Budget shopping tips: Digital SLRsThere are a lot of good reasons to pay extra bucks for a dSLR over a point-and-shoot, including better photo quality (especially in low light), faster shooting, and the flexibility of changing lenses with different focal lengths. But it's also possible to err on the side of too much or too little when buying, especially if you don't have a solid idea of what you need or want from the camera.
Every time you answer "yes" to these questions, the base amount you'll have to pay for a satisfying experience increases. Check out our dSLR guide to figure out what's on your essentials list. Then take a look at the cheapest models and what you get by stepping up a price class. Look to the past Many year-to-year changes don't fundamentally change a camera. Usually, there's bump in resolution, improved noise reduction for low-light shooting, and faster capture. For many people, as long as an older model meets their threshold needs, it's fast enough. For example, it's unnecessary to pay more for this year's shiny new one. But watch out for price gouging on older models. When a product gets discontinued and becomes scarce, some outlets actually jack up the price to beyond its original list. Spend money where it counts For a fixed budget, as long as the body meets your needs, it usually makes sense to put your extra money in a decent lens rather than a more expensive body. Kits usually save money overall For dSLRs under US$1,000, if you don't already have lenses, spending the extra US$100 or so for a kit with a lens--usually an 18-55mm--is cheaper than buying a body plus a lens (unless you have special needs that would leave the 18-55mm lens collecting dust). A dual lens kit can also save you a little money if you know that you're going to want to shoot telephoto. Make sure you're comparing equivalent configurations, though. Don't just go by the picture of the dSLR on the manufacturer's Web site--you should look at the box contents to ensure that the cheaper version isn't just a body only, while the more expensive model includes a lens. Choose your moment The best time to find a bargain on a particular model is around the time it's slated to be replaced. Most entry-level to midrange dSLRs are on an annual replacement cycle. So if you need to plan, find the date that the model shipped. The holiday shopping season and summer back-to-school months are also good times to check prices. Ignore all but instant rebates (and freebies) Some retailers quote a price with a rebate factored in. Unless it's an instant rebate, always assume that you'll never see that money and factor it right out of the price. Alternatively, you can compare the promotions the brands are dishing out. Some times they might offer free high-capacity memory cards or even an extra lithium-ion battery, which can be quite pricey. Tags: DSLR, MP3 Player, TV, Camera, noise reduction
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