Cameratec Canon 7D?

[mentalis]

I have been to a number of retailers looking at Purchasing a new 7D.
I've found Cameratec to offer the best price for the body alone at R14499.
The units are listed as "refurb" which upon enquiring i am lead to believe they are units in which boxes are not up to par ect.
Camera's all have a zero shutter count too.
Come with the standard 2yr guarantee.

Has anyone had some recent dealings and experience with Cameratec at all?
I'm a little hesitant to deal with them as i have had no past experience with them.

Thanks.

[Nqina Dlamini]

I've never dealt with them, but at that price ODP/Dion seem a better option (at R15k)

[Skyelark]

Cameratek are the authorized Canon camera repair center - they are reputable.
I have had good friendly service from them.
Their prices for refurbs are often not very competitive though.

[Deon RacePics]

I bought equipment from them. In both cases the packaging had markings on it, stuff inside brand new. Using the equipment very frequently and it comes with warranty which takes effect when you take delivery. I have no issues with them

[Grant Atkinson]

CameraTek always go out of their way to help me with repairs, cleaning or just helping out any way they can, with advice, etc...I have dealt with the branch in Strydompark once, but mostly visit the Cape Town branch in Montagu Gardens.
cheers
Grant

[Thndr_strck]

Cameratec or Cameratek ?

[mentalis]

Thanks for all the input much appreciated.

Yes my mistake was a typo
Cameratek.

[Alvin]

R14500 for a refurb 7D is not a good deal
rather buy proper new or get a good 2nd hand at say R10500 or thereabouts.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

R14500 for a refurb 7D is not a good deal
rather buy proper new or get a good 2nd hand at say R10500 or thereabouts.

yeah... I'm with Alvin here... If it's R500 bucks off because of a skuff on the box, then sure, go for it, but if it's a refurbished unit, then the small saving might not be worth it... If the R500 is really important, go for a good second hand unit... about R10 for bodies, R12k for bodies with grips

[J-D]

AFAIK, the cameratek "refurb" cameras means that it is either a demo model with 0 actuations or a damaged box with 0 actuations. They used to be very well priced, but in the past couple of years they increased their prices so that you can almost always find it cheaper somewhere else, especially the bodies.

[Callum Holley]

I got pm'd this link to a SA site with new 7D's for R13 588 with a 3 year warranty.
seems dodgy...
especially that creepy looking guy at the top of every page...
I'm also in the market for a new 7D but this sounds too good to be true!?
How could their products be so much cheaper?
http://www.cameraquip.co.za/

[daddie2610]

I got pm'd this link to a SA site with new 7D's for R13 588 with a 3 year warranty.
seems dodgy...
especially that creepy looking guy at the top of every page...
I'm also in the market for a new 7D but this sounds too good to be true!?
How could their products be so much cheaper?
http://www.cameraquip.co.za/

My2c worth on this is that I will rather buy from a stone & mortar building vs an online shopping site

[Nqina Dlamini]

Cameratec or Cameratek ?

I was also confused. I have dealt with CameraTek (the Jhb branch), great service, but pricing a bit high.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

I got pm'd this link to a SA site with new 7D's for R13 588 with a 3 year warranty.
seems dodgy...
especially that creepy looking guy at the top of every page...
I'm also in the market for a new 7D but this sounds too good to be true!?
How could their products be so much cheaper?
http://www.cameraquip.co.za/

Essentially you send them money and they import one from oversees on your behalf... if you send it back because of a fault, they send it back overseas on your behalf... If not worried about warranties and services, then why not import it yourself?

[J-D]

A local warranty is worth much more than ~R1000.

[Chris F]

To me it is about more than just the warantee.

YES, it is very nice to be able to take my camera accross the road and to ask ORMS to send it away and have it looked at. But frankly anybody can walk into Cameratek and have a camera services/repaired.

To ME, the biggest benefit of a trustworthy store is being able to interact with a salesteam over a period of time. When I need help with a swivel bracket for my light stand, get stuck with some or other setting on the camera .... I have found the team at ORMS to be most helpfull - and by all accounts so do the Joburg people enjoy ODP.


Now I have to wonder about the "type" of person that would suck a salesman dry of all the info on a particular product, just to go spend his money at another store .. just to safe a few cents. Neither ORMS nor ODP is "over the top" with their prices, so I can honestly not understand the process.


PS - As a consulting engineer we also encounter potential clients that have meeting after meeting with us, to get all the required info .... then they appoint the cheapest subbie without appointing us to ensure a decent installation. (fortunately there are ways and means of limiting what we tell a potential client untill we are appointed ....)


so yes, maybe I am "biased" but I dont understand the motivation to save such a small percentage by not supporting your local salesteam.



yes, this is a bit one sided and I do understand there is more to it. but I am sure that you get the jist of my post.

[sterretje]

Nothing wrong with CameraTek. I bought my first 2 Pentax cameras from them (K10D in 2008 and refurbed K100D in 2009) as well as the first additional lens. It was the only place that I knew at that time that sold Pentax I still buy, at occasion, odd pieces of equipment from them when I'm there for a service for one of the cameras.

For 500 bucks (if that's indeed the difference), I would personally not worry too much. I know, it's a memory card or a rogue flashbender or so, but that's about it. A good relation with a shop around the corner is worth more than 500 bucks (and not only in coffee ) But they must be a shop with employees who share the passion for photography; forget the Games, HiFi Corps etc

[viren.b]

i would honestly wait and buy a brand new unit for R14000 when Dion wired has a special.

I see you located in Durban, i am yet to see the stores other than Dion selling for a fair price.

[Gavin van Dam]

Dion wired is currently running a special for R14999 and it includes lenses and some others bits and bobs.

[jayson]

I have a 7D (2yrs old) for sale in the classifieds for R8800 and I am in Durban. Excellent condition. .J