"dad asked me if the camera we were purchasing was new." quote heyitsme7

You "do" understand that what he was asking here was "misunderstood" by you?

Ofcourse he knew the camera was new and unused. What he was really asking here about this camera was is it the "latest technology"? In other words, new technology and in new Iphone model coming out, or "new television" on the market.

I think that you are experiencing a generation gap situation here. I had the same situation myself with "my" parents, it's actually pretty normal.