There are a lot of camera stores on the web. Unfortunately not all of them are as honest and ethical as we would like. We all want a great deal, but when buying equipment online it is important to make sure you are dealing with a vendor with a solid reputation that you can trust. Here are a few basic guidelines that should help you decide whether that amazing deal you found on that camera or lens is such a great deal after all.

If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. This is an old standard, but it rings true when buying camera equipment – or anything really – online. If you find an online shop that is selling a brand new DSLR for considerably less than a known reputable dealer like B&H Photo, then your gut should be telling you to be cautious. Extremely low prices are usually a sign of stores that use bait-and-switch tactics to get you to place an order and then try to sell you accessories at high markups. If they can’t, they will sometimes cancel your order. If you do receive the item, it may be used or opened or a different version of the product you actually wanted to order. The question to ask yourself is the discount so good that you are willing to spend time and effort fixing a bad situation and possibly providing payment information to an unknown vendor. If not, then move on to a reputable dealer.

Before purchasing, try to find information about the seller. It is always a good idea to know who you are buying from, especially when purchasing large ticket items like cameras. Check sites like resellerratings.com, bizrate.com and pricegrabber.com to find reviews from past customers. If a site appears to have a solid reputation then it is probably a good choice. On the other hand, if there is a consistent trend of negative reviews and experiences then steer clear. Another option is to ask around on your favorite photography site or forum or ask fellow photographers in person. I have yet to meet a photographer that wasn’t willing to help someone else when it comes to buying equipment.

Unfortunately shopping online for a camera can be a little confusing and it makes matters worse when there are sellers out there that look good, but are untrustworthy. Purchasing from reputable companies and thinking twice before purchasing items that are being offered at unusually high discounts should help protect you from unethical sellers. The good news is that once you find someone you are comfortable with you will probably shop with them most of the time. Two of my favorite places to buy equipment (B&H and Canoga) came recommended by other photographers and I have had good experiences with all of them and recommend them to others looking to shop online.

Hope this help take some of the stress out of buying a new camera. Less time worrying means more time shooting!