I agree with the others that those big shops are the safest bet, but I'd also keep an eye on Focus Camera or Samy's Camera when things go live. I'm always kinda nervous about dropping that much cash online, so I definitely stick to authorized sellers only to be safe. If you're trying to save a bit, sometimes it's worth checking if they offer any pre-order bundles. You might get a Sony CEA-G160T 160GB CFexpress Type A or a spare Sony NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Battery thrown in for a discount. Also, if you can wait a bit, sometimes Best Buy has trade-in deals that help with the cost. I'm definitely gonna be looking for those EDU discounts myself since every bit helps when you're just starting out... it's a huge investment tho so better safe than sorry.

Honestly, I would look at more specialized cinema-focused dealers like AbelCine or even checking directly with the Sony Professional portal if you have a business account. They usually have much better technical support for the FX line compared to general electronics stores. Before you put money down tho, are you prioritizing a vendor with a robust internal hardware warranty for professional use or are you more concerned about their specific stock allocation for day-one shipping? Also, do you need a shop that can handle technical vetting for high-speed media compatibility before they ship the unit to you? Given the data rates this thing will likely push, reliability is gonna be key.

Amazon, B&H Photo Video, adorama.

ngl i saw this earlier but just getting around to it now... had such a bad experience pre-ordering from the huge chains last time. unfortunately they always overpromise and i ended up waiting months while others got theirs way faster. i switched to checking with smaller outfits like B&C Camera or even local mom-and-pop shops in different states. honestly the shipping speed at the massive national retailers is not as good as expected anymore. quick tips:

• call around to authorized shops in smaller cities, they usually have way shorter waitlists
• get your trade-in quote for your current Sony FX3 Full-Frame Cinema Camera done early so you're ready to jump on the new body really bummed for anyone stuck in the big store backlog again... it sucks waiting for gear when you have jobs lined up. let me know if you want me to dig up some other regional sellers that usually get stock.

You will be able to pre-order at Amazon when it is officially announced.