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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Off Topic => Topic started by: melastmohican on January 02, 2014, 12:42

Title: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: melastmohican on January 02, 2014, 12:42
I was thinking that after Christmas prices should go down but i checked and many things are out of stock.
Title: Re: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: pancaketom on January 02, 2014, 12:52
If you can wait and are ok with being one generation behind, the best time to buy a camera is when the newest upgrade has just been released but before the old stock is gone. When I was tracking prices I didn't see any obvious benefit to waiting until after christmas, although there were some pretty good last minute deals this year.
Title: Re: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: JPSDK on January 02, 2014, 13:08
The best time to buy is when you need it, and I mean NEED it, and it can earn back its money.

It is a business decision. So you buy new gear when the old cannot compete anymore.
That if of course unless you are a collector, collectors always buys stuff because they think they need it.
Title: Re: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: Pauws99 on January 02, 2014, 13:51
When you can no longer resist buying a new one. :'(

Or six months after a new release so any bugs are ironed out prices are at sensible levels  and you can get a good lifespan before it becomes "oudated"

Title: Re: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: Beppe Grillo on January 02, 2014, 13:53
The best moment is always the moment when you need it.
Never wait for the next better model… or you will wait all your life.
Title: Re: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: melastmohican on January 02, 2014, 15:06
Is camera sensor deteriorating over time? I remember that on some rental site they claim that they hold equipment for only two years for maximum performance.
Title: Re: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: gostwyck on January 02, 2014, 18:40
Is camera sensor deteriorating over time? I remember that on some rental site they claim that they hold equipment for only two years for maximum performance.

Not that I'm aware of. My main camera is now 5 years old with about 250k shutter operations. I hope I get another 5 years work out of it. Of course rental gear can get seriously abused and resale value drops off severely (because of newer models) after a couple of years. The 'maximum performance' that they are referring to is probably their profitability.

As others have said, spend money on a new camera only when you need to and when doing so will make you more money than not doing so.
Title: Re: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: Freedom on January 02, 2014, 22:24
Is camera sensor deteriorating over time? I remember that on some rental site they claim that they hold equipment for only two years for maximum performance.

There will definitely be damaged sensor pixels over a period of time, especially if you shoot long exposure a lot. Besides, the shutter has a lifespan too. I always buy extended insurance to cover 2-3 years and against accidents as well. The insurer once replaced the sensor (with the shutter) at the end of three year, and vitually gave my old camera a new life.

Come back to your original question, yes, the cameras are cheaper at certain time of the year. For me, the best deals are around back-to-school sales and Black Friday.
Title: Re: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: Uncle Pete on January 03, 2014, 12:02
Every one is a good answer, which is why it's an interesting question.

If the question is about PRICE and nothing else, then -
If you can wait and are ok with being one generation behind, the best time to buy a camera is when the newest upgrade has just been released but before the old stock is gone. When I was tracking prices I didn't see any obvious benefit to waiting until after Christmas, although there were some pretty good last minute deals this year.

Watch for new models to be coming out, often there's nothing but the cycle, for example, pretty much every other Canon ##-D is an improved version of the one before. 10-D to 20-D before a sensor change 30-D to 40-D electronics and focusing... That kind of change. I don't know if Nikon runs the same, but I know the two year cycle is pretty universal.

The other part of what Tom wrote is, you can get perfectly good, new cameras, on close-out as the dealers want to bring in the new at List Price. I got the EOS-M with the 22mm for $299 and that sale was about two days, BH and Amazon both, and gone. I'd guess Adorama had the same.

Then a week later they dropped the same camera with the 18-55 lens down to $349 range.

Just an example, but for some reason, Canon was closing out that one, only a year into the new release.

Here's another way to look at it. Almost anytime is a good time to buy a new camera. What you might consider is the worst time is when it's new and just released and everything is list price. Avoid that and you're on the right path.

But everyone else was right too. Just so many ways to look at a good time, seasonal sales, after the Holidays, close-out (my favorite), and manufacturers rebate sales which come and go.

Buy from a reputable dealer, not the "lowest price on the internet" That would be B&H, Adorama, Amazon and there are some other national dealers, KH? Just watch out for the bait and switch shops that are slippery cons.
Title: Re: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: bunhill on January 03, 2014, 14:20
Personally - recently and from now on I am buying used from eBay. When a new model comes out I might buy a recent previous if I really need a new body. Always from private sellers with good feedback, never from dealers.

This is what I have learned: there are lots of people out there who are basically fetishistic about cameras. These people are way more into cameras than they are into photographs - they buy the latest thing no matter how much it costs. They are like the people who like hi-fi but have little interest in music. 12-18 months later the camera is still great but worth about 1/3 or less used. And often these people keep the equipment in very good condition - though I am happy to buy scratched bodies.

I can clean a sensor and I am not going to buy anything with too many shutter activations. At this point I am only using prime lenses and I have most of the lenses I am ever likely to need.

FWIW - I long ago came to the conclusion that APS-C sized sensors max out at about 12 MP and 35mm sized sensors are good up to about 24 MP. I tend to downsize images from cameras which exceed this and very few clients actually need anything bigger than 6 MP.
Title: Re: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: Chichikov on May 19, 2018, 05:53
I think the best time to buy - after the release of a newer model, then the previous models will be cheaper. Now I also want to buy a new camera, so tell me, when is the best time this year?

This is a 4 years old thread.
But in my opinion the best time is when you need it.
You can need it because you have broken the one you use, or it has been stolen.
You also can need it if the progress of the technology really gives you something more and give you the possibility to produce very better images in an easier way.
Title: Re: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: Zero Talent on May 19, 2018, 09:35
Camelcamelcamel.com is tracking historical prices on Amazon. Other sellers are following Amazon very closely, therefore these graphs are a good indicator of market trends.
I attached an example for Canon 5D mk4, showing that the price is good these days.
Title: Re: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: unnonimus on May 22, 2018, 06:36
around april of every year is around when most new cameras hit the market, after the consumer electronic show. so if you want a new model, wait until april.
Title: Re: Best time of the year to buy new camera?
Post by: Pauws99 on May 22, 2018, 10:25
around april of every year is around when most new cameras hit the market, after the consumer electronic show. so if you want a new model, wait until april.
It may be a good time to buy the superseded model but I would not buy anything just coming to the market....it will be priced at a premium and wont have the robust testing that a camera on the market will have had by real users. I'd wait six months minimum.