Canon vs Nikon

[Marlton Mom]

Another newbie, making the jump into entry level dslrs. So I've been lurking around here for a while and reading all the advice from all the jedi masters on best brand.

I'm now at the "go to the store and hold the camera" stadge but all my local stores seem to have the same few models.

I have bestbuy, HH chregg, sears, and sams clubs all near me and not one of them had a pentax any thing on the floor. What gives? Best buys had a few higher end sonys but I'm hoping to stay within the $600-700 buck price range.

So pentaxions, what gives?

Did some one say Southern NJ???

You are so close to B and H you can almost reach out and fondle the merchandise!

B and H is the store you want to go to if you want to feel every brand in your hands!

Here's what I would do, heck, here's what I HAVE DONE in your situation.
Get in your car and drive to the Hamilton NJ Transit train station (this is the one above Trenton). Park your car there (for about $7) and purchase a NJ Transit train ticket to Penn Station in New York City. A one way ticket for one adult will cost you $15 and a round trip ticket may be even cheaper, I'm not sure.

Hop on the train for a local (90 min approx) or express ride (65+ mins) right to the center of New York City! It would easily take you 3 hours by car from Hamilton NJ with all the traffic and tunnel congestion so this is a Win, Win, both from the consideration of time and money. The tolls and parking lot charges are outrageous in NYC.

You can relax on the train as it's more like a rail road car than a subway car and Penn Station is right under Madison Square Garden and you are literally 2 blocks away from B and H.

On your return trip, Penn Station can be a little daunting, but just look for the New Jersey Transit part of the station and never mind the Amtrak part. Both Train stations are relatively nice with bathrooms and food courts. The one at Hamilton has a Dunkin Donuts fer gawds sake! There is also a bathroom on the train but I have never been...

I have done this with my family and again with just my 12 y.o. son and his friend for a Boy's Lego store and Nintendo store trip. The boys think B and H is cool and they love to check out the telescopes, computers and especially the conveyor system.

Usually we have time and energy to go to B and H, hop in a cab and go to see something else in NYC, then hop in a cab to go eat a restaurant that we have scoped out, then back to Penn station for the trip home. The last time we went we ate in Chinatown in a place that Anthony Bourdain recommended on his show. The next time we are planning to take the boys to Sarita's Macaroni & Cheese place so you see you can really make it an adventure!

It's no secret here that I am a BIG B and H fan. Keep in mind however that you can examine all the different cameras, ask the knowledgeable sales staff for help and then go buy the camera some place else if B and H doesn't offer you the price that you want.

If you see it cheaper some place else, especially if it's like $100 or more be advised that it may be a gray market camera from a disreputable seller. There are a number of on line outfits that pop up and then change their name when their poor reputation is revealed by unsatisfied customers.

With B and H, I never have to worry about stuff like that and they do keep pretty current with everyone else s price matching, at least with the reputable places.

The rest of the folks here can post about which on line retailers they have had good experiences with.

As for me, I got to B and H to SEE the merchandise, then I check out what the prices are online from the reputable sellers, and then I pretty much wind up going with B and H because they have the price and service that I like.

I hope that helps,

Marlton Mom