Best time to buy digital cameras

Right now is a great time to find deals on digital cameras. Many retailers are marking them down and to get you started here are our picks for the best camera bargains:

Special ALL YOU Discounts Promo Codes:

Get $5 off $45 or more at Overstock.com. Use code: 203412 at check out. Valid Feb. 18-April 30

Receive 20% OFF your purchase of Olympus products Use code: AYMREG311 at check out. Valid February 18- March 31, 2011

 

Also check out these sales:

Ritzcamera.com:  Digital photography training videos free with digital camera purchase Our pick: Nikon Coolpix L22 (Red) Sale: $79.99/ Reg. Price: $119.99/ You Save $40

Target.com: 50 cameras under $100 and Free Shipping over $50. Our pick: Nikon Coolpix S205 12MP Sale: $89.99/ Reg. Price: $159.99/ You Save $70

Best Buy -  Huge Camera Blow Out Sale (25-35% off). Our pick: Canon- Power Shot 12.1 Megepixel Sale: $96.99/ Reg. Price: $159.99/ You Save: $63.00

Walmart - Over 140 Cameras on sale Our pick: Kodak Easyshare M575 14 Megapixel Digital Camera Bundel with 4GB Card and Camera bag Sale: $99

Staples - Our Pick: Olympus T-100 Silver 12 Megapixels Sale: $89.99

RitzCamera.com - Instant Savings  -  Get Free shipping, no sales tax and a free photo class ($99 value) with a purchase of these select cameras. Our pick: Nikon Coolpix12 MP, 10x optical zoom 1080p Video. Also $30 Nikon Instant Savings. Sale: $269.99

 

Digital Camera Buying Tips

In today’s competitive market, even low-priced digital cameras come loaded with extras. Consider these features when shopping:

Resolution: Higher resolution doesn’t necessarily produce better pictures (lenses and other factors affect quality, too). Don’t buy a model that offers fewer than 3 megapixels; a 6-megapixel camera is more than sufficient to print high-quality 4-by-6-inch photos. Anything above 8 megapixels is excessive unless you want prints larger than 8 by 10 inches.

Zoom: Most cameras have a 3x zoom, but if you tend to shoot at a distance (such as at a concert), look for a zoom in the 5x to 30x range. If you have a choice, select an optical zoom instead of digital, which merely magnifies the center of the frame without increasing picture detail. An optical zoom is useful to capture faraway images.

Video: Some new models have HD video that rivals the quality of pricey camcorders. Look for a camera with the ability to zoom while shooting video so you don’t miss a moment.

Image stabilization: This feature allows you to capture action shots, like your daughter’s game-winning slide. Avoid cameras that use simulated stabilization, which isn’t nearly as effective as optical and mechanical stabilizers.

Memory cards: Don’t let the sales pitch fool you. Unless you’re going on a long vacation without computer access, you probably don’t need more than 1 gigabyte of memory.