Digital Camera Help

[scheddj]

What time of year are the best sales on digital cameras? Any particular stores or sites that sell for less?

 

[SplashMo]

Dell sometimes runs a deal.

newegg.com does but you can only exchange for same item (on cameras).

When buying a camera it is best to get the right camera. The prices do not fluctuate too much...

For a small point and shoot I like canon is1300 and is1400. Which run $130-$150 365 days a year...

Canon S95 is awesome but close to 400.

What do you want the camera to do well?

kenrockwell has a great site with common sense recomendations as does dpreview.

 

[Swimalie]

We've always had good luck with Abe's of Maine. They sell a wide variety of cameras and seem to have really good prices. They ship fast as well.

 

[scheddj]

Thanks for the input. I know that I want a Kodak Easyshare Z981 and I want to get the best price possible for it. At Target & Sears it's about $300, and there are several other places that have it for about $100 less. Abe's is one of them so thanks for the recommendation on that site. The big selling point on this camera is the 26X optical zoom. My kids are both on stage a lot and my current point and shoot isn't cutting it with its 3X zoom.

The Kodak site has it on sale until tomorrow for $199. What I'm wondering is if I should just go ahead and buy it now, wait until Cyber Monday and hope for an even better deal, or if there is a better time of year when camera's typically go on sale (sort of like TV's in January).

 

[swilshire]

Our family owned a couple of the Kodak Easyshares, but once we tried a Canon we never went back. I ordered one of the 1400s mentioned above as a smaller camera to keep with me. I have a larger Canon that I love.

Sheila

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I have a Kodak easyshare that fiance got me last christmas and it won't turn on. I press down the button and it turns on and then shuts off, its not even a year old

 

[SplashMo]

For Long Zooms:

Panasonic FZ35 (FZ38) or Canon SX20 IS

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q110superzoomgroup/page19.asp

This is the review site for cameras.

 

[SplashMo]

Of course if you have the money/ desire a DSLR will take better pics in low light:

canon ti2

You could get it with the kit lens and then latter add the 85mm F1.8 lens for very nice pictures in the dark.

It also does very high quality video. But it is a major purchase...

 

[SplashMo]

If you need help transfering pics from the camera and printing just post here or in photography section and we can walk you though that. If that is the reason you want Kodak....

Then you will have a great camera and be able to enjoy the pics. it is really easy to take pics off camera...

 

[scheddj]

Thanks for all the help everyone! I went ahead and ordered the Kodak from Amazon for $179. I really appreciate the link for the rankings of the long range zooms. While I would love to have the Panasonic or Canon, I can't really justify the extra 45-95% cost for them. The ranking site stated that in this class there was only a small difference between the top and bottom ranking and the typical user won't notice that difference, so I'm feeling pretty good about my choice. Thanks again for all the help.