A camera store staffed by people with sound product knowledge and a keen customer service ethic is a great place to go if you can find the right place and the right person to help you. Photo gear can mop up huge amounts of money and a sharp salesman can talk you into spending much more than you need to on gear which you simpy don't need.

Ideally, you need to work out well in advance how much money you are prepared to spend, what features you must have and what things fall into the "nice but not essential" category. A little guidance is good and can alert you to features you weren't aware of but I always try to remember that the salesman's job, first and foremost, is to sell.

Good hunting.