The best thing about National Camera Exchange & Video is that you can talk with the guys at the countter and they are (for the most part) photo and DV enthusiasts and they know their stuff. I do everything I can to inform myself by reading, searching the internet, comparing prices, etc but then I finally get close to a buy, I need to put my hands on the device and ask a few interactive questions to finish the deal. And that's were National Camera comes in.
National Camera will also do their best to try and meet, match or get close to the best price on equipment. Even if you have to pay a few dollars more, it is worth the expertise they bring to a sale and support if something goes wrong shortly thereafter. You know they make their money on accessories (which you will often pay a premium for) but if you watch carefully, you'll find they offer sales and discounts on those as well.
Another thing to watch for is National Camera's semi-annual tent sale. Often these happen in early or mid-August and they take all of their inventory out of the store room and used equipment, makr down the prices, and move it out into tents next to their building. You can score some great deals during the inventory sale. And if you are looking for an old SpeedGraphic or made a Kodak Brownie, this is the place to pick that rare item with a special film look to your arsenal of equipment to impress the foto-groupies with your work.
The counter can be something of a circus and getting to the experts a challenge.
Now, if I could only find the foto-groupies!
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