Are you lead shooter? Be careful because Sony A7 IV 33MP Full Frame eats your budget, so you wont have money for the fast f/2.8 lenses weddings actually require, honestly.

@Reply #3 - good point! EDU is basically the only way to get a legit discount on a new one right now. Honestly though, if you are shooting a wedding next month, reliability is everything and you cant just ignore the lens cost. I would be super careful about blowing your whole 2k just on a body and having nothing left for fast glass. Like Thomas mentioned, lenses are the real killer. Since the budget is tight, maybe look for a refurbished Sony Alpha a7 III instead of the IV. It is a proven workhorse and leaves you enough cash for a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2. That combo is way more reliable for professional work than the a7 IV with a cheap kit lens that might hunt for focus during the vows... If you are dead set on the newer model, check the refurbished listings on the official Sony site or B&H. They usually come with a full warranty so you arent stuck if something goes wrong. Better to have that peace of mind when someones big day is on the line, ya know?

> im so pumped for my first camera! i saw the sony a7 iv but its way over my 2k budget in chicago. Been thinking about your specs vs budget. Honestly, if you are firm on that $2,000 limit for a brand new body, you might want to consider a brand comparison. I am personally very satisfied with the Panasonic LUMIX S5II Mirrorless Camera Body. It usually sits right at $1,997.99. From a technical standpoint, it is a beast for weddings because it has the Phase Hybrid AF and dual card slots you absolutely need for data redundancy. Sony is great, dont get me wrong, but the Sony Alpha a7 IV Mirrorless Camera rarely drops below $2,200 even on sale. If you specifically need that 33MP resolution then you are stuck, but for wedding work, the 24.2MP on the Panasonic is plenty and the low light performance is excellent. It also handles thermal management better than the Sony in my testing. It works well if you want a professional-grade body without the Sony brand tax.

tbh finding a brand new Sony Alpha a7 IV Mirrorless Camera for under two grand is gonna be tough since its still one of their hottest sellers. in my experience, the secret sales are usually just the EDU discount programs if you have a .edu email address or know someone who does. i've saved thousands over the years just by using a student login...

• check out used sites like MPB for a Sony Alpha a7 IV Mirrorless Camera Body, you might snag a deal for around 2100 if you're lucky.
• if you really need to stay under 2k total, maybe look at a used Sony Alpha a7 III Body and put the savings into a Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art for Sony E.
• try greentoe, you basically name your price and dealers can accept it or counter, usually saves a few hundred. ngl, if you're doing a wedding next month, you're gonna need extra batteries and fast cards too. that stuff eats into the budget way faster than you think. good luck with the hunt!

Came here to say the same thing lol. Great minds think alike I guess.

Same boat, watching this

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