Last year I purchased my Nikon D70s from Broadway Photo in New York. I found them on-line after making phone calls to a number of the "lowest price" dealers. I paid $729.00, body only, for the camera. This Nikon was on sale and I had already gone through the funhouse of these other clowns, aforementioned here. I was wary of these guys, after the sluggos I had already tried to deal with, but found Bway to be straight forward. If you are shuffled off to more than one person or dept. hang up. Bway photo forwarded me to one person and he was very business like and straight forward. I asked him if this was a Nikon USA warranty or "gray market" and without hesitation he said it was gray. I told him I wanted only NIkon USA and then he said it wouldn't be the advertised price but it would be $40.00 more which equalled the $729.00 I paid.

Anyway, I asked questions, did my homework and did a lot of hanging up on Bozos. After I was sure I had the deal and camera I wanted I went to eBay and studied the ED G nikon lenses and then studied the feedback of those sellers offering these lenses. I ended up with two wonderful lenses that are as new. And I spent, for the camera and two lenses, $1050.00 plus a few pennies. These were ED lenses, not the cheaper Nikon lenses.

What I am saying is that you can find much better prices than the "Bozo" photo shops if you are willing to be patient and use your smarts. I have purchased cameras, lenses and enlargers on eBay and never had a problem with the merchandise. What I do immediately is check the profiles of the sellers. Also, I won't buy an item if it has a flaw, say a lens with a spec of dust inside. Inevitably the seller says that this spec of dust will not affect the photos. HUH? Says who? How'd that spec get inside the lens in the first place. Mayhaps a leak in the barrel of the lens caused by improper handling somewhere along the way? Was it dropped? Left out for months, sitting on a coffee table. I won't touch it. I also check ALL the photos and if there are no photos I figure there might be a reason. The photos will tell you, at a glance, if there are any signs of abuse evident on the exterior.

I have had my Nikkor lense for 35 years and they have been around the world with me. I could sell them at a grade of 8-10. None of my camera gear spends any time being jostled or left out to gather dust. All I am saying is that you can find new and used equipment at fantastic prices if you just take care and do your homework. Know what you are going to buy and be patient for the right item at the right price. Study!