Let’s face it, most of us buy our photography gear from an online camera store. You can’t beat the convenience and rarely the price. But choosing an online camera store has its own problems.
You’re not limited to what’s available in your own area—perhaps not even your own country! To help you choose, we’ve compiled a guide to the best online camera stores. This includes our top choices of Amazon, B&H, and Adorama.
What Is the Best Online Camera Store?
As we’ve said, our top pick is Amazon Camera & Photo. But B&H and Adorama are a close second and third. As well as new gear, many of our online camera store recommendations sell used equipment. And some of them will even buy or part-exchange your old kit.
But there are so many physical and online camera stores where you can buy a camera. It can be a confusing and frustrating experience. But here is our selection of the best online camera store options to help you pick the best one.
Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer. When it comes to photography, Amazon’s camera price range is set by the manufacturers. This is why you won’t see large differences in price, as you might with other electronics.
Amazon can negotiate lower prices with the manufacturers and cut their profit margins. This is because their overhead is lower than a traditional brick-and-mortar store. We recommend buying new camera gear instead of used or “renewed” items. But you can weigh savings over quality.
The 30-day return policy is also appealing. Amazon happily takes returns with no questions asked. (As long as the product is in its original packaging and condition.)
The free two-day shipping option is a bonus if you have an Amazon Prime membership. Plus, it comes with unlimited photo storage backup!
It’s especially helpful if you need to get your order delivered as soon as possible. I turn to Amazon when experiencing unexpected gear breakage and failure for this very reason. Just make sure that the shipping option applies to your postal area.
When shopping on Amazon, you can see genuine reviews from other buyers. Other sites can create fake reviews. But only those who have purchased the product on Amazon can write a review there.
Reading about the experience of others when considering purchasing from a seller is an invaluable tool. And it can be the deciding factor for which camera you buy.
Finally, although some Amazon camera retailers ship globally, many local Amazon stores also exist. This is an added convenience for anyone who lives in those areas.
B&H is a premier destination for photographic equipment and supplies in North America. It’s a massive superstore for all things photographic right in the heart of New York City.
The company has built its reputation over decades. It’s the place that many pros turn to first, particularly when shopping for cameras online. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and well-trained.
There is a live chat feature on the website, as well as a used department. B&H maintains a wide selection of used cameras and other secondhand electronics. You can find sound systems, smartphones, and video equipment.
They also ship to most countries and have a 30-day return policy. B&H extends that return policy to a wide variety of used equipment, which they test for defects and flaws. If you’re on the hunt for a pre-loved camera, B&H is an excellent choice.
A bonus for regular shoppers is that they have a loyalty program. You can earn points on your purchases and later redeem them for discounts. But there is a limited timeframe to do this. So, this may not be a benefit if you’re not a regular B&H shopper.
Based in New York City, Adorama has been around for decades. It’s a full-service destination for photography and video equipment as well as electronics. It’s one of the more popular online options for hobbyists and professionals.
Adorama has a great selection of new gear, as well as pre-owned cameras and photo equipment. These have been tested and inspected and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
They also have an inexpensive VIP360 loyalty program with a one-year “drops and spills” warranty. It also has a 60-day return policy and other perks like early bird access to discounts and sales.
Adorama offers same-day shipping. They ship to Canada and many other countries around the world. But keep in mind that your country has its own tax and customs policies.
Adorama is also known for its learning center and videos on AdoramaTV. They also host presentations, demos, and classes at their space in New York City.
Abe’s of Maine is not as comprehensive as B&H or Adorama. But it offers a greater variety of products than many online retailers at competitive prices. They have an online store and a physical location in New Jersey.
Abe’s offers a variety of seasonal and non-seasonal promotions and coupons. These are in addition to the coupons and rebates on their product pages.
All orders are processed on the premises. They can quickly and efficiently find a solution if there is an issue.
Abe’s offers free shipping on thousands of products, but shipping can vary. They also only offer a 14-day return policy. This is shorter than the standard 30-day time window many similar retailers give.
But Abe’s is worth a regular check-in. They often have great sales where you might find your dream camera at an unbeatable price.
Precision Camera & Video is a massive, longtime Texas-based retailer. It’s housed in a 20,000-square-foot facility. They sell new and used equipment, have a photo lab, and offer rentals and repairs. They even offer on-site classes on a variety of photography topics.
You can receive coupons on your purchase that you can put towards the classes. Their 75-foot classroom doubles as a rental studio.
Precision Camera & Video is dedicated to providing excellent customer service and photographic education. They carry a wide array of cameras, lenses, lighting gear, accessories, printers, and scanners.
There is no tax on out-of-state orders, and they offer free ground shipping on all orders over $200.
Ritz Camera can be traced back to a successful portrait studio in Atlantic City in 1918 and later a film processing lab. The company has been a trusted source for professional photographers and enthusiasts for decades.
A few years ago, it was bought out and consolidated with similar companies like Wolf Camera and Camera World. Ritz maintains some stores and a website with a good gear selection focusing more on the amateur photographer.
They offer a standard 30-day return policy but charge a 10% restocking fee.
They have a price matching program, free ground shipping, and an in-house support team to help you with any questions.
KEH is the world’s largest pre-owned camera store, with almost 40 years in the photography business. This is a great option if you need to upgrade your camera or buy a new one without a high budget.
They offer up to 40% less than the retail price on a wide selection of digital and film cameras, lenses, and accessories.
They have expert technicians who use a ten-point rating system to inspect and grade gear. This way, you can ensure your purchase is in excellent condition. KEH offers a 180-day warranty and a 14-day return policy.
They accept a variety of payment methods, including PayPal. But they will only ship to PayPal-confirmed addresses. The KEH shipping address must match the PayPal address.
KEH has a price match guarantee. They refund you the difference if you find the exact same product at a lower price. Some restrictions apply, though.
You can get an instant quote if you want to sell your gear. Many photographers continually upgrade their equipment by selling and purchasing used gear.
MPB is a photography gear marketplace for buyers and sellers through a hassle-free and secure platform. They have offices in the UK and New York. And they are always working on their technology to redefine how photographic equipment is sold online.
The range of photographic equipment on MPB is vast. Thousands of items pass through the marketplace every month. In addition to used cameras, they sell accessories like camera filters, batteries, and memory cards.
MPB carefully inspects all equipment and offers an unparalleled six-month warranty. This greatly offsets any risk to buyers.
Browse through a huge selection of equipment and purchase by cash or trade. Everything is shipped out for the next working day delivery.
The excellent service and condition of the equipment, as well as the fair pricing, make shopping with MPB a great option. Plus, the staff is knowledgeable and can assist at any transaction stage.
Purchasing a camera on eBay may seem like a risky move. But if you play your cards right, you can walk away with a deal that can’t be beaten.
Many reputable dealers, such as those mentioned here, sell through eBay. Buying through eBay is riskier than going directly to an online retailer specializing in camera sales.
But safeguards are put in place to help prevent non-delivery of goods or from goods showing up not as described. Bad sellers who receive negative feedback can be banished from the site.
Here are some details you should look for when perusing cameras on eBay. The product images should be close-up and large enough to assess the camera body for nicks and scratches.
There should be several pictures that show all sides of the camera. These should not be blurry or shot from too far away.
Also, check the seller’s rating. It should be 99 top 100% positive. Anything less than 95% should be considered a red flag. Read the description very carefully for details. Contact the seller if you have any questions.
Vistek is Canada’s answer to B&H. Vistek offers a vast array of photo and video equipment in addition to cameras. This includes lighting equipment, computers, and tablets at competitive prices.
They have a storefront and photo lab in Toronto. They offer extensive rentals (in Canada) and ship products to Canada and the USA.
They also have storefront locations in Mississauga, Calgary, Ottawa, and Edmonton. Free shipping is available for non-oversized items up to 10 pounds. Shipping rates and methods for products that do not fall into this category can be found on their site.
Vistek offers a student discount, learning events, and a YouTube channel focused on product overviews.
Best Buy might not be a top option, but it depends on your preferences. Because there are so many locations, you may have one near you. Their prices are also competitive.
The downside to shopping for a camera at Best Buy is that the sales staff may only have limited knowledge of photography. But it can be a good place to check out some cameras and get a feel for them before you buy.
Their online selection is great. In-store, you find prosumer cameras or entry-level models rather than a wide selection of professional ones.
Local Stores Instead of Online Camera Stores
Even if you end up shopping around and don’t buy from them, browsing at your local camera stores lets you inspect the equipment hands-on. You can also get guidance from knowledgeable staff.
I also love my local camera store because they sell various used gear at a reasonable price. Everything has been inspected and comes with a money-back guarantee.
Using this approach saves me a lot of money. It’s a lot more trustworthy than buying off Craigslist. Plus, you avoid paying for international shipping costs from overseas online camera stores.
Going to a local camera store for a hands-on experience before buying from an online camera store is good practice (Adobe Stock)
Conclusion: Best Online Camera Stores
Shopping online tends to be cheaper. But be sure to buy from a reputable dealer that accepts returns without a restocking fee. If you see a camera deal too good to be true, it usually is. (Except, perhaps, Black Friday photography deals.)
Compare the prices of your coveted online camera stores with in-store camera stores. With some of these options, you may want to rent the item before you commit to a purchase.
Also, don’t forget to consider used gear. You may get a great camera and save a lot of money. But it’s usually best to buy new if you can afford it. So, where is the best place to buy a camera online? Amazon is the best bet, followed by B&H and Adorama.
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