Ive been shooting with my old 5D Mark III for years now and its finally starting to show its age, especially with the autofocus during darker wedding receptions. Im really looking to jump to the R6 Mark II before my busy season starts in June but the prices are all over the place right now. I have about $2100 saved up specifically for the body and I was hoping to find a solid bundle or just a straight discount since its been out for a bit.
I checked B&H and they have it for $2499 which is standard, but then I saw some random site having it for way less and I dont know if they are legit or if its a gray market thing where I wont get a warranty. Then there was that Canon refurbished drop everyone was talking about on Reddit where it hit $1999 but I missed it by like an hour and now its out of stock. It feels like as soon as a deal pops up it just vanishes. I also looked at:
- Adorama open box items
- Local Facebook marketplace
- EDU discounts through my cousins login
Does anyone know if there are hidden promo codes or maybe specific retailers that have better loyalty programs? I also heard rumors about a spring sale coming up soon but i dont know if I should wait or just bite the bullet now since I need time to learn the new menu system before my first gig... any leads on where to look?
Honestly, $2100 is a bit of a tough spot for a brand new Canon EOS R6 Mark II 24.2MP Full-Frame Mirrorless. I went through the exact same struggle when I finally decided to retire my old gear. I almost got scammed by one of those discount sites that looked totally professional, but it turned out they were shipping gray market units from overseas. You definitely dont want that for weddings because if that shutter fails during a ceremony, Canon USA wont even touch it for repairs. Trust me, I learned the hard way with a lens once and it was a total nightmare. Since you missed that last refurbished drop, I would suggest a few specific things to stay under budget:
- Call the Canon Loyalty Program directly. If you give them the serial number from your old 5D, they often give you a 10 percent or 20 percent discount on a Canon EOS R6 Mark II Body. It varies, but its usually the best hidden deal out there.
- Check out Greentoe. You can basically name your price, like $2100, and authorized dealers will secretly accept the bid if they need to move stock. This keeps your warranty intact.
- Be careful with Facebook Marketplace unless you can meet at a police station and test the sensor for laser damage or dead pixels. I really think you should try the loyalty program first tho. I managed to snag my Canon EOS R6 Mark II 24.2MP Mirrorless Camera for way less than retail just by chatting with their support line. Just make sure to double check those serial numbers before you commit to anything.
^ This. Also, you should check out the used specialists like MPB or KEH. They are fantastic because they grade gear very strictly and offer a real warranty! For $2100, you can totally find a Canon EOS R6 Mark II 24.2MP Full-Frame Mirrorless Body in like-new condition. The tech specs on this are amazing, especially that Dual Pixel CMOS AF II which is gonna be a massive upgrade from your 5D III at receptions! I love how the eye tracking works even in near darkness. Since you are switching from a DSLR, make sure you pick up the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R so your old glass works perfectly. It is a super methodical way to transition without buying all new RF lenses at once. Honestly, dont risk those gray market sites because Canon wont touch them for repairs. Sticking with a certified used dealer is the smartest move for a pro gig like yours!
I am honestly in the exact same position and it has been such a struggle! I have been hunting for a reliable deal for about three weeks now and the inconsistency in pricing across different platforms is just wild. My current kit is starting to fail during critical moments, so the pressure to find a body within that $2100 range is really mounting. Here is what my daily routine has looked like:
- Checking the manufacturer refurbished portal multiple times a day
- Monitoring price drop notifications from three different tracking services
- Reviewing authorized dealer listings for any unannounced open-box inventory It is seriously draining to keep up with all the tabs and alerts just to have them sell out in minutes... I am really hoping a solution pops up soon because I am totally stuck right now!
Just wanted to say thanks for everyone chiming in. Super helpful discussion.
Been using this for years, no complaints