Get It for Less: Cameras
Editor’s Note: This piece is part of an ongoing series called “Get It for Less” that will appear every week on MainStreet, so check back for more shopping tips on your favorite products.
NEW YORK (MainStreet) – As the quality of camera phones has improved by leaps and bounds, many people have chosen to forgo buying a separate camera to carry around. But if you want a more professional-grade camera – or you just like the idea of having a camera that isn’t also a cellphone – there are a few strategies for keeping the cost down. To find out more, we spoke to James Brown of comparison-shopping website PriceGrabber.
Don’t Get Hung Up on Megapixels
When digital cameras first arrived on the scene, upgrading from a four-megapixel camera to a six-megapixel one felt like a huge leap. But now that even the most entry-level cameras offer picture resolution above 10 megapixels, the measure just doesn’t make that big a difference to the average consumer.
“People look at the box and say ‘I want the most megapixels I can get,’” Brown says. “But if you’re just taking shots of your dogs or pictures at a baseball game, and you’re just going to view them online or make 8x10 [prints], then a 10-, 12- or 14-megapixel camera is going to give you beautiful pictures. The idea of getting much more than that, it’s really not needed.”
The exception, of course, is if you’re a professional photographer and need to have the ability to make your photos into large prints or posters. But that’s unlikely to be a concern for the average shutterbug.
If you do have aspirations to work your way up to being a professional-grade photographer, Brown recommends getting an entry-level SLR camera like the Canon EOS Rebel series or Sony Alpha, which are priced in the vicinity of $400.
Shop Online
We’re probably starting to sound like a broken record by encouraging people to shop online, but Brown says the Web is where you’re likely to find the best price.
“The local photoshop that a consumer is likely to have in their town is a great resource to use in the early stages of buying and to find the best fit for you,” he says. “But when it comes to getting the best deal … online is where you’re going to get the best prices.”
It’s more than just sticker price, too. Brown says that bundled deals that include extra memory cards, lenses and cases are more prevalent online. And he also points out that sites like Newegg.com will often include any rebates right on the product page for you to print out and mail in.
Buy Now
If you’re inclined to buy a camera, now would be the time to do it.
“Right now is an ideal time for someone looking to buy a mid- or high-level camera,” Brown says. “Typically after CES (the Consumer Electronics Show, held in January), all the new lines are getting ready to roll out in March and April, so they’re moving last year’s models.”
That, of course, means deep discounts both in stores and online, and Brown points to the Nikon D3100 as one sub-$400 camera he’s been seeing on sale lately. Whatever you decide to buy, though, you should buy it soon.
You can save on more than just cameras. Here’s how to get everything for less.
Matt Brownell is a staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach him by email at matthew.brownell@thestreet.com, or follow him on Twitter @Brownellorama.
