Mary--we bought a lower to middle end Canon a year ago on St Thomas and found the prices similar to the states. We bought one, and unless you are a better haggler than we were, we found the positives to be, no sales tax and we did get the shop to throw in several accessories that made the purchase there worthwhile.

i am in STT now, getting ready to buy a digital camera here.. For me and what I am looking for it is going to be cheaper and easier to get it here, I am pretty definite i am going with Royal Carribean -- for a Minolta G600 -- it is a small 6.2megapixel. for $350.. (or any that are simialr) and it includes a few extra accessories.. The stores here will bargain with you. Ofcourse they have a sticker price on everything for WAY too expensive. If you don't want to deal with asking for a lower price then you might want to get the camera before you come..

Best thing is to buy one on Ebay. I've purchased several camera's on ebay and have saved over 60% from stores.

I purchased an Olympus Camedia c-3000 on ebay a couple of years ago and couldn't be happier. I would recommened Oylmpus's digitals . Cannon also makes a very good camera.
I was more concerned if I could use filters on the camera than the mega pixel but that's just me.
I also purchased an underwater housing for ours on e-bay and got to use it for the first time yesterday at Coki.
It's a beautiful day today on STT,, Waiting to see what tomorow brings.. stocked up on Cruzan dark and cola.
No worries Mon,
Bill

A couple of things you need to know about camera sales and distribution. The profit margin on any camera is very small. That is why you see very little difference in prices over the internet, in the back of magazines, and in discount stores. E-Bay is another animal. I am glad some of you all have had good luck with purchasing on e-bay, I don't have that much faith in it. (for those big ticket items, anyway). There is a greater margin of profit on the accessories for cameras. Therefore, some of the store owners in St. Thomas can offer "extras" with the purchase of a camera.

I am also into instant gratification. When I buy a camera, I want it now! I want to take photos with it right away. Can't do that when you purchase over the internet, or e-bay. And I think the savings of taxes and duties is well worth the effort to purchase on Island.

Of course these are just my humble opinions. And yes, I have bought several cameras while on St. Thomas (binoculars also) and have been very happy with them. Good luck in finding what you want!

Hello Mary,

If you know what you want look around in the camera shops where you live for prices, look on-line and then call Boolchands and Royal Caribbean on St. Thomas and ask them what their price is for that camera (keeping in mind bargain room)... then you can see what the price comparison is and decide from there. In any case even if you decide to just get it in the islands its a good idea to know what its going for on-line and in the stores backhome... so you have a $ to bargain around.

--Islander