Buying a D90 in New York

[mikelzapi3]

Hi, I'm going to New York next week, so I thought I could buy a Nikon D90 there. I would like to let the price drop, but this is my only chance to buy it in New York.

I'm thinking on the D90 + 18-105 VR kit for 1299$...with taxes about 1400$, roughly 1000€. I can wait, but seeing the actual price of the D80, I doubt that the price of the new kit will drop below 1000€ here.

So far, I heard about B&H store, so I will go there. On their web, they recomend the new Sandisk 4GB Extreme III - 30MB/s Edition, that is built for this camera, for 70$.

I don't know what to do, I would appreciate your comments.

[Wouter Melissen]

It's not a bad idea to have plenty of space available. It might seem like a very large card, but you'll regret buying it if you do run out of space one day. $70 for a 4GB card does sound expensive. Sandisk cards are worth every penny. Don't go for cheap fakes!

[RacingManiac]

I don't know if Sandisk is offering rebate in your country, but right now there is a rebate for those cards, I think you can get $25 off on a Extreme IV with mail-in rebate...

Do go to B&H's store, its an eyeopening experience for a camera store, with pretty much all the new camera displayed and charged(or plugged in) for you to play with....and they have a crazy checkout system...

[mikelzapi3]

Thank you, so I will buy the SD card there. It hurts to buy all the equipment at the same time (body+lens+card+ another battery+ bag), but I'm almost sure that I won't find any of those things here for less money, so it's time to make an effort.

Another thing, do you know if there will be any serious problems with thieves? I mean, having a brand new camera, can I use it in manhattan without the risk of being stolen, or should I kept it at the hotel (or buy it the last day) ?

It may sound ridiculous to some of you, but I've heard a lot of things about thieves in New York and I don't have any idea of what I will find there.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by mikelzapi3

Thank you, so I will buy the SD card there. It hurts to buy all the equipment at the same time (body+lens+card+ another battery+ bag), but I'm almost sure that I won't find any of those things here for less money, so it's time to make an effort.

Another thing, do you know if there will be any serious problems with thieves? I mean, having a brand new camera, can I use it in manhattan without the risk of being stolen, or should I kept it at the hotel (or buy it the last day) ?

It may sound ridiculous to some of you, but I've heard a lot of things about thieves in New York and I don't have any idea of what I will find there.

If you have a suitcase that you can lock, better use that, otherwise carry it (and make shots...)
Are you sure your customs authorities will not embarrass you when you get back home?

[mikelzapi3]

Originally Posted by henk4

Are you sure your customs authorities will not embarrass you when you get back home?

I have read in spanish forums that there is no problem if you don't bring it in the original box. You can say that it is your camera. The police know that the camera has been bought in the US, but they let you, unless you have 2 cameras, 3 ipods and a laptop and it is clear that you want to make profit with them. Well, that is, at least, what I've heard, let's hope it's true

[henk4]

Originally Posted by mikelzapi3

I have read in spanish forums that there is no problem if you don't bring it in the original box. You can say that it is your camera. The police know that the camera has been bought in the US, but they let you, unless you have 2 cameras, 3 ipods and a laptop and it is clear that you want to make profit with them. Well, that is, at least, what I've heard, let's hope it's true

hm, in the worst case they may want you to produce the original invoice, to prove you bought it in Spain. A laptop you can always bring, all american hotels/motels will provide you with free (wireless) internet. So buy your camera on day one, store your laptop with shots from the holidays and it will become a "used" camera

[RacingManiac]

I wouldn't worry about the camera being stolen unless you leave it unattended, then it becomes a problem regardless what cities you visit. When I travel my gears dont leave my body(backpack) or my sight(sitting in front of me on a table or something). Go out and shoot pic, NYC should have lots of stuff to look at and take pics of...(and maybe video? being D90 and all)

[coolieman1220]

I walk around the city openly with a D80 with 18-200 lens. at one point i was on the ferry shooting around with the 70-200 f2.8 lens and everyone was looking at me like what the hell is this 17 year old doing with that lens and camera? NYC is very safe especially during the day. i love it here! i would't worry.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by coolieman1220

I walk around the city openly with a D80 with 18-200 lens. at one point i was on the ferry shooting around with the 70-200 f2.8 lens and everyone was looking at me like what the hell is this 17 year old doing with that lens and camera? NYC is very safe especially during the day. i love it here! i would't worry.

I have been demonstrating my "viagra" lens several times during my trip in northern california and canada. no problems at all.

[NSXType-R]

Originally Posted by henk4

I have been demonstrating my "viagra" lens several times during my trip in northern california and canada. no problems at all.

Viagra lens?

Nah, shooting in NYC is quite safe. I wouldn't leave anything unattended though. Just be careful in sensitive sites. I was shooting pictures of trains in Grand Central Station, and a Port Authority Police Officer saw me. He then asked me to delete the pictures. He was courteous about it, and I understand the reasoning behind it, but I really love trains and I was quite disappointed. Imagine if I were using film? I would have had to rip the whole carton out.

Just be careful in crowded spots. There may be pickpockets, although that's rare too.

[Ferrari330P4]

You should be perfectly fine in the day time there, as in virtually any city. If you go out at night, make sure you go to only crowded places. Nothing will happen with 1000's of people walking around. (Times Square) Your camera might be less safe in the hotel than on your body in a bag.

Originally Posted by RacingManiac

Do go to B&H's store, its an eyeopening experience for a camera store, with pretty much all the new camera displayed and charged(or plugged in) for you to play with....and they have a crazy checkout system...

Yes, definitely. If you also want to go to Adorama, go there first. You won't want to go in there after you have been to B+H. Not a bad company, but the store is less "amazing." B+H is the only store in the country that will let you try out $5000 D3's without asking. I did Yes that conveyor system in nearly as amazing as the store.
Thanks

[#1 Mustang Fan]

Its worth every penny to get the faster cards and the extra space.
On holiday we went through a 4gb Sandisk in 2 weeks...

[mikelzapi3]

Originally Posted by RacingManiac

I wouldn't worry about the camera being stolen unless you leave it unattended

Originally Posted by coolieman1220

I walk around the city openly with a D80 with 18-200 lens. at one point i was on the ferry shooting around with the 70-200 f2.8 lens and everyone was looking at me like what the hell is this 17 year old doing with that lens and camera? NYC is very safe especially during the day. i love it here! i would't worry.

Ok then. You know, people talks a lot, I was concerned about those who assault with a knife or gun, but I've supposed that if you did't go to very bad areas there was no problem at all, as you said.

Originally Posted by henk4

I have been demonstrating my "viagra" lens

LOL

[henk4]

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

Viagra lens?

the 28-300 Canon, also called the sucker lens, because you have to pull the zoom....