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What to Focus on When Buying a Digital Camera

By Isha Dandavate Posted 10:00AM 09/20/11 Technology, Savings Experiment |
How to Save on a Digital Camera

Are you looking to buy a digital camera, but unsure where to start? When it comes to point-and-shoots, paying more won't necessarily give you a significantly better picture. Check out our tips on how to save money on your Kodak moments.

There are a lot of cameras out there, but if you stick with the top brands, you'll get a high-quality camera. PC World picked models from Canon (CAJ), Nikon (NINOY) and Sony (SNE) as the top five point-and-shoot cameras.

Michael Ip, staff photo editor for the New York Daily News, agrees. "Any company that makes professional gear tends to integrate that into their consumer gear because they've done their research," says Ip. "They make their consumer goods the highest quality possible while making them affordable."

Know What You Need

Features that increase the cost of cameras, like higher megapixel count and greater zoom, are just marketing tactics. If you're using a point-and-shoot, higher megapixels and zoom don't necessarily translate into a much better photograph.

In fact, when it comes to image quality, the average amateur photographer only needs four or five megapixels for good quality four-by-six photos. The market standard these days is around 10 or 12 megapixels.

"The marketplace keeps upping the number of pixels in these cameras without increasing the size of the sensors," says Kay Kenny, photography teacher at New York University. "It is really just about marketing and not about picture quality."

Another thing to keep in mind with megapixels -- the higher the count, the more memory each photo will take up. This means you may need to buy a more expensive memory card.

When you consider zoom, only look at optical zoom, which is the result of the lens moving closer to your object. Digital zoom is the same as resizing an image on your computer: The more you zoom in, the blurrier your picture becomes.

"If you look at professional grade lenses, the lenses that have really big zooms are massive. With a point and shoot zoom, they're trying to cram everything into a little lens so they're cutting corners," says Ip. "Some of the best point and shoots out there have no or very little zoom."

Test In-store, Buy Online

Some characteristics of a camera can only be experienced -- like the speed between pictures. To understand how your camera feels, you should check it out in a store that allows you to handle the equipment and put it through its paces.

But, according to a Consumer Reports study, the best online stores outranked the best walk-in stores on price, and PCWorld identifies Amazon.com (AMZN) as the best place to start. If you want to shop around, go to Nextag.com, where you can compare prices from different vendors.

To get the best of both worlds, try out your camera in-store, and shop for a good deal online. That way, you know you're getting what you want and also getting a great deal.
Tagged: best digital cameras, BestDigitalCameras, cameras, canon, gadgets, how many megapixels do you need, how to save on digital cameras, HowManyMegapixelsDoYouNeed, HowToSaveOnDigitalCameras, nikon,

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willypk

"To get the best of both worlds, try out your camera in-store, and shop for a good deal online. That way, you know you're getting what you want and also getting a great deal."
I work in a camera store and to put it simply you're a thief. This is even worse than walking out of a restaurant without paying a tip after excellent service because you saw the steak cheaper at steak.com! More than being ashamed of yourselves at "AOL original" you should issue an apology for advocating such unethical behavior.

October 31 2012 at 10:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
joejagent

Buying local has many long term advantages, including keeping the neighbor's kid employed instead of burglarizing your house.

October 28 2012 at 12:37 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
leslitton

I signed in just to state as well how TERRIBLE of a practice show-rooming is! Disgusting that you would promote this! No longer will I watch these videos. I'm out.

October 27 2012 at 11:39 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
mcget

Oh, I get it.

Take advantage of the salesperson's time and the shopkeeper's stock of cameras.

Imply that you are interested in buying there and get information from them.

Then leave and purchase the camera elsewhere to save a few bucks.

This is known as "showrooming" and is despicable and dishonest.

You should be ashamed of your story which recommends this unethical technique.

October 27 2012 at 9:36 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
javaman16d

This article makes a lot of sense, BUT: I disagree with the part of shopping in store and buying on line. Some poor schmuck has to get dressed in an awqful uniform, or shirt & try to sell you on a camera, only to have you walk away.THAT does not help the store's, nor his bottom line.
I do miss the "good old days" of using FILM.And: being able to develop the prints. By the way; there are NO red lights in a proper "dark room", so forget what you have seen in the movies.

October 27 2012 at 8:37 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
italyn2007

This is what is putting the neighborhood business OUT OF BUSINESS! Sure, try it in stores then buy on line. Before you know it, there won't be any brick and mortar stores around! Then....where are you going to see it, feel it and touch it!

October 27 2012 at 8:24 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
valri501

I have seen this same article like three or four times now. When are they going to pull it and stop endorsing the kind of unethical practices this author is suggesting. To go to a store and take up their valuable time with absolutely no intention of buying from them is horrendous. If you want the customer service a camera shop will provide then you need to be willing to pay the price to shop there. If you want it as cheap as possible and will only buy online, then you should be willing to roll the dice on what you get. To try and have your cake and eat it too in this way is akin to thievery.

October 27 2012 at 6:11 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
G J CLONINGER

Totally agree with the majority of the comments here. How dare the author/reporter suggest this and how dare Bank of America condone this form of theft. I knew there was a reason for not doing business with Bank of America. It's one of the sleaziest recommendations to save a buck I've ever seen so I'll be ignoring this author's articles in the future. Have we lost all of our morals? Outrageous!

October 27 2012 at 4:46 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
Judith

Shameless for this site to even suggest it.

October 27 2012 at 4:02 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
Judith

So screw the store who hires the people who help you make a decision. Then complain there are no more electronics stores, no more bookstores, etc. Shameless.

October 27 2012 at 4:01 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply

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