Where do you buy your equipment? I bought my Nikon d40 online (Adorama) but now I need (want) another telephoto lens for an upcoming trip. I'm thinking about the Sigma 50-500 but would like to have a place to compare/handle the lens rather than buy blind online. Any recs for a local~ish store and/or lens? Thanks in advance.

Ritz in the Waldorf mall is the only camera store in southern maryland that I know of. Their store in Beltsville is much bigger store and then you have Penn Camera in Laural that where I purchased my last camera. They also rent equipment all of the information is on their web site. Good luck!

Where do you buy your equipment? I bought my Nikon d40 online (Adorama) but now I need (want) another telephoto lens for an upcoming trip. I'm thinking about the Sigma 50-500 but would like to have a place to compare/handle the lens rather than buy blind online. Any recs for a local~ish store and/or lens? Thanks in advance.

Best buy has limited stuff. Some on the forums that have one might let you have a look at it. You could also rent one from one of the onine rental places. I'm all Canon, so can't help you other than that.

I know it isn't local for you but Service Photo in Baltimore has a full line of gear for sale and some rentals as well.