You may have been one of the first on the block to get a digital camera, but now yours is big, clunky and it takes whopping 1-megapixel pictures. Is it time to trade up? Here are a few questions to ask yourself first.
Are you still happy with your camera? So what if Mr. Jones next door has a hot, slim new many-megapixel version. If your old camera works well and does what you want it to, you don't have to replace it just because there are newer, flashier versions out there.
Is the image quality too low? It cost many more dollars to be way fewer megapixels a few years, even a few months, ago. You will probably be able to get a better model now for less than you spent on your old camera.
Is it too big and heavy? If you find yourself green with envy when someone pulls out a lighter digital camera, it might be time to shop around. While some cameras are still a bit chunky, many inexpensive models are much lighter in weight than they used to be.
Would you like to do something new? Maybe you always shared images by e-mail, but wish you could make some prints. Perhaps you wish you could shoot faster action, and find the old camera's lengthy delay between shots irritating. You may want to look for newer models that have extra features that were pricy or hard to find a few years ago.
Is the camera acting up? If the LCD screen looks crappy (or has gone out entirely), or the flash has a nasty moody streak, maybe it's time to replace the ol' girl with a less quirky newer model.
Are you doing more with your camera? When you first got it, it was a novelty and you used it from time to time. Now, you're a digicam junkie. Invest in your passion and get an upgrade.
Are you uncomfortable tossing out a perfectly good camera? Who wouldn't be. If your old camera still works, but simply isn't up to the level of your current needs, give it to a younger family member or friend. You can donate it to Goodwill or to a local domestic violence shelter. Best Buy stores even offer to buy your used electronics. There is no need to relegate the old camera to a drawer or the trash.
