So Ive been eyeing the Canon mirrorless lineup for Black Friday and Im honestly so pumped to finally upgrade from my crusty old 80D. I saw B&H has the R8 for a decent price but then I read a bunch of threads saying the battery life is a nightmare and no IBIS makes it hard for handheld stuff. Then theres the R6 Mark II which looks amazing but even with the holiday discounts its pushing my $1700 budget once I factor in a lens. Im based in Seattle so I really need something that can handle the gloomy lighting for my kids soccer games.
- Budget: $1700 max
- Use: Sports and some portraits
- Must have: Great tracking
Are there any hidden bundles or better deals popping up that I should wait for?
Ive been shooting Canon for about a decade now and honestly, the jump from an 80D to mirrorless is gonna blow your mind. For sports like soccer in Seattle, you really need that fast burst rate and tracking. If the R6 Mark II is too pricey with a lens, you should definitely look at the Canon EOS R7 Mirrorless Camera with RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM. Since its a crop sensor, it actually gives you more reach for those far-away shots on the field, which is a huge plus for sports. Plus it has IBIS and dual card slots, unlike the R8. Ive used the R7 in some pretty dim conditions and even though its not full-frame, the sensor is lightyears ahead of your 80D. You can usually find the R7 body for around $1300 during these sales, leaving you some cash for a decent lens. If you want that full-frame look for portraits though, maybe check the Canon refurbished site. They often have the Canon EOS R6 Mark II Body Refurbished for way less than retail. I grabbed my last body refurbished and it was basically brand new. Just make sure to grab a few extra Canon LP-E6NH Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery packs because mirrorless just eats power way faster than your old DSLR did. Stick with the R7 if soccer is the priority tho, that autofocus is sticky as hell. It really handles those grey Seattle days well if you pair it with the right glass eventually.
Jumping in here quickly because I have a slightly different take! Regarding what #1 said about "Ive been shooting Canon for about a decade..." - they are totally right that the mirrorless jump is amazing, but I disagree that you need to stretch for the R6 Mark II to get those pro results. If youre worried about the budget, going full frame might actually be a mistake for soccer since you lose that extra reach! Basically, you can save a ton of money and get better performance by looking at these:
- Canon EOS R7 32.5MP Mirrorless Camera
- The tracking is fantastic and dual slots are a lifesaver for reliability!
- Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM Telephoto Lens
- Super lightweight for those long games and fits the budget perfectly.
- Canon LP-E6NH Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack
- Always carry a spare, honestly. Ngl, the R7 is built like a tank compared to the R8. It handles the Seattle drizzle way better! Using the crop sensor gives you that extra zoom for free, which is huge for sports. Love the R6ii, but the R7 is a much safer financial play for sports photographers right now!
TL;DR: Skip the R8 for sports and find a deal on a Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless Camera Body. Reliability is way more important than having the newest chip when youre shooting in the rain. @Reply #2 - good point! You really cant ignore the lens cost. In my experience, especially shooting in that Seattle drizzle, you need gear that wont quit on you. Over the years, Ive tried many setups and nothing is worse than your gear dying during a breakaway. I remember one match where my battery tanked right as my kid was about to score because it was 40 degrees out... absolutely soul-crushing. The R8 is nice but that tiny battery is a huge liability for sports. I eventually moved to a refurbished Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless Camera Body and the peace of mind with dual card slots and the better weather sealing was worth every penny. It handles the low light at soccer fields way better than people give it credit for. Quick tip: Always carry a spare Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery in your pocket to keep it warm. Cold weather kills mirrorless batteries faster than anything else.
I spent a few seasons shooting soccer in the rain with an 80D and moving to mirrorless was a notable shift for my keeper rate. Tracking is a decent upgrade over that old tech. Quick question tho, does that $1700 budget need to include a telephoto lens or just the camera body? Also, dont know if youre shooting during the day or under stadium lights...
