Im trying to find a decent Canon camera before my sons track season starts next month but Black Friday shopping is driving me crazy. My budget is strictly under $800.
I saw some Best Buy bundles for the Rebel T7 but reddit says that sensor is totally outdated. Then I looked at the EOS R50 deals but once you add a zoom lens for sports it blows way past my budget. Every sale seems like a scam or just clearing out ancient stock.
Are there actually any legit Black Friday deals on Canon mirrorless setups right now or should I just give up and buy refurbished?
Stumbled upon this thread and wanted to jump in because track is brutal on autofocus. I would suggest staying away from retail Black Friday bundles. They usually rip you off with subpar lenses. Instead, check out these two setups that might actually work for your budget if you buy refurbished or used:
- Canon EOS R50 Mirrorless Camera with the Canon RF-S 55-210mm f5-6.9 IS STM zoom. Pros: The R50 autofocus is insanely good for tracking runners. Cons: That zoom lens is pretty slow, meaning you might struggle if the track meets are late in the evening under crappy stadium lights. Be careful with low light.
- Refurbished Canon EOS R10 Mirrorless Camera Body paired with a used Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS II USM using a basic EF-to-RF adapter. Pros: The R10 has better physical controls for sports, and that EF lens is way faster and longer than the RF-S zoom. Cons: Its definitely bulkier and you have to hunt on used sites like MPB or KEH to piece it together. Make sure to check out the Canon Price Watch website. They track refurbished restocks and street prices daily, which is a lifesaver right now. Keep your chin up, you can definitely make this budget work if you are patient. Let me know if you need help finding the right adapter.
> EOS R50 deals but once you add a zoom lens for sports it blows way past my budget. Yeah, unfortunately Black Friday camera deals have been pretty disappointing lately. Mostly just retailers dumping slow kit lens bundles that wont actually help you shoot track. If you want to shoot sports under 800 bucks, going mirrorless is tough because RF glass is just so expensive. Had a moment to think about this and you might want to look at older DSLR tech instead. A used Canon EOS 80D paired with a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens is killer for sports. The autofocus motor on that lens is incredibly fast, and it easily fits your budget. Going mirrorless right now means paying a premium for the body and getting stuck with a tiny, slow aperture lens. Track meets need speed, and EF lenses are dirt cheap right now.
Skip the Rebel T7, the autofocus is way too slow for track. I went the refurbished route last year for my kids sports and I am incredibly satisfied with the performance. Canon refurbishes their gear to basically brand new standards and you still get the full warranty. Here is the exact setup that works well and stays under your $800 budget:
- Canon EOS R50 Mirrorless Camera refurbished body. It regularly drops to $479 on the Canon USA refurb site.
- Canon RF-S 55-210mm f5-6.9 IS STM telephoto lens. This goes for about $220 refurbished. The tracking autofocus on the R50 is excellent for runners and the 15 fps electronic burst is perfect for action. I have no complaints with this setup.
