Digital Camera News

 

 

For most consumers, there are about five or six digital cameras on the market at any given time that will totally satisfy their needs. The trick is to find the best value. Consider all of the features that are important to you. Do you need a lot of resolution so you can print 20 x 30-inch photos to frame around the house? Do you need a large LCD screen so the whole family can look over your shoulder at the pictures you just took? Do you need a camera that you can fit in your pocket or can you carry around an extra camera bag on your hip? Don’t settle for a camera you ultimately won’t be happy with. You can get the features you want if you do a little searching around the right places.

 

 

According to a July 11 Photo Marketing Association press release, discount stores like Target and Wal-Mart accounted for 30.9 percent of digital camera sales in 2005. Electronics stores like Circuit City and Best Buy sold fewer cameras, but had 33.1 percent of revenue. What does this tell you? Beware of where you buy. Electronics stores do have a larger selection, but discount stores obtain lots and lots of just a few models so they can sell them at a lower price. Get the best of both worlds: handle and shop for digital cameras at the electronics stores and then ask around at discount stores to see what models they’ll be selling next.

 

The Internet is a great place to shop, but you have to be careful where you purchase the camera. Some online retailers advertise an unbelievably cheap price, then tack on an enormous shipping fee. Depending on the state the company is headquartered, there could be a hefty tax too. Some companies will pressure consumers into buying more than they bargained for ("You’re purchasing a digital camera? You’ll need a tripod too. How about a memory card? A camera bag?"). If you can get past the sales sharks, there’s still a chance the product won’t be in stock for another six months. Make sure you ask that question before the conversation even begins. Also be wary of auction sites that sell used equipment; keep in mind that a camera’s warranty doesn’t transfer to the new owner. The Internet isn’t full of sleazy jerks though. You can avoid such filth by reading merchant reviews and staying aware of their tactics. Great bargains can be found online; sometimes there are even real promotions with free shipping and such too.

 

 

The NPD Group, a market research firm, predicts that the average point-and-shoot digital camera will cost $182 this year – 7 percent less than last year. As more digital cameras flood the market, prices continue to drop to fight for the remaining camera-less consumers. You can choose to wait for prices to drop, but then you’ll miss plenty of photo opportunities where a digital camera would have been priceless.

 

If you can hold out for a few months, though, springtime and the winter holiday season are the best times to buy. Most manufacturers have rebate programs beginning in late March and early April; most are good through the beginning of July. Expect to get fifty dollars back for compact models and a few hundred dollars back for pricier single lens reflex cameras. In November and December, there are lots of promotions to spark digital camera sales for the holiday season. Keep your eyes on weekly ads and store windows; there’s bound to be a good sale or coupon within six or eight weeks of Christmas. After the holidays, there is hope for a good deal too. Richard Tranchida, executive vice president of Ritz Camera Centers, advises consumers to ask stores for last year’s leftovers.