Clarifying my recommendation of amazon.com
I have added an important note on my recommendation of amazon.com.
Additionally (this was prompted by a reader email), I do not recommend pre-paying for a yet-to-ship product (eg a Canon 1Ds Mark III, Nikon D3, Nikon D300). That’s true of amazon or any other vendor—who’s to say when they can deliver? Hard to get products demand some flexibility; you might find it available at one vendor but not another. I’m on a list for a Nikon D3 at my local dealer which is where I’d prefer to buy it, but if they cannot deliver, then I turn to amazon, B&H Photo, etc.