Digital Camera Buying Tips for the Recession

The numbers are out and the US has been in a recession for about a year. Happy birthday recession? Gone are the days of irrational purchasing exuberance "I'll take one of each please", and in are the days of responsible buying. That doesn't mean you stop buying, but rather you buy more responsibly.

So in this post, we have some tips on how to buy digital cameras and photography gear without breaking the bank. If you are a grizzled shopping veteran you probably know all these already.

Tips for All Photographers

1. bargain hunt, don't buy the first camera in front of you - but beware of the "too good to be true" prices - stay with reputable online retailers and discounters or local shops you know and trust
2. ignore the "save $xxx" or "save 40%" signs, and compare the actual prices instead - don't forget to factor in shipping and sales tax - and return policy
3. consider cameras that take SD/SDHC/MMC or CF memory cards over cameras that exclusively take xD and MemoryStick cards - unless you have a specific reason why you want those cameras
4. look for cameras that offer flexibility and versatility
5. consider used equipment instead of brand new

Tips for Advanced Photographers

1. rediscover the joy of manual focus and manual exposure
2. go DIY, you can easily "make" things to use on a regular basis - there's a number of websites and blogs that offer step-by-step DIY directions
3. trade unused gear with other photographers - thus you get something new without actually spending money. A number of photography forums offer a peer-to-peer buy/sell sub-forum. There's also Craigslist and eBay.
4. consider borrowing gear (DSLRs, lenses) instead of buying if your project (or gear craving) has a short time window
5. take another look at Tamron, Sigma and Tokina lenses
6. tripods and monopods are a lot cheaper than IS/VR lenses