A camera isn’t exactly a cheap investment – most consumer cameras can cost you a pretty penny, and this is why you need to be smart about how you go about your tech shopping business. While there are more cameras available on the market than ever before, that will also mean that you can easily get overwhelmed by all the available options and choices in front of you.
What are some camera buying mistakes that you’ll want to make sure that you avoid? What are some classic pitfalls you’ll want to steer clear of? Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know.
1. Buying Without Reading Reviews
One thing you’ll certainly want to do before handing your credit card over to any camera retailer is to take a second to read the reviews for the product that you’re about to purchase. Reading online reviews can give you a much better sense of what kind of product you’re about to get your hands on. Customers who have come before you can help illuminate experiences with the product that might feel only hypothetical when you’re reading the product description.
How user-friendly is the camera? What are some of the unforeseen challenges – or advantages – you might face with it? Are there things you’ll need to think about prior to buying, in terms of your education, storage, other equipment you might need to consider, and so forth?
Yes, reading reviews can help to elucidate whether other customers like this product – but all taste is subjective. All cameras are likely to have some positive and negative reviews.
However, looking past the surface level and getting details about what problems or benefits this product might provide to you can be hugely helpful when shaping your purchasing decision.
2. Don’t Focus Too Much on Specs
Yes, the specs of a camera are obviously important. But after you’ve spent hours looking at lists of numbers, it’s easy to start feeling your head spin.
What’s important to keep in mind when camera shopping is that not all specs need to be equally weighted. It’s important to take the time to consider what you’re using this camera for, and which specs might be most relevant to you.
Everything else you can look over, but you might not need to prioritize in your decision.
It might be cool that one camera has a much more dynamic range when it comes to ISO – but unless you’re planning on shooting often in high or low light, this advantage might not ultimately make much of a difference to your purchase. Plus, you might end up paying heavily for it!
If you can, before you even start browsing camera listings at SpiritShack or elsewhere, make a list of specs that are actually important to you. This will give you a guide to follow as you proceed through your options.
3. Not Comparing Camera Prices
If you’re going to make an investment in a high-quality video camera, you’re not going to want to be impulsive when it comes to your purchase. First and foremost, find the camera that you’re interested in, browsing the available products at whatever outlet might be your preference. However, once you’ve done this work and landed on a camera – halt yourself before tossing it right in your cart.
The market for cameras can be quite wild, and you have no idea what the same product might be going for elsewhere. Do your research and determine if you’re really getting the best price for the product here.
Is it much more affordable elsewhere? Much more expensive? Take note of all discrepancies. Do other outlets provide a better deal – perhaps a longer warranty, insurance, or some kind of bundle with other products?
You’ll want to get a full view of all your possible options before committing to any particular seller.
4. Don’t Ignore The Used Camera Market
Unlike you, many people may ignore the above advice, or they may be unaware of it. What does that end up creating? Even if they make a smart purchase, people’s situations quickly change, and they may need to get rid of their big purchase or may even need to upgrade to a more advanced model.
The result of all this activity? An often busting used camera market.
Cameras are generally built quite well. This means they can stand up to even years of use without too much wear and tear. If you want to get a fantastic deal on a camera body and get almost the same thing you would if it was new, the used market is well worth looking at.
There are all kinds of places out there to browse through used cameras including larger retailers like B&H or Adorama. Even online standbys such as eBay might present you with some stellar options to consider.
These marketplaces can also be great places to get good deals on lenses and other additional camera accessories, so even if you decide to get a new body, they might still be worth bookmarking.
Just make sure you’re buying your camera from someone with a strong reputation!
Camera Buying Mistakes to Avoid
It’s exciting to be in the market for a new camera! Getting your hands on that new gear can be the ultimate rush. However, you’ll need to get through the more difficult purchasing process first, and that can take time and effort.
The above guide to camera buying mistakes can help you to get through this process with grace and class intact.
Need more tech advice and info? Keep scrolling our blog for more.
Also read: DSLR vs Mirrorless Cameras: What are Differences and Similarities?
