If a digital camera is on the holiday wish list, this is the weekend to buy. Almost every retailer has a Thanksgiving weekend sale, and this year’s deals include some of the hottest digital cameras. For a look at retailers’ full advertisements along with store hours, check out Black Friday websites such as blackfriday.info, blackfriday.gottadeal.com, bfads.net, black-friday.net, and theblackfriday.com. Read on for some of the best digital cameras deals.
Canon PowerShot SD750
Best Buy and CompUSA are selling the 7.1-megapixel Canon PowerShot SD750 for only $219. This is a big price break from the original retail price of $349. We reviewed this compact camera earlier this year and our biggest complaint was the high price; it delivers excellent pictures with accurate colors in any kind of lighting. This camera is selling for $229 at Sears and $249 at Office Depot.
> Read DCI’s Canon PowerShot SD750 review
Canon PowerShot SD1000
Office Depot is selling the SD750’s sister camera, the 7.1-megapixel Canon PowerShot SD1000, for $149, and throwing in a free printer. It sells for $179 at Radio Shack. The Canon SD1000 has almost all the same features as the SD750, but has a smaller 2.5-inch LCD screen rather than the 3-inch one on the SD750.
> Read DCI’s Canon PowerShot SD1000 review
Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd
Best Buy is selling another slim digital camera – the Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd – for far less than its $229 retail price. The 6.3-megapixel Z5 will be on sale for $139, easily besting the average online price of about $160. This digital camera comes in several colors and has IrSimple wireless transfer technology.
> Read DCI’s Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd review
Kodak EasyShare V803
Costco.com has the Kodak EasyShare V803 on sale for $139. The price includes a 1GB SD card. This digital camera has sharp 8-megapixel resolution, but isn’t the best at reproducing colors or recording videos. Still, its sale price outdoes its average online price of $150 and its $199 retail.
> Read DCI’s Kodak EasyShare V803 review
Olympus Stylus 770SW
Perhaps the sturdiest compact digital camera on the market is selling at CompUSA for $299. The Olympus Stylus 770SW, which we awarded Best Underwater Camera of 2007 in our Select Awards, originally retailed for $379 and sells online for about $320. The 8.1-megapixel 770SW can survive just about anything: a 5-foot fall, a dunk in water to 33 feet, cold temperatures to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and weight up to 220 pounds. It struggles to produce gorgeous images, but the rugged body is a big plus.
> Read DCI’s Olympus Stylus 770SW review
Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS
For consumers who want a digital camera that has a lot of zoom for a little price, Best Buy is selling the Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS for $189. This is much less than its $299 retail price and average online price of $220. Not all Thanksgiving weekend sales are alike; Office Depot is selling the Z712 for $249 and Sears is selling it for $229. The Kodak Z712 IS has the shape of an SLR but the intuitiveness of a more compact camera. It has 7.1 megapixels, a 12x optical zoom lens, and a full range of manual and automated exposure modes.
> Read DCI’s Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS review
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3, winner of Best Value of 2007 in our Select Awards, is selling at Circuit City and H.H.Gregg for $249. This 7.2-megapixel digital camera is less than 1.5 inches thick and has a 10x optical zoom lens. The 3-inch LCD screen is a nice perk, but its exceptional image quality is what really seals the deal. It produces very accurate colors, low noise, and performs even in low light. The TZ3 originally retailed for $349.
> Read DCI's Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Those consumers looking for digital SLRs will find the best deals on older models such as the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT. H.H.Gregg is selling the XT for $499 for the body, a huge cut from its original price of $899 when it was released in 2005. Sears is selling the XT with an 18-55mm lens for $599. Best Buy is selling it with a 75-300mm lens and accessory kit for $699, but is selling the body itself for $549. The 8-megapixel Canon Rebel XT can shoot 3 fps and produces high quality images.
> Read DCI’s Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT review
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
The more recent Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi is selling at Circuit City for $879 and includes 18-55mm and 75-300mm lenses. The newer DSLR adds a dust reduction system and more resolution, along with a smoother view on the 2.5-inch LCD screen. The 10.1-megapixel XTi retails for $599 for the body only, so Circuit City’s price isn’t the most amazing DSLR deal, but the XTi deserves a look because of its excellent low light and dynamic range performance.
> Read DCI’s Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi review
Nikon D40
Hot off its Nikon Picturetown ad campaign, the Nikon D40 seems to be selling at most stores this holiday season. Sears is selling the D40 with an 18-55mm kit lens for $449. The same package is available at CompUSA for $688 and Samy’s Camera for $549. At Circuit City, it is selling with 18-55 and 55-200mm lenses for $649.99. The Nikon D40 struggles with color accuracy but delivers in terms of keeping images clean of noise. It also produces excellent images in low light. The 6.1-megapixel entry-level DSLR retails for $599 with its kit lens included.
> Read DCI's Nikon D40 review
Some retailers take orders online, but most are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Set the alarm clock and head out the door early, because lines often form in front of the stores an hour or two before they open. Beware: this isn’t for the faint of shoppers. Many sales will only be valid on Friday and Saturday. Be prepared to arm-wrestle for your dream camera if you want to save $100 or more.
Below is a roundup by retailer of other deals we found:
Best Buy
Canon PowerShot SD750 - $219.99
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT DSLR - $549.99
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT DSLR with 75-300mm lens and accessory kit - $699.97
Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd - $139.99
Kodak EasyShare C613 and 5.6-inch LCD digital photo frame - $99.99
Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS - $189.99
Nikon Coolpix S51 - $199.99
BJ’s
Nikon Coolpix S50 - $189.99
Circuit City
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi DSLR with 18-55 and 75-300mm lenses - $879.98
Canon PowerShot A720 IS - $209.99
Casio Exilim EX-Z1050 - $199.99
Casio Exilim EX-Z75 - $139.99
Fujifilm FinePix A900 - $129.99
Kodak EasyShare C663 and G610 printer dock - $129.99
Nikon Coolpix S51 - $199.99
Nikon D40 DSLR with 18-55 and 55-200mm lenses - $649.99
Olympus FE-280 - $149.99
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 - $249.99
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS75 - $119.99
Polaroid a520 - $49.99
Samsung S730 - $129.99
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S700 - $99.99
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T20 - $229.99
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T70 - $299.99
CompUSA
Canon PowerShot SD750 - $219.99
Canon PowerShot A720 - $229.99
Canon PowerShot A460 and Selphy CP740 printer - $149.99
Casio Exilim EX-Z75 - $129.99
Fujifilm FinePix Z10fd - $149.99
Fujifilm FinePix F480 - $139.99
HP Photosmart R742 - $129.99
Kodak EasyShare V1253 - $299.99
Kodak EasyShare Z885 - $199.99
Nikon Coolpix L14 - $129.99
Nikon D40 DSLR with 18-55mm lens - $688.99
Olympus Stylus 770SW - $299.99
Samsung S73 - $119.99
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W80 - $199.99
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S700 - $99.99
Costco
Olympus FE-280 - $149.99
Costco.com
Kodak EasyShare V803 with 1GB SD card - $139.99
H.H.Gregg
Canon Digital Rebel XT $499.97
Canon PowerShot A560 - $129.97
Casio Exilim EX-Z77 - $179.97
Nikon Coolpix S51 - $199.97
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 - $249.97
Kmart
Fujifilm FinePix A820 - $129.99
Kodak EasyShare C613 - $69.99
Kodak EasyShare V1003 - $169.99
Kmart (Thanksgiving Day)
Polaroid A801 - $79.99
Office Depot
Canon PowerShot A720 IS - $299.99
Canon PowerShot A630 and MP470 printer bundle - $199
Canon PowerShot SD1000 with free printer - $149.99
Canon PowerShot S5 IS - $399.99
Canon PowerShot SD750 - $249.99
Canon PowerShot SX100 - $299.99
HP Photosmart camera - $69.99
Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS - $249.99
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H7 - $349
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W90 - $249.99
Radio Shack
Canon PowerShot SD1000 - $179.99
Casio Exilim EX-Z75 - $129.99
HP Photosmart M547 with all-in-one printer and 256MB SD card - $149.99
Kodak EasyShare C763 - $99.99
Olympus FE-280 - $149.99
Samys Camera (samys.com)
Nikon Coolpix S51 - $199
Nikon Coolpix L11 - $99
Nikon Coolpix L14 - $129.95
Nikon Coolpix S200 - $179.95
Nikon Coolpix P50 - $199.95
Nikon D40 DSLR with 18-55mm lens - $549.95
Nikon D40x DSLR with 18-55mm lens - $699.95
Nikon D80 DSLR with 18-55mm lens - $1199.95
Sears
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT DSLR with 18-55mm lens - $599.99
Canon PowerShot SD750 - $229.99
Canon PowerShot A560 - $139.99
Casio Exilim EX-Z1080 - $219.99
Casio Exilim EX-Z75 - $139.99
Casio Exilim EX-S880 - $219.99
Kodak EasyShare Z1275 - $209.99
Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS - $229.99
Kodak EasyShare M753 - $119.99
Nikon D40 DSLR - $449.99
Olympus FE-280 - $199.99
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7 - $159.99
Polaroid i733 - $89.99
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S700 - $89.99
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T70 - $279.99
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W80 - $179.99
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 - $269.99
Staples
HP Photosmart M737 - $99.98
Kodak EasyShare C613 - $69.98
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S700 - $99.98
Target
Kodak EasyShare M853 with Kodak bag and coupon for 20 free prints - $89
Casio Exilim EX-Z75 - $129
Wal-Mart
Kodak EasyShare C743 - $89.84
Kodak EasyShare Z710 - $149
Nikon Coolpix S51 - $198.64
Polaroid i830 and photo frame - $148.84
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S650 - $79.87
