My old DSLR finally died on me while I was out hiking last weekend and honestly it was a total pain lugging that brick around anyway. Im looking to switch to mirrorless for my upcoming trip to Japan next month and Im trying to keep it under 1500 bucks if possible. I saw some decent bundle deals for the Sony a6400 on Amazon but then read a bunch of threads saying the sensor is getting kinda dated now. Everyone keeps pointing to the newer Canon R series but the lens prices are throwing me off. Is there anything actually worth picking up right now or should I just wait until the next big sale?
Stumbled on this thread and honestly feel your pain with the old DSLRs. If you're heading to Japan, weight is definitely your best friend. Before you pull the trigger on anything, are you planning on mostly doing street photography or are you more into landscape stuff? That changes the lens situation a ton.
- Canon EOS R10 24.2MP APS-C Mirrorless is super lightweight and the ergonomics are killer, tho the lens selection is a bit limited for now.
- Panasonic Lumix G9 II 25.2MP Micro Four Thirds is another solid bet if you want tiny lenses and insane stabilization for travel shots. The Sony stuff is popular for a reason but those menus drive me crazy tbh. Let me know what you're shooting and I can give you a better breakdown.
Like someone mentioned, weight matters in Japan. I carried a massive rig for years before switching to the Nikon Z5 24.3MP Mirrorless and it changed everything. Honestly, don't overthink the sensor age stuff. For travel, reliable focus and build quality beats spec sheets every time. I'd definitely look at getting a solid prime lens with it, it's way more compact for those long days walking through Tokyo streets.
TL;DR: Grab a Fujifilm X-S10 26.1MP APS-C Mirrorless if you can find one, or stick with the Sony Alpha a6700 26MP APS-C Mirrorless if you want the autofocus king. Look, the a6400 is fine, but in my experience, the sensor tech in the newer bodies is night and day for noise control. I've lugged around everything over the years, and honestly, the Fuji colors straight out of camera save so much time on editing when you're traveling. If you're worried about Canon lens pricing, Sony E-mount has way more third-party glass from brands like Sigma that wont destroy your wallet. The a6700 is basically a baby a7R V, and having that AI-driven AF is a total game changer for street photography in Tokyo. Dont stress the wait, just get something lightweight and go.
I am in the exact same boat as you, honestly. Been staring at gear lists for weeks trying to replace my heavy DSLR before my own upcoming trip. It is such a headache choosing between sensor performance and lens costs right now. Since you are worried about reliability and technical longevity, just make sure you check the weather sealing ratings if you plan on doing a lot of outdoor shooting. Also, try to prioritize bodies with in-body image stabilization if you are going to be handheld shooting in low light, it makes a massive difference for keeping shots sharp without a tripod. Just sticking to my current search for a Fujifilm X-T5 40.2MP APS-C Mirrorless for now because the build quality feels solid.
