I've been shooting on my 5D Mark IV for what feels like forever and I finally think it's time to make the jump to the mirrorless world. Honestly, I'm a bit overwhelmed with the RF mount ecosystem because even though I've got a bag full of EF glass and the adapter seems solid, the body prices are still pretty steep for a hobbyist-turned-pro like me. I'm mainly doing portrait work and some local sports here in Chicago, so I really need that improved eye-tracking autofocus everyone keeps raving about. My budget is capped right around $2,500 for a new body and maybe one native lens if I can swing it. I've been eyeing the R6 Mark II for a while now but I'm torn on whether I should wait for the actual Black Friday weekend or if these early access sales happening right now are as good as it's gonna get.
I noticed some retailers like Adorama and B&H have already started listing holiday specials but the discounts on the R series seem kinda mid compared to previous years when they were trying to move the old DSLR stock. I'm worried if I pull the trigger now, the price will drop another $300 in two weeks and I'll be kicking myself. Plus, I really need to know if any of you have seen bundles that actually include the battery grip or extra batteries because the battery life on these mirrorless bodies still makes me nervous compared to my old workhorse. Has anyone spotted any leaks or confirmed deals for the R6II or maybe even a deep discount on the R5 that puts it in my price range?
Totally agree on the R6II. Keep an eye on the Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Camera 45MP too tho. If it drops near your budget, those extra pixels are massive for cropping sports.
- Refurbished store deals usually beat B&H sales
- Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is a solid budget portrait prime
- Battery drain is heavy with the 120Hz EVF Honestly, if you see an R6II for $2,200 now, just pull the trigger...
I made the switch from my old DSLR setup to the Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Body last year and honestly havent looked back once. I’ve been extremely satisfied with how it handles local events and portraits. The eye-tracking autofocus is literally night and day compared to the 5D Mark IV, basically feels like cheating sometimes. Regarding the pricing, those early access deals at B&H and Adorama are usually the real deal. Most of the time they wont drop further on the actual Friday, and if they do, those big retailers often have price protection policies where theyll refund the difference if you ask. With your $2,500 budget, the R6II is definitely the smarter play over a discounted R5. You’ll have enough left over to pick up the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R and maybe a native prime like the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM for portraits. Regarding your battery concerns, the mirrorless bodies are thirstier but the Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery is pretty efficient. I usually keep one spare in my pocket and I’m good for a full day of shooting. I havent seen many leaks for grips being bundled for free yet, but keep an eye on refurbished stock directly from Canon’s site too. Sometimes they drop excellent condition bodies at prices that leave you room for the Canon BG-R10 Battery Grip without breaking the bank.
I'm literally in the same boat right now, just staring at my open tabs and refreshing the B&H page every hour lol. Regarding what #2 said about "Totally agree on the R6II. Keep an eye..."
- I'm honestly super nervous about the timing too. Someone told me that the inventory levels for the R6II are actually lower than people think, so I'm worried if we wait for a deeper Black Friday drop, they might just go out of stock instead of getting cheaper. IIRC, last year the really big body-only discounts didn't even happen on Friday itself, they were like a random Tuesday thing. I've been trying to crunch the numbers on the power draw specs because the battery life on mirrorless is such a massive shift from the 5D series. Not sure if it's better to hunt for a bundle or just buy extra packs separately. I would suggest being really careful with those early access sales though, sometimes they just bundle in a cheap bag and call it a deal without actually cutting the MSRP. It's so stressful trying to time this right without getting burned by a price drop a week later, ngl.
I really agree with Piony regarding the inventory concerns. Unfortunately, current supply chain reliability just isn't as robust as it was years ago, and I have had issues with late shipments during peak seasons. Honestly, the shipping speed is not as good as expected for professional-grade logistics lately. It reminds me of the time I was heading down to a shoot near the United Center during a blizzard. My vehicle decided that was the perfect moment for the alternator to fail. I spent three hours in a freezing parking lot waiting for assistance while my gear sat in the back. The tow driver was a total character tho, kept talking about his collection of vintage stamps instead of the car. It was quite the ordeal for a Tuesday. Anyway lol sorry I kinda went off topic there.
Just wanted to say thanks for everyone chiming in. Super helpful discussion.
