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| | | Major advances in digital cameras mean cameras up to 12 megapixels and 18x zoom now are widely available and affordable. | | |
| Typical costs: | - At the very low end, there are digital cameras for less than $50. These are often slightly older 3 to 5 megapixel models, and image quality often is very poor. Examples include the VuPoint DC-ST201-VP and the Oregon Scientific DS6310-B ThinCam.
- A decent 6 to 9 megapixel digital camera can be bought for under $150. At this price point, it is common to find a model from a well known brand such as Kodak, Sony or Canon with between 3x and 5x optical zoom. A camera of 6 megapixels or more should be able to print high quality 8"x10" photographs. Examples include the Nikon Coolpix L10 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S700.
- Mid-range 9 to 12 megapixel digital cameras can cost $150 -$500. These cameras can have up to 18x optical zoom and may include a decent quality lens, movie recording, or optical image stabilization. Examples include the Canon PowerShot A650 IS and the Panasonic FZ18.
- At the high end, 10 to 12+ megapixel SLR cameras usually start around $500 -$700 and run well over $1,500. Professional SLR cameras can run in the thousands of dollars for the body and the lens, sold separately.
What should be included: | - Digital cameras usually come with at least some internal memory, up to 60 MB or more.
- Cameras should come with at least one battery and a charger.
- Many cameras also come with some basic photo album software, for retrieving, viewing and archiving your photographs, as well as possibly cropping and compressing them.
Additional costs: | - You'll probably want to purchase a camera bag or pouch to protect and carry your camera; these usually cost $15 to $50 or more.
- You'll usually need to buy extra memory if you plan to take lots of pictures. Additional memory cards can cost $30 -$100 depending on the format and capacity. A high-end card will let you take hundreds or even thousands of photographs. Be sure to purchase the right kind of memory (SD, MemoryPro, etc.). Your user manual will specify the kind.
- While most cameras come with basic software, advanced photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop can run in the hundreds of dollars.
Discounts: | - Shop around as sales and promotions are fairly common. Digital cameras are widely available on web sites, so once you have a few models in mind, it's easy to look up several prices on sites like Amazon.com before purchasing. Also, CNet.com has information on the latest digital camera price drops.
Shopping for a digital camera: | - Tip: Before purchasing a camera, think about how you'll use the camera, and what your needs will be for resolution, lens quality and memory. CNet.com offers a digital camera buying guide.
- Find competitive prices online at sites such as Amazon.com. Then, look for comparable or discounted prices at local electronics retailers such as Best Buy.
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Article updated November 2007 |
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Recent Posts |
| Amount: $245.00 |
where I get my cameras
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| Posted by: LouieL in San Jose, CA. | Purchased: September, 2007 |
| Brand: Canon | Model: SD750 |
| MegaPixels: 7.1 | Store: ButterflyPhoto |
I have gotten my previous digital camera and miniDV camcorder through ButterflyPhoto. They usually have one of the lowest, if not, the lowest price when I plug in my information on PriceGrabber.com
I'm generally happy with them, but I just got a message on my phone from one of the customer service agents -- I imagine it's someone who wants to sell me extra memory cards or battery packs, which did happen the last time, when I bought my camcorder. |
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| Posted by: joyce in waynesburg, PA. | Purchased: January, 2008 |
| Brand: polaroid | Model: 3392k5 |
| MegaPixels: 1600x1200 | Store: |
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| Amount: $285.00 |
Canon SD890IS
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| Posted by: Anon Y. Mous in New York, NY. | Purchased: June, 2008 |
| Brand: Canon | Model: SD890IS |
| MegaPixels: 10 | Store: Amazon |
| I originally paid $337. But, with Amazon\'s 30-day price guarantee and some diligence, I got about 5 refunds to bring the price down to $285. |
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| Amount: $135.00 |
My Camera
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| Posted by: Jamie Smith in Powder Springs, GA. | Purchased: April, 2009 |
| Brand: Samsung | Model: 102 |
| MegaPixels: 10.2 | Store: Wal-Mart |
| I got this camera at a 200 dollar discount and it was worth every penny. I would definitly recomend this camera. |
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