I can’t make up my mind when choosing DC. It’s annoying!!!

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How to buy digital cameras on eBay

Due to the large difference in operating costs, the number of digital cameras on eBay The selling price is obviously better than that in physical stores, which also gives consumers a more affordable and broader choice. However, digital cameras are still relatively expensive luxuries, and it is not easy to choose a DC (short for digital camera) that not only suits your needs but is also cost-effective. What needs to be mentioned in particular is that due to the huge demand for digital cameras, there is a mixed bag of various brands and models, especially accessories, on the market. Whether online or offline, there is an issue of integrity that requires consumers to carefully identify and deal with.

So, how can you choose a cost-effective digital camera that suits your needs on eBay and ensure transaction security? Let us put aside the obscure professional terminology and explain everything from the selection of digital cameras to the final purchase in plain and simple language. We hope to provide you with some helpful information and suggestions. My own knowledge and experience are very limited, so I would like to ask you to give me your advice and criticism.

1. Basic essentials for purchasing a digital camera - Nine elements for selecting and purchasing a camera

Digital cameras and traditional cameras are quite similar in terms of optical and mechanical structure, electronic exposure control, etc. The biggest difference between the two lies in the imaging medium and imaging principle. Digital cameras are much more complex than traditional cameras in terms of imaging and working principles. It is precisely because of this that there are all kinds of digital cameras with new designs and different functions on the market, leaving consumers confused and confused about which one is suitable for them and what they want.

In fact, as an ordinary consumer, there is no need to explore too much about the imaging principle of DC. It is important to make two points clear first:

1. Purchasing a digital camera itself is a process of making choices. A perfect digital camera does not exist, and it is impossible to buy it no matter how much money you spend. .

2. The one that suits you is the best and the most cost-effective.

Based on my personal experience, I have summarized the nine aspects that ordinary consumers need to pay attention to when purchasing DCs into the "Nine Elements of Machine Selection and Purchase". Among the nine factors, there are some light and some heavy. For the convenience of presentation, we will talk about them in order from the most important to the least important.

The "nine elements" in order from most important to least important are: purpose, price, lens, sensor, shutter and aperture, pixels, economy, appearance and function, and brand.

1. Purpose: From the perspective of the grade of the imaging device, the strength of the manual control function, and whether the lens can be replaced, digital cameras can be divided into household, quasi-professional and professional types, but regardless of There is no difference in the basic working principle of what type of product. The key is to understand what you are buying it for.

2. Price: There are two questions to consider here: What is my monthly income? How much disposable expenditure do you currently have? Generally your monthly income is the lower limit, your discretionary spending is the upper limit, and then the middle number is taken. For example, if your monthly income is set to 1,000 yuan and your current disposable expenditure is 2,000 yuan, then it is recommended that the price of the bare camera you choose should be between 1,000 and 2,000, and the middle number of 1,500 yuan should be chosen as your frame of reference. A digital camera requires a lot of accessories, and you can't use it happily with just a bare camera, so you have to make careful calculations, because it is not cost-effective to buy a camera that cannot make ends meet and affects the quality of life.

3. Lens: The lens is the most critical factor in determining imaging quality. We often encounter concepts such as telephoto, wide-angle, macro, etc., which are all covered by the lens. Of course, the most important parameter is the quality of the lens itself. In terms of focal length, there are fixed-focus lenses and zoom lenses. Fixed-focus lenses cannot bring scenery or objects closer or farther away, but they are very cheap. Zoom lenses have optical zoom capabilities and can bring scenery closer or farther away. They are very convenient and practical. , but the price is relatively high. Nowadays, home cameras costing more than 1,000 yuan generally have 3x optical zoom capability and 5-10CM macro, and some can reach 4-5x. Wide-angle capabilities below 28MM and macro capabilities below 3CM are generally features only found in high-end lenses, but what is gratifying is that there are also some low-end camera lenses that have such functions. The most important thing when choosing a lens is quality. In terms of the quality of the lens itself, Schneider, Carl Zeiss, and Leica lenses have always been synonymous with professional lenses. Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Ricoh, Kodak and other brands with lens production capabilities will relatively have better lens quality. Be more professional.

4. Photosensitive element: The photosensitive element of a digital camera replaces the traditional optical camera film and is also the most critical factor in determining imaging quality. There are two types of photosensitive elements: CCD and CMOS. Due to the poor sensitivity of CMOS components and poor imaging quality, they are currently only used in cameras and some low-end entry-level cameras below 1,000 yuan. General brands of home cameras use CCD components. An important basis for evaluating CCDs is size. The larger the CCD size, the larger the photosensitive area, and the better the imaging quality will naturally be. Nowadays, most professional cameras use CCDs of 1/1.8 or above, while home cameras generally use CCDs of 1/2.5, and some also use 1/2.7.

Theoretically, when the CCD size is the same, the lower the pixels, the better the imaging. In actual tests, this view was also supported. Therefore, pixel height alone does not represent the quality of the picture.

5. Shutter and aperture: During the camera shooting process, the reasonable use of shutter and aperture can allow you to take more ideal photos. Currently, the shutter and aperture parameters of home digital cameras are uneven, coupled with the "point-and-shoot" single shooting method of fully automatic cameras, many people have no illusions about the manual functions of home cameras. Although we cannot require that home DCs have the same manual functions as semi-professional or professional cameras, at least we can choose products with better indicators. In terms of shutter speed, we try to choose products with a range of 1/2000 second to 1 second. With various scene modes, we can not only take sports photos, but also long-exposure night scenes; and in terms of aperture, F2.8~F5.6 The index products should belong to the basic selection range. A large aperture combined with a telephoto lens can achieve a more ideal depth of field. Using this combination, you can shoot more three-dimensional works of art.

6. Pixels: Some people think that the higher the pixels, the better, but this is not the case. If you want to use a photo as the desktop of a 17-inch display, a 2-megapixel photo will be very clear and beautiful. 3 million pixels is quite luxurious for developing 6-inch photos. 4 million pixels can easily output A4 size photos. Therefore, the concept of pixels is only the range that can be washed (enlarged) and the capacity that can be processed. It does not have much practical significance for ordinary household needs. Some digital camera manufacturers put extremely high pixels on small-sized CCDs. It sounds like the pixels are very high, but in fact the image quality is not as good as that of ordinary 2 million or even 1 million pixel cameras.

7. Economy: mainly refers to power consumption, memory card type, three-guarantee service, etc. Saving electricity means saving money. A memory card is a must. If you can’t afford a machine you can’t afford a card, it will be embarrassing. Three guarantees of after-sales service are a must. Digital products are prone to various problems. Without after-sales service, it means that your money will be lost at any time. Maybe a water scoop. Digital cameras on the market now generally use two power supply modes: lithium batteries and AA batteries. There are also some that have both power supply modes. I recommend everyone to buy lithium batteries. Of course, it is more convenient to have both. At present, the lithium batteries of ordinary digital cameras can take more than 200 photos, and the more abnormal Ricoh cameras can take 700-800 photos. Memory cards are divided into XD cards, memory sticks, SD cards, MMC cards, CF cards, SM cards, etc. Different models of cameras require different types of memory cards. For example, Sony cameras generally need to be equipped with memory sticks, Olympus generally need to be equipped with XD cards, Canon generally need to be equipped with CF cards, and most cameras are equipped with SD cards, etc. Among them, XD card and memory stick are the two more expensive memory cards, while SD card is becoming today's mainstream storage media due to its high speed and low price. After-sales service is of course the most reliable when it comes to products licensed in mainland China.

8. Brand: The reason why the brand is placed in a relatively low position is because the brand is not decisive in purchasing a camera. Any brand may have its own top-notch products as well as its failures. When buying a camera, you still have to look at what suits you best. In terms of brands, the current domestic market is mainly dominated by China, Japan, the United States, and South Korea, with domestic (Lenovo, BenQ, Photonics, Zhongheng, etc.), Japanese (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, etc.) Ricoh, etc.), American (Kodak), Korean (Samsung). Sometimes, based on brand awareness and market share, they are divided into first-tier (Canon, Nikon, Sony), second-tier (Olympus, Fuji, Panasonic, Casio, Ricoh, Kodak, Samsung, etc.) and third-tier brands. Behind the brand is a true reflection of market retention and reputation. Of course, brand also means price differences. I don’t think it’s a good idea to choose a camera just by looking at the brand. What’s best for you is the one that suits you best. Nowadays, the quality improvement of domestic brands is also obvious and deserves everyone's support.

9. Appearance and function: This is purely a personal preference. Some people like thick ones, some like thin ones. Regarding LCD screens, some people like big screens, while others don't care. In fact, I think the size of the LCD screen is really not important, and the effect seen on the screen and the actual shot are fundamentally different things. Nikon cameras generally have 1.5 screen sizes, which still cannot conceal their excellent performance. While some large-screen cameras look beautiful, their image quality is unsatisfactory. In terms of functions, it generally refers to whether there is manual control, the number of optional modes, dynamic image format and whether it is time-limited, recording and MP3 and other functions. What should be taken seriously here is whether to use the manual function. The operation of the manual function requires certain skills and knowledge. If used properly, you will definitely be able to take better pictures than a camera without manual functions. However, today's home cameras provide a wealth of optional modes, and there is no need to force manual operation. If used well, a point-and-shoot camera can still take beautiful pictures. As for MP3 and dynamic images, it can only be said that the industry has to specialize. The more functions it has, the worse the camera's ability to take pictures will actually be.

2. Which camera is suitable for you - quickly customize according to your needs

After mastering the nine elements of purchasing a digital camera, you can based on the nine elements, Let’s customize a basic machine selection framework for yourself, and then follow the picture to find out.

Example:

Purpose: home entertainment

Price: about 2,000 yuan

Lens: at least 3x optical zoom, wide-angle, macro, professional quality Lens

Sensor: CCD

Shutter and aperture: 1/2000 sec~1 sec, F2.8~F5.6

Pixels: 4 million< /p>

Economy: lithium battery, compatible with alkaline batteries and rechargeable batteries, capable of taking more than 200 photos when fully charged; SD card (XD cards and memory sticks are the most expensive); licensed in mainland China.

Appearance: compact and stylish

LCD screen: 1.8 inches or more

Function: no manual operation required

Brand: Japanese or foreign

The basic outline of your ideal camera will now be clear. With this basic outline, all that's left is to search online for a camera that meets your criteria, or go directly to the experts for help. The eBay Community Digital Zone is a great place to turn to experts for help. I remember a customer posted a bidding for a digital camera in Digital Zone, and the number of applicants was quickly overwhelming. Based on your own searches and recommendations from experts, gradually narrow down the scope, and your favorite machine will show its cute face~

But there is a premise, the tone you have set cannot be messed up. , it is best to stick to the green hills and not relax, otherwise you will still be confused ~

Three: How to judge the credibility of the seller - three looks, two questions and one trial

Online shopping, the most important thing What is important is peace of mind, rather than being greedy for cheap. The old man has been saying: If you are greedy for petty gains and suffer big losses, there will be no pie in the sky. In fact, this is the absolute truth. Don’t blame JS too much. In fact, let me say that JS was forced out by those customers who are greedy for cheap. You want both cheapness and quality, how can you have both? Often some people are deceived because they are greedy for cheap!

So, how to buy your favorite phone cheaply and safely online? As usual, Muyu prescribes three good medicines for you: three looks, two questions, and one test.

1. Third look

First look at the price: Generally, a very cost-effective camera will be sold by many people online, and the price will also vary. When looking at the actual price of a camera, you don’t look at the lowest price, but at the mainstream price. Many people like to go to Pacific and Zhongguancun to see the quotes. In fact, those quotes are for reference only. Anyone can make a quote anywhere as long as they ask for money. The website is not responsible for verifying the authenticity of the quote. Determining the actual price depends on what the mainstream price is. For example, on eBay, if you search for a camera, many sellers’ quotations will come up. 80% of the sellers’ quotations are around 2,000 yuan (within a price difference of 30 yuan), and very few people quoted below 1,800 or even lower, then you Just be careful. Because everyone’s channels are similar, even the price difference caused by different purchase quantities is generally around 50 yuan, not too much. A unique low price is often a trap. In fact, the cost of digital cameras is rigid. When the price drops to a certain level, it becomes a rigid body. At this time, if you still ask the dealer to reduce the price, you are seeking to be cheated.

Second, look at negative reviews: To look at a seller’s reputation, you can’t just look at the number of credit reviews. The key links in evaluating a seller's reputation are: the authenticity of the evaluation, the content of the neutral and negative reviews. Some sellers have a lot of credit points, but there are two ways to focus on judgment: first, where did his credit points come from, whether they are genuine, how much is given by the seller, and how much is given by the buyer. Second, look at how he got the negative reviews, how many negative reviews there are, and the content of the negative reviews.

Three readings: Read the store owner’s personal introduction and product introduction carefully. Personal introduction can let you know what kind of person the store owner is, what the nature of the store is, and whether it is trustworthy. The product introduction can give you a more comprehensive understanding of the product. At the same time, you should compare the store's introduction with relevant online reviews to see if there is any exaggeration; make sure whether it is licensed, parallel imports or second-hand goods, and whether there is a three-guarantee commitment.

2. Second question

Only by asking more, thinking more, and seeing more can you avoid being blind and being fooled.

Ask about the product: Ask whether the product is licensed, parallel import or second-hand, what is the after-sales service, and whether there is a reliable commitment.

Second question about accessories: Many JS will make fake accessories. At this time, you must ask in detail how to judge the authenticity of the accessories. If the store can explain clearly how to judge authenticity, then the store's reliability will be increased.

3. A test

When you are convinced that a seller’s credit is relatively real and the negative reviews are understandable or there are no negative reviews, don’t make a hasty decision. At this time, you need to get in touch with the seller through Wangwang, QQ, etc., and test the seller’s service attitude and temperament. Generally speaking, sellers who can patiently answer questions before selling, have a calm mind, and tell the truth can basically be determined to be reliable.

Four: How not to let yourself fall into the trap - don’t stop the serial killing!

In order to cater to customers' greed for cheap, some js often replace original accessories of digital cameras (such as batteries, etc.), or take the opportunity to sell fake memory cards, batteries, etc. At this time, you must be very careful, ask more questions, test more, and seek more confirmations. Especially the original battery and the delivered memory card have the most tricks inside.

At this time, there are two consecutive tricks to avoid being cheated to the greatest extent.

First, choose accessories that have a way to identify authenticity. You should ask the seller how to identify the original battery, and choose a memory card that has a reliable method of identifying authenticity, so that you can identify the authenticity as soon as you receive the product. Whether the battery is original or not can usually be confirmed by calling the manufacturer's service phone number. The memory card problem is more serious. Although many brand-name cards have anti-counterfeiting labels, 800 number anti-counterfeiting or official website verification procedures, there are also some that have 800 numbers, but they cannot be reached or are not activated at all, which means there is no identification method. This must be inquired in detail before purchasing. Don't be afraid of being wordy. You know, a low-quality and counterfeit memory card can do serious harm to the camera! Moreover, if the camera is damaged, you will not be able to enjoy the three-guarantee service.

Second, resolutely use Anpay. In this way, you can always firmly hold the initiative in your own hands, and resolutely say NO to those sellers who do not agree to use Anpay! There are three biggest benefits of using Anpay, which is also the ultimate guarantee:

The first is that it is affordable. It can save you the handling fee of bank transfer. This handling fee is 1%, which can easily cost several thousand yuan. For a digital camera, it’s not a small sum~ Some friends may say that my bank card does not have online payment function. In fact, this is very simple. eBay provides a very simple function to activate online payment. You just click and follow the steps step by step, and you can activate it in no time!

The second is security. Anpay is a touchstone for sellers and a safe for buyers. When buyers use Anpay, they can always control the initiative in their own hands, and those sellers who dare not let buyers use Anpay are absolutely untrustworthy, so just cancel them from your sight! Of course, I also despise those villains who use Anypay to blackmail sellers. Although these people are a very small number, they are very hateful! I have been blackmailed, but I still insist on using Anpay ~ because I believe that the vast majority of people are honest and kind!

The third is convenience. You don’t have to work so hard going to the bank ~ Hehe ~

Last point, let’s talk about the memory card capacity. The random memory of a digital camera is between 8-32M, and it cannot store a few photos. Think about the number of shots you may take at one time, and then choose a memory card that is sufficient. Generally speaking, a 3-megapixel photo is about 500K each, a 4-megapixel photo is about 1M each, and a 5-megapixel photo is about 2M each. Based on this, you can determine how big of a memory card you need.

After reading it, please share your opinions!