How to Find Digital Camera Ratings Online

Buying a digital camera can be a scary thing to do alone. Before you shell out hundreds of dollars, check out some reviews and ratings online. Follow these steps to find user reviews as well as editorial ratings on digital cameras.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet connection
• computer

1. Find a specific camera. First, start shopping around for a camera you’d like based on basic features and price range. Look on eBay or browse around on the Internet. Check out some magazines for feature reviews as well.

2. Figure out the manufacturer and model number. This will usually be the manufacturer name, model name, plus a series of numbers and letters. Example: WestTronics UltraCam H440. Copy this onto your clipboard or write it down.

3. Paste the model number into a search engine. Ignore the sponsor ads and skip down to anything that mentions user ratings or reviews. Visit these Web sites and poke around, making sure you are reading about your camera in question. Note: If the name of your camera returns too many results, try adding the terms “reviews,” “ratings” or “compare.”

4. Visit the manufacturer Web site. Find information on the camera there. Of course, they are going to do their hardest to sell it to you, but they may have links to more objective reviewers, as well as comparable cameras.

5. Research comparable cameras. Almost every camera has a comparable model from a competing manufacturer. Repeat the steps above to find out how the competition stacks up in terms of price and performance.

6. Visit some popular magazine Web sites. Your favorite print magazines usually have Web sites, too. Try typing their name into a searching into a search engine. Look on their site for product reviews. You may also be able to search back issues.

7. Visit some forums. Do a quick search on “digital camera forums” and see if there are threads about the camera you are thinking about buying.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider the credibility of the reviewer. Look up a review of a product that you already own and see if their opinion matches your experience.
• Third-party vendors often have easy access to ratings, as well as average ratings. One or two feature reviews are usually displayed, but make sure you check out all the reviews available on the site.
• Take reviews with a grain of salt. Some consumers are bitter or just unlucky. Don’t let one scathingly negative or enthusiastically optimistic review sway you.