Should I buy this Camera?

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Re: Should I buy this Camera?

Don't do it! You won't get a DVX with a valid Panasonic USA warranty. Besides you can get a real USA model for less money and use the difference to buy accessories that are worth what you're paying for. The included accessories are junk! The lenses and filters are cheap, the tripod is worthless for video work and you can buy a similar case for $25 at Lowe's. Buy from a reputable, authorized dealer and save yourself some headache!
 
Re: Should I buy this Camera?

thanks so much man. I think I'll just head over to B&H and buy from them. Tim.
 
Re: Should I buy this Camera?

Beware, the web is absolutely FULL of questionable sellers and questionable auctions.

I love their little slogan/logo: "look for the 'pro' series, that way you know that you're getting what the pros want", and then they have this logo:
proseries.jpg


Spelling, anyone?  ;)

Besides, a key tipoff is when someone starts out by lying to you.  The MSRP on the DVX100A is $3995.  You can see it right on Panasonic's website, the retail price is $3995.  But in this auction they claim that the MSRP is $4599.  So that's tipoff #1.

Tipoff #2 is if the seller sells "Digital Concepts", "Digital Optics", or "Crystal Optics" accessories.  That stuff is bargain-basement trash (ask Jarred about his review of the Digital Optics teleconverter!)  
1068503084325_1068464567517_lensetele.jpg

So even if they put it in a fancy red case... well, there's a quote that says something about "polishing a turd"...

The other poster's advice was dead-on.  Flee from auctions like this.
 
Re: Should I buy this Camera?

[quote author=Tim Hyten link=board=market;num=1098251336;start=0#2 date=10/20/04 at 01:08:39]I think I'll just head over to B&H and buy from them.  Tim.  [/quote]
Also checkout EVS and Promax. They are just as (or more) reliable as B&H and have better prices. Talk to Rush at EVS or Jason at Promax and they will hook you up. Tell Rush you got the info from this board.
 
Re: Should I buy this Camera?

lol, they probably take the shiny silver chinese hand excercise balls out of the case, and use the case for lenses, and then resell the balls as "A1 quality metal meatballs ...it's what the PROs eat!"
 
Re: Should I buy this Camera?

Tim, you don't have to buy from B&H to get a US warrenty. BuyDig.com has the same camera for $3150. Why pay more for the exact same thing?

Also, the guy on Ebay looks like he has good feedback and the price is high enough that it's not likely to be a scam. Those "extras" are worthless and I wouldn't pay ten bucks for them. So, your best bet is to go to buydig.com.
 
Re: Should I buy this Camera?

Except that Buydig is not an authorized reseller, so the camera you get from them may or may not be a US model, may or may not carry the manufacturer's warranty, and may or may not include the magic bullet for editors software.

And Buydig will almost certainly insist that you buy extra accessories... if they're not selling import models then they're buying them under-the-table from an authorized reseller at higher-than-manufacturer prices, so they have to make it up somewhere. Laws of commerce, you know.

Buydig seems to have many happy customers, that's for sure. But they can't make wine out of water. They have to buy their product from somewhere, and the one place they cannot buy it from is Panasonic. So they either have to import foreign models (which will NOT carry a US warranty) and hope that the currency exchange rate makes for a good deal, or they have to buy under-the-table from an authorized reseller, which means they will be paying MORE for the camera than an authorized reseller would.

If any one ever successfully orders a DVX from buydig, gets the cheap price, pays cheap shipping, and doesn't have to buy any accessories, I'd sure like to see the receipt.
 
Re: Should I buy this Camera?

We've been through this... the cameras from BuyDig.com do have a US warranty. Remember, even the person from Panasonic on here said that as long as it's a US model they have to honor it's warranty. Also, I think that Magic Bullet sucks. I'm not affiliated with Buy Dig in any way. I've just bought a couple of cameras from the place... actually three and all three came with US warranties and altogether I probably saved over 500 bucks for buying from them.

Also, they have never called me or asked me to call and confirm my order or ask me to buy any accessories.

Barry, you have to face the facts (and we've been over this so I don't know why you're acting like you don't know this): BuyDig.com sells US models that come with US warranties that Panasonic has to honor. Their site says that all cameras are brand new US models unless otherwise specified. I have purchased three cameras and my cameras all came with US warranties. I was never asked to buy any accessories. There's no catch and I'm sorry to say that I think many people are a little bitter because they paid full price for their camera... and maybe they're disappointed to see it for sale for such a low price.

Once again, let me say that I am in no way connected to buydig.com. I just don't see why you Barry would be opposed to people saving 350 on their camera. None of the things you suggested about that store in your post are true. Maybe it's the sponsorship of EVS of this site that is behind the smearing of other stores. I don't know. Anyway, go back and read the thread that we had about authorized dealers and how we pretty much came to the conclusion that it doesn't matter! There are people on this site that bought their cameras from buydig and have had their cameras serviced by Panasonic.

Anyway, not trying to rant it just bothers me to see myths perpetuated after we've already resolved them.
 
Re: Should I buy this Camera?

Why do people keep doing this to themselves? Is saving $150 (the difference between EVS & Buydig) really worth the hassle?

Here's what I know-- if I'm spending $3000+ on ANYTHING (most of my cars have been cheaper than that!), I'm not going to go somewhere shady to buy it. If I'm spending that kind of money, then I'd also like the piece of mind that goes with knowing that I won't get screwed. That, alone, is worth the extra money in my opinion. It's one thing to find a great deal on a $50 reflector or $75 Lowel on eBay (where you might never receive the item)... but a camera is an investment, plain and simple.

That's why it's only EVS, B&H & Markertek for me.

David.
 
Re: Should I buy this Camera?

Thanks alot guys, It's amazing how much I've learned from a message board. I'ts scary how much more I have to learn once I get the damne camera! Tim.
 
Re: Should I buy this Camera?

Ok Barry I see what you are saying and I don't know how they do it... perhaps they are able to make up for the lower price in volume. Also they don't offer free shipping, their shipping is a ripoff.

I've got a receipt for a AG-DVX100 (not "A") without any accessories if you'd like me to forward it to you. I bought it for 2,770 in January of this year. I sold it six months later used for 2,590. I usually don't stick with a camera for more than six months so I like to get a deal so I don't loose as much when I go to sell. Maybe if I was looking to "marry" a camera I might want to just pay the extra money, buy from an authorized dealer and maybe even get an extended warrenty.

Like I said the last time we had this kind of thread: If the camera box is open, if you don't get a US warrenty card with it, if there's any hours on the heads or anything else wrong with it... send it back! I've bought lots of things from B&H that had apparently been opened or even used and returned to B&H... and I've sent them back. You've got to watch out for all these places to make sure they're not trying to pull a quick one on you.
 
Re: Should I buy this Camera?

I have also bought something from B&H that was opened and returned, then sold to me as "new". It sure looked brand new, but there was a note in it from the other customer, describing why they were returning it!

So yes, that can happen with any dealer, although that's the only time I've had it happen with B&H. And yes, I did return it, no questions asked.
 
Re: Should I buy this Camera?

I have purchased stuff from EVS and Promax in the past and both of the place have been great with no pressure to buy additional stuff. I'd say the peace of mind and great customer service is worth the savings.

However, I also bought a digital camera several years back from buydig.com and saved something like $400 on what was a $900 camera. It turned out to be a great camera and was worth the savings... but I don't know if I would risk it for a $3000+ camera.
 
Re: Should I buy this Camera?

Here's my $.02 (and my 2 opinions): I agree with David, spend a little more for the peace of mind. It's why I insure packages at the P.O., even tho I've never needed to make a claim.

Also, the real test of a dealer is how they treat you if there's a problem. The camera arrives and it's defective. You don't want it repaired, you want a new one. Well, I believe Rush would stand behind his products and do everything possible to make you happy. That's also worth something to me.

Of course, there is another side to this: you can always ask your credit card company to withhold payment, if what you ordered isn't what you got. Print out the web page, highlight the relevant passage (U.S. warranty, etc) and send it to them. If you're a profitable cardholder and not delinquent, they'll probably take your side....and they have the ultimate power to do the screwing!
 
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