Where to buy DVX100a?

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Hello! My name is Zac and I'm a hopeful film maker =) I want to first say that DVXuser.com has been an invaluable resource in my research of this camera and has totaly sold me on the DVX! The next step is to buy the damned thing! I'm wondering if you experts may have any advice on how to go about this cuz I don't think they sell these things at best buy ;) The best deal I've seen is on Ebay from a company called My Digital Gear, tons of good feedback but several scary negative ones. Is ebay a safe place to buy the camera? If not, what kind of store sells 'em and what kind of price am I looking at? Any information would be great! Thank you so much, you guys rule and this forum is the best
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

I posted essentially this same information over at the Sony site for Vegas 5 users; might be of some use to folks here as well.

I decided to buy a DVX100A online because the prices looked great. So I called some places like 5Starelectronics and Expresscamera which certainly are the lowest of the low--in every way! After much discussion with these rotters it became apparent that the low prices were quoted for the camera only. To get the manufacturer-supplied accessories and a warranty with the cam made their prices much higher. Also, the extra lenses etc. cost almost double from these crooks. I then composed an e-mail with very clear requests as a precondition to purchasing and sent that e-mail to several on-line businesses. These requests (demands) were:

1. The co. would verify in writing (e-mail) that the factory-sealed product was currently available for the advert price and would be shipped within 1 -2 days of order completion.

2. The co. would supply me with a name and direct telephone number of a manager-level sales person with whom I could deal re: any issues.

3. The co. would not delay my order in order to attempt additional sales of peripherals.

4. The co. would supply me with an order number and a tracking number for the shipment.

Only one company bothered to reply, it was US1Camera. I called the sales manager, James, and placed my order. He did pitch some unwanted peripherals on the phone but, by-and-large, he was reasonable. I called him several times and got the order number, order description, and tracking number in e-mails. I don't fully understand US1Camera--a few days after my order they suddenly raised their advert price by $400 and no longer claimed to have the cam in stock. Heck, maybe they only have one at a time! Strangely, about 2 weeks later their price came back down and they claimed "in stock" again.

So what came in the UPS delivery? I have to admit that I was nervous about getting scammed from these folks! Well, the delivery occurred on the day they said it would come, and it was factory sealed w/ everything that I had ordered:

The DVX100A + accessories + 1 yr warranty for $3099, a pro titanium wide-angle lens for $399, a 5hr battery + cam bag for $109, 3-day air delivery for $50. My one minor annoyance was that the cam does not fit into the generic cam bag they sold me; however, I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

This is not a sales pitch for US1Camera; however, I do feel that my approach to buying from them worked for me.

I love this camcorder!!! Have used it for about 4 hours, am completely thunderstruck. Truly an awesome machine...

Best regards,

Lee
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

Thanks for the info! There has been quite a few discussions on this site about buying from companies that are cheaper but not authorized by Panasonic. I don't think everyone came to a conclusion, but generally speaking I am leary of buying a grey market camera that may not have it's warranty. But hey, if it worked out for you then more power to you!
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

Kyle:

What exactly does "grey market" mean??? It sounds vaguely sinister and ,for what it's worth, US1Camera lists "no grey market" as one of its attributes on the website.

Again, I felt like my approach to dealing with that company worked out very well for me. I'm not recommending that others deal with them; however, I did feel obligated to report my exact experience to those interested since there is so much conflicting information available concerning web-based outfits like the one I bought from.

Best regards,

Lee
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

I have never seen the lens go for that cheap on ebay. I think the cheapest I have seen them go is for around $179. But Barry is more experienced than I am, so I have probably missed something. Either way, $400 for the lens makes up for a lower priced camera.
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

Well a little more checking did turn up the same exact wide-angle lens for $100 less at Willoughby's; however, if you do the math it seems like $3099 for the cam + accessories + $399 for the lens is still a reasonable deal overall.

BTW, US1Camera didn't make the decision for me--I knew I wanted to buy a good wide-angle lens with the cam.

I certainly agree that I could've done better by $100 if I had worked a little more at it. US1Camera is by no means the worst of the "accessory mark-up" rackets--check out the same lens at 5Starselectronics or Expresscamera and you'll find it "marked down from $899 to ONLY $699!!!" .

It's a treacherous world out there.

Best regards,

Lee
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

That link doesn't display the WA lens you reference.

What is the brand of your WA lens? "Pro Titanium"? Never heard of it.

Where is it manufactured?
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

Sorry, you're right--the link got me to a blank page.

Anyway, the lens is manuf. by Digital Optics. To view the exact lens that we are discussing, go to Willoughby's site, choose camcorders, lenses, and choose "by manufacturer" Digital Optics. There are two products listed...the wide-angle lens #20681120 is the exact product I got, except from US1Camera.

I noticed that Willoughby's is selling the cam + accessories for $3300, lens for $299. US1Camera sells the cam +access for $3099, lens for $399. Accounting for shipping costs from two separate orders from different companies versus one shipment from one company I guess that I'm still a bit ahead of the game.

Best regards,

Lee
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

Couldn't find it at that link, but I typed in the model number and came up with this:
http://www.willoughbys.com/shop/Product.asp?ProdTypeList=1000&Sku=20681120

That's the same product, right? Several stores use that same SKU number (20681120) so I'm sure that we're talking about the same thing here...

If you're happy with the quality, that's all that matters. However, this is the same "Digital Optics" or "Crystal Vision" lens that has been repeatedly decried by other users.

Here's a link to the same lens, selling for $33 on ebay (except that it's the smaller 37mm thread size):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30069&item=3818549464&rd=1

Here it is in 52mm thread, selling for $45:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30066&item=3818551004&rd=1

Here's a guy trying to sell two lenses by that manufacturer, in 58mm thread, for $3:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=48525&item=3818032348&rd=1

I guarantee you those stores (us1camera, expresscameras, etc) are buying those lenses for maybe $30 apiece direct from Japan (or Korea or wherever it comes from). They list them on their site for $699 or $899 so you think it's a quality piece, and then when they offer it to you for a "special price" of $399, you think "wow, I'm getting a deal". But you're not.

The simple fact of the matter is, you cannot buy a new DVX100A for under about $3350. It can't be done. If you find someone selling it for less, you can be absolutely guaranteed that you'll get hornswaggled somewhere else along the way -- either with extremely high shipping charges, or a grossly inflated accessory package, or an "extended warranty"... one way or another, they're going to get at least $3500 out of your pocket, or you're not getting a camera. That's how the racket works.

Again, I say try this test: try to return that lens to them and see if they'll give you your $400 back, just for the lens. I would be shocked, floored, and flabbergasted if they did. I rather suspect that they'll just hang up on you.
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

Barry:

You are undoubtedly an expert in these matters; however, I respectfully put it to you that your shots are going all over the board on this topic.

You keep advising me to try to get my money back for the lens, you keep implying that it is a $30 or $50 adaptor marked up to the $300 - $400 range, and you keep asserting that I could not have purchased the DVX100A with manuf. supplied accessories for $3099.

Please let me disabuse you of some of your beliefs:

(1) I wanted a good wide-angle lens, and US1Camera did not make buying the lens a precondition of the purchase. The factory sealed cam + manufacturer supplied accessories + 1 yr Panasonic warranty cost $3099. Period.

(2) I'm perfectly happy with the lens. Now, as an expert you may not be compelled by my opinion of the quality of the wide-angle lens that I chose to buy; however, I've done my level best to describe exactly what product I bought and how much I paid for it so that you and others can make your own minds--however; your almost denigrating remarks to the effect that I could've/should've/would've bought the same thing for 1/10th the price on e-bay are not quite believable and certainly not helpful to anyone. In fact, remarks like yours are actually likely to get some people ripped off unless you can point to exactly where one can buy this specific lens for $50. Perhaps, as you have asserted, many people have descried the quality of the lens I purchased--but the Digital Optics .45X wide angle lens, #20681120, is simply not a $50 lens and if you can find that exact lens for that price then you must be truly priviledged to some amazing information.

Best regards,

Lee
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

Barry:

Just to be fair to you I used your links to check out the stuff on e-bay that you qualified as either similar or "the same" as the lens that I bought and described in clear detail.

I'm apparently missing something. The lenses that you are touting from the e-bay auctions don't look anything like the Digital Optics lens that I bought.
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

lee,

:-/ unfortunately for your pocket book barry is right. they are all the same thing just "rebranded" and made for different thread sizes. id be interested to know how many "Mah" (milli-amps) your "5hour battery" is as well .. those places like to sell batteries as "5 hour batts"(or however may hours) for the dvx, when in fact they would only last that long on a micro camcorder, and last under half that on the dvx. ..the dvx consumes about 2x as much power as other normal consumer camcorders, so a normal "5 hour batt" is only going to last you 2-3 hours in the dvx pending device usage when your running it..
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

iamloser:

I respectfully believe that you and Barry are both wrong, and for the same reason--i.e., you have already made up your minds that you are right and you don't mind making fuzzy assertions to "prove" your point.

I will try this one more time for the sake of clarity: The Digital Optics .45X Professional Titanium Wide Angle lens, Sku 20681120, that I purchased from US1Camera for $399, can also be found at Willoughby's for $299. The exact thing. Please find one of these exact products for a different price and I, as well as others, would probably be interested to hear the information.

The links that Barry Green provided to e-bay sales of $50 lenses do not describe anything like what I bought. Not close.
I don't much care if y'all think I overpaid for the thing I bought; however, don't try to tell me that I didn't get the product that I have described here. This is just going nowhere fast.

This is really just gratuitous misinformation under a thin guise of worldly "helpfulness".

Best regards,

Lee
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

Buy everything from www.evsonline.com. Pay a little more for some stuff compared to gray market dealers and get more service than you can imagine...Rush..thanks for dvxuser discounts! This is all that needs to be said :)
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

Thanks Kyle, you are always welcome here! ;D I will be back on the 16th if you have any questions. :)
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

What is the dvxuser.com member discount at evsonline? If the answer is variable, i.e., dependent on level of purchase, how much would the discount be for a member buying the dvx100a + manufacturers accessories + 1 yr warranty?

$3479.95 - discount = ?

Okay, I admit it, I'm just curious more than anything. I'm starting to get one of those Groucho Marx-kind-of-feelings about membership in the dvxuser.com club.
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

Hey Lee, no problem at all, like I said, if you're happy then that's all that matters.

I was basing the ebay lenses off the picture from the Willoughby's auction -- they looked identical to me.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of posts on this subject on this board and on all the others.  And it always comes down to the same thing: buy the camera with lots of "accessories", or you'll suddenly find out that the camera they told you was "in-stock" is no longer "in-stock".  Or, if you don't buy the accessories, they'll call you in a few days to "confirm" your order, at which point they'll hard-sell you some accessories.  None of them will be from name-brand suppliers (i.e., sure they'll get you a 5-hour battery, but it won't be a Panasonic battery.  They'll offer a case, but it won't be a Kata.) Spend some time on resellerratings.com reading through the dozens of "very dissatisfied" users from lots of different stores like this, and you'll see how it works.

You avoided all that because you bought accessories in your original purchase.

Here's the picture of the lens from Willoughby's:
20681120.jpg


Here's the pictures of the lenses in those $30-$40 ebay auctions:
img_4470.jpg

img_4467.jpg

1086730332470_907_2.jpg


Those sure look the same to me.  If you're telling me I got it wrong, then okay, I got it wrong, no problem.  But I'm basing it off the Willoughby's item # that you referenced in your e-mail.
 
Re: Where to buy DVX100a?

Barry:

I appreciate that you would return to this discussion and provide the pictures of lenses that we've been grinding water over, but I would say they don't really convey the bottom line.

Clearly, the lens I bought does share commonality with the lenses from e-bay--they all have a big round end in front and a smaller round end in back and they all have some glass in the middle. And they all share this sense of commonality with the lenses advertised on evsonline and everywhere else.

So, would you assert that Willoughby's is also cheating on their mark-up of this exact Digital Optics lens? They seem to be pretty well-thought-of in this forum--undoubtedly not by everyone--but still, if you assert that US1Camera overcharged by $350 for this lens then you are also asserting that Willoughby's overcharges for the same exact lens by $250.

Before purchasing from US1Camera, I did read their very mixed consumer reviews and learned alot about nasty tricks...that is why I decided on a careful strategy (much earlier post) in dealing with them. I never said it was right for anyone but me, and I've never claimed in this thread that others should do what I do or value the same products that I do; however, one might wish for more objectivity from this forum when it comes to evaluation of hardware and prices.

I have by now read a good deal in related threads in the forum concerning the potential risks and hazards of grey, or gray, market purchases--that's fine, everyone should proceed according to their own comfort level with hopefully the best information possible.

Best regards,

Lee
 
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