Ive been a Nikon DSLR shooter for like over a decade now (still rocking my D750 honestly) but I finally think its time to make the jump to mirrorless. My old gear is just getting too heavy for hiking and the autofocus is starting to feel ancient when Im trying to catch my toddler running around. I thought I knew what I wanted but looking at the deals dropping for Black Friday is actually stressing me out more than I expected because prices are all over the place. I know the basics of mirrorless tech but some of these specific brand deals are confusing me.
Here are my constraints:
- Budget is around $1800 max for body and a decent kit lens or a fast prime
- Must have eye-tracking AF because my kid doesnt sit still
- Decent low light performance since I do a lot of indoor candid shots
- Not too bulky for travel
I was looking at the Z6ii or maybe switching to Sony with an a7Cii if the price drops enough but some of these bundles look like they include junk lenses Ill never use. Has anyone spotted any early leaks or actually good bundles that arent just filler? Im based in the US so looking at the usual spots like B&H or Adorama. Im also kinda worried about the IBIS on the smaller bodies, is it actually worth the trade off for the size? Just trying to figure out where the best bang for my buck is gonna be this week before everything sells out...
Building on the earlier suggestion, we've looked at the Z6ii and IBIS, but be careful with the smaller viewfinders on those compact bodies. I found the transition a bit jarring after years with the D750.
- Look for a Sony Alpha 7C Mirrorless Camera deal
- Pair it with a Sony FE 35mm f1.8 Lens
- The tracking is incredible for toddlers and stays well under your $1800 budget
I transitioned from the D750 to the Nikon Z6 II 24.5MP Mirrorless Camera and Ive been very satisfied with the performance. The eye-tracking works well for moving toddlers and the low light sensor is excellent. You can find it bundled with the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S Lens for roughly $1,600 right now. Its much lighter for hiking without sacrificing quality.
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> Im also kinda worried about the IBIS on the smaller bodies, is it actually worth the trade off for the size? Honestly, I had the same worry. I am super satisfied with how the stabilization on my current setup handles handheld shots in dim rooms. Moving from a heavy DSLR was the best thing for my back on hikes. No complaints about the stability, definitely worth the size trade-off for me.
> My old gear is just getting too heavy for hiking and the autofocus is starting to feel ancient when Im trying to catch my toddler running around. Omg I have this exact same issue. I have been fighting with my heavy DSLR for two months now trying to get clear shots of my kids and its honestly just exhausting. I am in the same boat as you, staring at my screen for hours trying to figure out which body won't fall apart or fail me during a trip, but I still havent pulled the trigger on anything. It is so frustrating that every bundle seems to have some useless junk lens attached to it that just jacks up the price. I just want something reliable that actually works without having to spend a fortune.