6 Digital Camera Buying Blunders
#1 Blunder: Sacrificing the quality of pictures for the appearance. The design is an important feature of the digital camera, especially those that come in bright colors. However, they shouldnò€™t become your top concern. Choosing color over megapixel and shutter speed simply because the camera looks cute is not practical.#2 Blunder: Buying a camera without testing it. Just like a car, you need a test drive to evaluate its features. When choosing a digital camera, play around with the settings and the features. Test the camera in different lightings and go over the manual to browse the cameraò€™s specifications. This is why itò€™s advisable to go to the camera store itself to check the gadget for yourself. If you choose to shop online, this option may not be available.
#3 Blunder: Relying on megapixels. While itò€™s an important camera feature, it isnò€™t all about megapixels. The higher the megapixel, the clearer the photos are. But you should also include zooming features, the shutter speed, as well as the brightness settings and a lot more other features. Never use megapixels alone to decide if a camera is for you. Youò€™d be surprised that a 7-megapixel camera takes better pictures than a 12-megapixel camera. Itò€™s all about adjusting the settings and using the camera wisely.
#4 Blunder: Cutting down on memory. The normal camera memory cards which are bundled with the cameras are low. Therefore, you should be willing to upgrade the memory to a memory card with higher volume to store more pictures. Some consumers stick to the original memory card and change the settings into a lower megapixel to store the pictures. This is a no-no, because it totally defeats the purpose of having the high-megapixel camera in the first place. More storage= more pictures. Simple as that.
#5 Blunder: Making the purchase without looking around. Even if you are in a hurry to buy that camera youò€™ve been eyeing for months, you still need a second or third opinion about buying a camera. Look through the features, advantages and disadvantages of the camera that you want. Donò€™t rely on sales and promotions either. While it may be a good idea to purchase cameras on sale, be sure to check if theyò€™re defective and why the cameras are on sale.
#6 Blunder: Overlooking the warranty. This is the most common mistake when buying a digital camera. More often than not, the camera warranty lasts for a year. For special cases and certain fees, they are sometimes extended for up to three years. Cameras are subject to wear and tear too, so be sure to read up on the important stuff on the warranty card prior to buying it. Read the coverage of the warranty so you know what to do and which parts and services are included.