Honestly im just so fed up with my old Canon Rebel t6 right now. The autofocus is acting super weird and it keeps throwing this error code every time I try to shoot in low light which is basically the only time I have to take photos lately. I do a lot of street photography here in Chicago and the wind chill is already starting to get to me so the last thing I need is my gear failing while Im out trying to catch some candid shots. I have about 1200 bucks saved up for an upgrade and I really want to jump to a mirrorless setup like the Sony a6700 or maybe the Fuji X-T5 but prices are still all over the place.
Everyone keeps telling me to just hold my breath until Black Friday because the deals are gonna be insane but is it actually worth the stress? Last year I swear it felt like all the legit camera bodies stayed at MSRP and they just bundled them with a bunch of cheap memory cards and shitty camera bags I dont even want. Like, is there any real chance of getting a decent body at a discount or am I just gonna be sitting here waiting for nothing while my current camera continues to slowly die on me? Im itching to get something new before my trip to visit family in December but if the savings are just like fifty bucks off it seems like a total waste of time to wait. Has anyone actually landed a sweet deal on a primary camera body during the sales or is it all just marketing hype? Seriously getting impatient here...
TL;DR: Don't wait. The markdowns on bodies are usually nonexistent, and you're gonna lose out on shooting time. Honestly, I spent three Black Fridays waiting for a drop on a pro body and it never happened. Last year I finally just pulled the trigger on a Sony a6700 26MP APS-C Mirrorless because I was tired of missing shots, and man, the AI autofocus tracking is absolutely insane for street work! It handles low light way better than that old Rebel. If you have 1200, you should grab the body now and put the rest into a fast prime lens. Youre gonna be so much happier having the gear in your bag before that December trip! Waiting just means your current camera will fail at the worst possible moment. Just get the gear and start shooting!
Honestly, stop waiting! I grabbed a Fujifilm X-T5 40.2MP APS-C last year and it is an absolute beast for street shots. The IBIS is a total game changer for those freezing Chicago nights when your hands are shaking! Dont waste your time on those bogus holiday bundles. You need gear that works now, and that resolution is just fantastic for cropping candid moments later.
Look, I have been shooting street stuff for ages and honestly, the wait is almost never worth the stress. You are totally right about the bundles being junk. In my experience, if you see a price you can live with, just grab it. You need a camera that actually works for your trip, not a headache. I switched over to the Nikon Z f 24.5MP Full-frame a while back and it changed everything for my workflow. Even just looking at used gear is better than betting on a sale.
- Check local shops for open box gear
- Look at places like MPB for quality used options
- Forget the bundle hype and focus on the body Honestly, life is too short to deal with error codes when you're trying to enjoy your hobby. Get something reliable now and go have fun.
