You've Been Warned: Don't Purchase This Tech Item During The Summer

When it comes time to buy (or sell) certain big-ticket items, timing is everything. For example, the best time to sell your home is during the summer, while the best time to buy a new flat screen TV is before the Super Bowl in January or February. But what about buying a new digital camera? Digital cameras don't cost as much as a house, but they can easily eclipse the price of a new television, so getting a good value is vital to your wallet.

First of all, we know what you're probably thinking: Haven't continuously improving smartphone cameras sent standalone digital cameras the way of the digital pager or fax machine? Indeed, modern smartphones have made entry-level compact digital cameras pretty much redundant these days. Yet, a market still exists for higher-end digital cameras with interchangeable lenses, whether that's digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) format or the newer mirrorless models.

Such cameras have much larger sensors than is possible within the confines of a smartphone. As well, a wide variety of specialty lenses is available for everything from macro close-ups to capturing sporting events or wildlife from hundreds of yards away. Finally, there's a certain tactile pleasure about using a real camera with an actual viewfinder and an array of buttons and knobs to customize your shot. If you're hankering to buy a new digital camera for your upcoming vacation, just know that the summer season isn't ideal for buying a new camera. Though like everything in life, some exceptions do exist. Let's dive in.

In January of each year, digital camera manufacturers converge on the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to showcase their newest models. When those latest and greatest digital cameras hit stores the following month, retailers will often offer generous discounts on older or discontinued models to incentivize sales. If you're comfortable with the concept of not owning the absolute latest model — which is fine for most folks' abilities — you may be able to score a great deal on a digital camera in February. That's when the old stock gets discounted to make room for the new models.

Besides coordinating your camera purchase around the release of new models, you can also take advantage of traditional holiday sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the fall to score a good deal. Also note that in recent years, some of the best tech bargains, like on cameras, have actually occurred in the weeks following Black Friday and even spilling into January. Even though the days following Thanksgiving still lend a namesake to the holiday-shopping period, the potential for deals exists for weeks, if not months during the winter, too. If you're thirsty for more holiday-shopping tidbits, check out how much Americans spend on Black Friday.

At this time, we've established that the seasonal period beginning with the winter holiday sales and transitioning into the spring — after new models are released — is the ideal time to purchase your first or next digital camera. Summertime doesn't offer any real advantage for shoppers compared to these other time periods. However, if you must buy during the summer, like for upcoming travel, you will probably want to act around the time when retail giant Amazon is having its Prime Day sales event.

In 2024, Prime Day was a two-day affair beginning on July 16 and is expected to occur around the same time mid-summer in future years as well. Though you do need to be an Amazon Prime member to participate in the event, 30-day trial memberships are available at no charge. A trial membership in Prime will allow you to shop Prime Day, as well as evaluate whether Amazon Prime perks are worth the cost to you personally. Just remember to cancel if you decide that you don't want a long-term relationship with Prime to avoid unnecessary charges.

Prime Day has also sparked fierce competition from other electronics retailers like Best Buy and B&H Photo, just to name a few. These competitors may offer similarly aggressive deals on cameras as Prime Day, but without the need to have a Prime membership. That's a win-win. If all else fails, you can always browse the typical sales that sprout up at summer holiday weekends like Memorial Day or Fourth of July. Still, you'll likely score a better deal on your digital camera by focusing on other times of the year besides summer.