listing on their site saying they were going to be closed mid of last week unlike what the reviewers said)

 

[Greg K.]

I've used www.buydig.com, which is a sister company of Beach Camera -- same merchandise, same prices -- and I've been very happy. I dropped a little over $500 there on a Pentax dslr kit and memory card, and the stuff arrived in perfect condition -- and very fast.

 

[spoon2003]

I've used Buydig as well with good results. Would recommend them again.

Sue

 

[MOmousefan]

I bought a Digital camcorder from them last year and they delivered on everything they promised.
I used the following website when I researched them:
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1936.html

I am contemplating buying the Canon S3 IS from them($425).

 

[budbeerlady]

What do you think? I love the price!!!! For this money I would forget the Canon S2/ or S3.

http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PKISTDL1855

Thanks for any info!

 

[Charade]

That's a tough call. For the same price as the S2, you can enter the DSLR world. The disadvantage is that you'll need to buy another lens. 18-55 is too short a zoom for my tastes. The S2 and S3 have a great zoom, image stablization and takes really nice pics. It's a little smaller than the Pentax too.

But after reviewing sample pic from both cameras, the Pentax is better IMO because of the much reduced noise (grain) in higher ISO images.

The "kit" lens isn't the greatest out there.

 

[Anewman]

I would buy from Beachcamera/buydig(same company), and use the savings towards a decent lens. Besides the price difference, it also saves TAXES.

I would skip the DL Kit and just buy the DL body and also use that towards a decent lens. I am under the impression that the $100 rebate only applies to BODY ONLY purchases and not Kit purchases.

http://www.pentaximaging.com/files/scms_docs//Essential.rebate.pad.L1018.pdf

 

[YEKCIM]

I have no experience, personally, with Beach or buydig (a Beach affiliate, I'm told), but have heard many good comments about them. They have a 9/2 out of 10.0 rating on resellerratings.com: http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1936.html which is usually a good sign. I've ordered "stuff" (computer and photo gear, mainly) for years and have never had a serious issue on any order. If you are certain that the Pentax kit is what you want (and only you know the criteria), I'd say "go for it". I'm trying to talk myself (and Mrs. YEKCIM...) into pulling the trigger, too!

~YEKCIM

 

[YEKCIM]

I am under the impression that the $100 rebate only applies to BODY ONLY purchases and not Kit purchases.

The consensus on the dpreview Pentax SLR board seems to be that the "kit" is composed of separately packaged body and lens, each with its own barcode/item number. Apparently, you simply submit the required portion of the *body* box with the invoice and rebate form, to get your rebate. There is some confusion on the issue, but I doubt that a reputable dealer like Beach would show the rebate on their kit web page if it applied only to the body.

Here is the dpreview thread: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=19025041

The rebate is good until October (assuming they don't sell out...) so there is time to verify.

~YEKCIM

 

[jann1033]

i used beach for a point and shoot and buydig for a rebel, no problems with either and i got a "10%( think that's the right amount) off an accessory" coupon from both with my purchase...but i don't think they have the lens i want
the dodd camera ad for the rebate was for a kit but i didn't read the fine print ( it was $499 after rebate but they are usually expensive( dodd) and i know they market it on the pentax site as "with" a lens but they sell it body only too? the only prices i have seen on their( pentax) site is as a kit ( but not really checking out closely as not planning on purchasing it)

 

[Anewman]

The consensus on the dpreview Pentax SLR board seems to be that the "kit" is composed of separately packaged body and lens, each with its own barcode/item number. Apparently, you simply submit the required portion of the *body* box with the invoice and rebate form, to get your rebate. There is some confusion on the issue, but I doubt that a reputable dealer like Beach would show the rebate on their kit web page if it applied only to the body.

Here is the dpreview thread: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=19025041

The rebate is good until October (assuming they don't sell out...) so there is time to verify.

~YEKCIM

I really hope you are right, and I agree that the odds would say you are.

I understand that the box(body) within the box(kit) may have the correct upc/barcode required for the rebate, my concern would be with the reciept having said product info.

Regardless I would still advise somebody that was interested in the S3 IS to skip the kit lens and apply the savings towards a zoom lens with more focal range.

 

[handicap18]

Go with the Pentax. Get the body only and for a lens get the Sigma 18-125mm. Its not much bigger in size and gives you a MUCH longer reach. Its also not much more expensive. This will give you a GREAT camera setup. If you continue your photography hobby down the road, you also have plenty of room to add more lenses and an external flash. Sigma and Tamron have lenses that will fit Pentax as well as Pentax's own lenses. Your options for future expansion are huge and are pretty much limited only by your wallet.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

uhmmm, yes... what he said.

(I'm really late in responding anything today)

 

[MOmousefan]

I have purchased two cameras from Beach and they did exactly what they promised. I will buy from them again.

 

[Tazicket]

I'll have to check with DH, but I'm almost positive we got our Pentax ist*DL body from Beach Camera (thanks to advice on this board!) They were wonderful and got it shipped to us very quickly. We got one of the Sigma lenses from another place, though, I think. I'll check with him when he wakes up.

 

[superbird]

I just bought the s2 from Beach and it was my third purchase from them, you never worry about them just order the camera YOU want. Don't speed up your shipping for more money it came within 3 days with the free shipping so save money that way. Will only buy from Beach!!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Regardless of online seller, when it comes to cameras and lenses, I tend to buy my stuff at a local dealer. It's just easier to deal with just in case something bad happen (y'know, DOA situation)

For tripods (yes, plural, now I have 2 Manfrotto, 1 Slik, 1 Gitzo and 1 Velbon) and such I buy them online.

 

[Golf4food]

I'll have to check with DH, but I'm almost positive we got our Pentax ist*DL body from Beach Camera (thanks to advice on this board!) They were wonderful and got it shipped to us very quickly. We got one of the Sigma lenses from another place, though, I think. I'll check with him when he wakes up.

Yep, ordered Pentax istDL body only from Beach with no taxes and free shipping and the order was processed and shipped on the first business day (ordered Sunday afternoon, shipping notice on Monday afternoon) and the package arrived on that same Friday (NJ to FL). No complaints at all. Would gladly use them again.

As has been mentioned, order the body only (cheaper), get the rebate, and then get a Sigma 18-125mm lens from www . sigma4less . com - cheapest place I could find that seemed legitimate, and we got the lens in 4 days - the combination has been great so far! (About two weeks.)

 

[RBennett]

Ok, so I have (what seems to me) to be a MAJOR problem!!!! After months of planning I finally got ready to buy the Pentax K100D off of Beach Camera's website with the 18-55mm lens and the 50-200mm lens and use the rebate to get the prime lens only to find out that they are out of the 50-200mm lens!!!! So I quickly call the website to find out when they think they are going to get more and the sales rep already knows what I'm going to ask because EVERYONE has been calling and asking that he says and he doesn't know when they're going to get more because Pentax doesn't even have any more right now! And I'm SO frustrated!!!! So then I start looking at other websites that still have a 50-200mm lens and it's like $230 for just the lens. So now I don't know if I should buy the camera from beach camera and the lens elsewhere or if I should wait and see if bc gets any more in or to just buy the camera and two lenses elsewhere altogether. Or do I look into the Pentax smc P-FA 75-300mm f/4.5-5.8 AL lens? It's only like $139. But otherwise the only type of rebate I get is MAYBE $50 on the camera and I'm still looking for the 50-200mm lens. HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!

 

[Cricket2]

You may know it already but I thought I'd mention it just in case. If you buy them separately, you don't get the bonus package rebate since they have to be on the same receipt.