need a new setup before my trip to japan on the 14th so I gotta buy something this week. looking at the sony a6400 vs fujifilm xt30 ii right now since my absolute max budget is around 900 bucks with a kit lens. anyone seen decent sales on either of these lately? really torn between sonys autofocus and fujis film sims tbh... which one should I pull the trigger on before prices go back up?
Re: "Cutting it close with the 14th! Honestly I..."
- Yeah seriously, you need to make sure your gear arrives with enough time to test it out! Since your budget is sitting right around nine hundred bucks, you actually have some fantastic choices. I totally get being torn between the Sony and Fuji autofocus versus colors debate, but honestly, grabbing the Sony Alpha a6400 Mirrorless Camera Body with the 16-50mm kit lens is probably your safest bet for a trip. That Sony setup usually runs right around your budget, and the autofocus tracking is just amazing when you are walking through crowded streets in Tokyo or Kyoto. You really do not want to miss a shot because your camera was hunting for focus! Another super solid alternative that stays safely under budget is the Canon EOS M50 Mark II Mirrorless Camera with the 15-45mm lens. It is super user-friendly for beginners and has fantastic eye-detection autofocus which makes taking portraits of travel companions totally foolproof. Whichever one you end up picking this week, make sure you order express shipping so it lands on your doorstep with a few days to spare. Read through the manual, charge up the battery completely, and take a bunch of test shots around your house before you pack it in your bag. Have an incredible time in Japan!
Jumping in here because your budget of nine hundred dollars is actually a bit tight for a brand new Sony a6400 24.2MP Mirrorless Camera or Fujifilm X-T30 II 26.1MP Mirrorless Camera kit if you are buying retail right now. Prices have crept up slightly, and taxes will easily push those setups past your limit. If you need something immediately for your trip, I would suggest looking at used gear from reputable shops like MPB or KEH instead of waiting for a unicorn retail sale that might not happen this week. Going the secondhand route lets you grab an Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV 20.3MP Mirrorless Camera with a kit lens for well under your budget, leaving you extra cash for extra batteries and a reliable SD card. Micro Four Thirds gear is significantly cheaper, and the smaller sensor size makes traveling much lighter on your shoulders when walking around Tokyo all day. If you stay dead set on Sony a6400 24.2MP Mirrorless Camera, definitely check local marketplace listings today so you can physically inspect the shutter count and glass before handing over cash. Whatever you choose, do not skip buying a spare battery because mirrorless battery drain is no joke during long days of sightseeing.
Cutting it close with the 14th! Honestly I would suggest being super careful buying right before a big trip like that. When I bought my current setup right before heading overseas, I skipped testing everything properly and almost missed getting any good shots because I didn't know the menu system well enough yet. Make sure to factor in a couple days just to learn the gear and test out the battery life before you leave. Japan has amazing camera shops everywhere if you get stuck, but you really want your stuff working out of the box. Hope you get it sorted in time and have an epic trip!