How To Save Money On Digital Cameras

HOW TO SAVE ON DIGITAL CAMERAS

Digital cameras are the big "have to have" item these days.  Do they have to cost you a fortune?  Absolutely not! 

The important thing to remember about a digital camera before you buy is why you are getting one and what you are going to use it for. 

If you're just an amateur photographer or want to capture pets or family, places you go, then obviously you don't need a top-of-the-line camera. 

If you need one for work or for other things like writing and taking your own digital shots, then you might want to think about getting at least a middle-of-the-road priced camera for more bells and whistles but also for durability.

All that said, even if you want to buy a top-of-the-line digital camera and don't want to pay full price, here are some great ways to accomplish just that.

MONEY SAVING TIPS WHEN BUYING DIGITAL CAMERAS

Compare prices. First and foremost....always compare prices. Whether you look at Costco, compare prices on eBay or Amazon or you just look on-line....the bottom line is get the best deal for what you buy.

Buy an older model. Do you really care if you have the latest digital camera or will one step down do the job? Almost any device these days is outdated as soon as it hits the market. So buying a step or 2 down in the hierarchy of a certain camera is going to serve your purposes but it can save you lots of money!

MORE TIPS ON BUYING DIGITAL DIGITAL CAMERAS

SLR or compact.  Investigate both models.  SLR cameras are better in terms of professional type photography so if you are using your camera in a higher end application, definitely go for the SLR.  They also have more options such as lenses and overall higher quality images.  But if you are just the "average" camera buff, a compact is just that.  Fantastically compact.  It fits in your pocket and you can capture incredible pictures with them.  SLR's are better for zoom photos but on average, a compact will get the job done and then some.

Pawn shops and thrift shops.  You can always check pawn shops and thrift shops for great buys.  Again, if you are just starting out or buying a gift for one of your children, these are great places to save big bucks.  Most often too, you can find super deals on digital cameras on eBay or Amazon.com

Pixel power.  Remember this one fact....the more pixels a camera has, the more the price will go up.  Keep in mind how much quality on the pixel scale you truly need and then let your pocketbook be your guide. 

ACCESSORIZING YOUR CAMERA AND SAVING MONEY

Accessories for your new hobby can also be a major investment. While we don't have the expense of film with digital cameras, there are still many things you might want to purchase, such as extra lenses, tripods, photo tents, etc.

To minimize your cost in this aspect of photography consider the following options:

• eBay or Amazon - there is no need to pay full price for anything

• Negotiate accessory prices if you buy at a store.....your accessories can end up costing as much as your camera if you don't

• Digital software. You do not have to buy digital software! There are free programs such as Picasa, Kodak EasyShare, Google, IrfanView and Serif PhotoPlus to name a few. Seek out free photo software to tweak your pictures and save big bucks!

• Books on digital cameras. Check out your local library and don't pay a dime for how-to's.
  
• Also check out the Internet and YouTube. You can learn more on-line in minutes visually or by reading about them on line than you can by reading 10 full books on digital photography

In short, there are many different ways that you can save on digital cameras and even their accessories.

Take the time to shop around and give some of these ideas a try before spending top dollar for your next digital camera.

You don't have to spend a fortune to get a great digital camera these days.

If you have more helpful hints on how to save money on digital photography and cameras, please share them with us in the comment section below.