Where can I find Black Friday camera deals?
Authorized camera resellers, notably B&H and Adorama. As for big-box stores, you can count on Best Buy. You can also find deals at Target and Walmart for the more casual consumer cameras, like entry-level DSLRs and point-and-shoots.
Will any particular store offer better camera deals than others?
From our observation, no. Because many of these deals were determined by the manufacturer, you'll find the same price at Best Buy, B&H, Adorama, etc.; you may see a retailer knocking a buck off. However, B&H and Adorama are sweetening the deals by bundling extra accessories, which can be useful.
Should I buy a camera deal from Amazon?
Amazon is great for photo and video accessories, but if you're looking to buy a camera, drone, or any high-ticket item, do your research. Make sure the seller is either Amazon or the camera maker, and not a third-party reseller. If you're in the US, make sure it carries a US warranty. Some manufacturers do not authorize sales on Amazon, such as Rode, so if you see a Rode product, it's likely from an unauthorized seller and Rode will not honor the warranty. With that said, we've purchased a Canon mirrorless camera through Amazon and had no issues.
Is it easy to return a camera that was purchased on Black Friday?
Most reputable retailers will accept returns provided it hasn't been used unless it was clearly stated otherwise. Because of their nationwide locations, Best Buy and other big-box retailers are the most convenient, while online retailers are less so.
Are Black Friday camera deals actually real savings?
While companies inflate the listed savings by discounting off the MSRP, we've found that the deals we've listed here are good ones.
Is it worth buying an older camera on Black Friday?
While you won't get the camera makers' latest technologies, cameras that are a couple of years old tend to be still excellent. Gone are the days of cheap point-and-shoot cameras — today's cameras are advanced, high-quality products that will last a while, and nearly all manufacturers will release firmware updates that add new features or improve existing ones. Unless you're a demanding professional or prosumer photographer or videographer, most consumers will find that previous-generation products work just fine. As for the deals listed, we've made sure to avoid anything that's end-of-life.