Camera equipment - are these reputable vendors?

[CJ2008]

Hi,

DH wants to buy a tripod and some other accessories - he found the best prices on Ali Express http://www.aliexpress.com/ and Digital Rev http://www.digitalrev.com/ - but thought I'd check here to see if any of you ever dealt with these vendors before and if you had a good experience.

Or if you could recommend some with decent prices that are reputable.

Thanks

 

[kenny]

Be careful shopping for the lowest price.
Often you are getting gray-market goods with no USA warranty. (I have no idea what country you live in.)
You also may end up buying something that seems new, but actually it was bought previously and returned, or has been refurbished, is a factory second or a discontinued model.

I've never heard of those two websites, but I will only buy from a 'real' camera store.
Prices on everything I buy are pretty much fixed by competition or the manufacturer, so shopping around only turns up lower prices when something is wrong.

I've bought tons from B&H, Adorama and KEH and they're all very reputable, and the prices on what I buy are almost always identical.
At least these two first vendors tell you if it is for USA or imported, which may be cheaper but read the fine print.

www.b&hphoto.com
www.adorama.com
www.ritzcamera.com
www.samys.com

For a tripod I'd strongly consider a good used one.
People cheap out on tripods, but good ones are worth it but $$$ so they're a great thing to buy used.
www.keh.com has all kinds of used gear that has been checked out so you can trust their condition rating.

BTW, Costco currently has a very nice Manfrotto tripod for $129 in the store, it wasn't online when I checked.
It seemed like a very good value and I may buy one as a back up for my Gitzo.

 

[CJ2008]

Thanks Kenny.

I had the same "instinct" shopping from those stores.

I found other vendors that are using the logos from Verisign, etc., but when you click on them they're not live links - big red flag right there.

He's looking for a Benro tripod - most places it's around $536 - these other vendors have it for like $350. So yeah - probably the "too good to be true" applies.

 

[kenny]

Oh ... he's already in 'GoodTripodLand'.
In that case ...

He may have already done this but make sure he compares Benro to Gitzo, both online comparison reviews and also in person.
A good alternative is to buy both from B&H or Adorama and return the one he likes least.

A Gitzo will cost more, and only he can determine if the cost is worth it to him.
A Benro is expensive if he might upgrade some day.

I learned the hard way that buying a series of upgraded diamonds, pianos and camera stuff is much more expensive than buying your last widget first.

Also if he doesn't need a light tripod, say for backpacking, get an aluminum one.
It will be MUCH more stable, and cheaper than those high-tech carbon fiber ones.

 

[CJ2008]

Thanks for the recommendations Kenny - he's going to definitely look into the Gitzo (he had never noticed or heard of that brand before, so thanks!)