[quote name='Pinhole' timestamp='1280686665' post='1444']
I must add though - and this has little to do with ordering problems - that I lament the disappearance of the small, specialized camera shops. Okay, they can't compete with the price dumping of the large electronics retailers, so they have closed due to pressures of the market. But it is hard to get professional quality equipment, and even harder to find staff who know about the stuff they're selling.
[/quote]
So do I. I buy almost all of my equipment these days from the same retailer, who actually has this knowledge. He is about 5 to 10 % more expensive than the large electronics retailes, but I do get incredible service, and free capuccino's <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />, free sensor cleaning, and the company of a few persons who know what they are talking about.
O, and with brandnew stuff, he normally is cheaper than anybody else is, because his mark-up is always the same, whether the equipment is only minutes or a while longer on the market.
I actually try to visit the shop as often as possible, even just for a chat, or a meet with a few other like-minded people <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />.
Kind regards, Wim
I must add though - and this has little to do with ordering problems - that I lament the disappearance of the small, specialized camera shops. Okay, they can't compete with the price dumping of the large electronics retailers, so they have closed due to pressures of the market. But it is hard to get professional quality equipment, and even harder to find staff who know about the stuff they're selling.
[/quote]
So do I. I buy almost all of my equipment these days from the same retailer, who actually has this knowledge. He is about 5 to 10 % more expensive than the large electronics retailes, but I do get incredible service, and free capuccino's <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />, free sensor cleaning, and the company of a few persons who know what they are talking about.O, and with brandnew stuff, he normally is cheaper than anybody else is, because his mark-up is always the same, whether the equipment is only minutes or a while longer on the market.
I actually try to visit the shop as often as possible, even just for a chat, or a meet with a few other like-minded people <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />.Kind regards, Wim
Gear: Canon EOS R with 3 primes and 2 zooms, 4 EF-R adapters, Canon EOS 5 (analog), 9 Canon EF primes, a lone Canon EF zoom, 2 extenders, 2 converters, tubes; Olympus OM-D 1 Mk II & Pen F with 12 primes, 6 zooms, and 3 Metabones EF-MFT adapters ....