Ive been shooting with my old dslr for probably six or seven years now and honestly it has served me well but the shutter count is getting way up there and the weight is starting to really bug me during long hikes. I finally decided it is time to switch over to mirrorless for the size benefits and better eye-tracking af. I was originally gonna wait until the holidays but my sensor is acting up, giving me these weird hot pixels on anything over iso 800, which is super annoying for my night photography stuff.
Im based in the states and have about 1500 bucks saved up for a body and maybe a decent kit lens to get me started. Ive been checking the usual sites but everything seems pretty full price right now. Does anyone know if there are actually any decent mirrorless deals floating around this week or should I just hold out a bit longer? I really dont want to pull the trigger on a full price body if there is a sale coming up in like two weeks or something. Has anyone seen any decent bundles for a mirrorless setup lately?
Honestly, buying cameras right now is pretty frustrating since prices are holding firm. I checked a few sites today and saw almost nothing worth grabbing. Ive been shooting with the Sony Alpha a7 III Full-frame Mirrorless Camera 24.2MP for a while now, and while it was a solid performer, the autofocus is starting to feel dated compared to newer tech. It is reliable, sure, but those hot pixels you mentioned are exactly why I swapped out my old gear too. If you can stretch that budget, the Fujifilm X-T5 Mirrorless Digital Camera 40.2MP APS-C is a fantastic step up, though it might be tough to find under 1500 with a lens. I had issues with some of the entry-level bodies having poor weather sealing for those long hikes you mentioned, which is why I stopped recommending cheaper bundles. If you need something today, maybe look at the Canon EOS R8 Full-frame Mirrorless Camera 24.2MP because the weight is amazing, but the battery life is just not as good as expected compared to my old dslr. Unfortunately, if you want a true deal, you should probably just wait. Big retailers keep pushing full price right now and usually drop bundles right before the holiday season kicks off. Dont rush it, especially if your current sensor is still somewhat usable for daylight stuff. Saving another couple hundred bucks for a better lens is better than settling for a mediocre kit bundle that you will want to replace in a year.
Adding my two cents, check out the Fujifilm X-T5 40.2MP Mirrorless for insane resolution or the Canon EOS R7 32.5MP Mirrorless for speed! Both are amazing upgrades for hiking.
Agree with the others, that sensor issue sounds like a nightmare. If you want something lightweight for those hikes, look at the Nikon Z5 24.3MP Mirrorless Camera. It is often bundled with the 24-50mm lens and stays right in your budget.
- Super reliable autofocus
- Weather sealing is solid
- Ergonomics feel great I am honestly very satisfied with how it handles low light. Definitely check the used market too, you might snag a deal there.
Ugh, I totally feel your pain with the hot pixels. My old gear started doing the exact same thing a few months ago and its honestly the worst when you are trying to shoot at night. I basically spent the whole weekend just staring at my camera bag feeling sad about it.
- Honestly just go hit up r/Photography on Reddit, those guys are obsessed with tracking sales.
- There is a super solid youtube channel I found that breaks down recent price drops, search for mirrorless camera deals 2024 and it should pop up.
- Check the official manufacturer outlet sites too, sometimes they hide the best stuff there. I really dont have the energy to hunt down links right now but just spend an hour browsing those spots and you will probably find something. Good luck with the search, hope you find a replacement soon!
