Ive been shooting with the Sony ecosystem for like seven years now, started with an a6000 and eventually moved to an A7III for my professional work. Im currently looking to pick up another body before a big wedding shoot in Chicago next month and I have about 2200 bucks saved up for it.
I was really expecting the A7IV to hit a lower price point by now but it seems like the deals are super inconsistent lately. I checked B&H this morning and its back up to full price which is annoying. Does anyone know if there are any specific rebates or hidden price drops happening right now that I missed? Or maybe a seasonal sale coming up soon...
I went through this exact thing last year when I needed a backup for my event work. I'm a bit of a stickler for warranties and buying from authorized shops because I've seen people get burned by gray market deals just to save a few bucks. I finally grabbed the Sony Alpha a7 IV Mirrorless Camera during a promo and honestly, I've been super satisfied. It just works well every time. Since you have $2200, you're in a good spot:
- Look for Open Box
- Excellent at Best Buy, thats how I got my secondary Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Camera cheap.
- Check the Sony EDU discount program if you have a student email.
- Watch the B&H DealZone daily. I wouldnt stress too much tho... even if you pay close to MSRP, it pays for itself fast. It's been nothing but solid for me.
I went through this recently and ended up grabbing a used Sony Alpha a7R III 42.4MP Mirrorless Camera from MPB for under two grand. The extra resolution is great for cropping and the battery life is solid, no complaints at all. Quick tip, check out used sites like MPB or KEH. You get a warranty and easily save enough to stay under budget.
> I was really expecting the A7IV to hit a lower price point by now I actually disagree with going older for wedding work tbh. You might want to consider the Sony Alpha a7C II 33MP Mirrorless Camera over the standard Sony Alpha a7 IV 33MP Mirrorless Camera right now. Same 33MP sensor, but the C II has the newer AI tracking chip. Just be careful since it only has one slot... I would suggest using a Sony TOUGH-G 128GB SF-G128T SDXC to minimize failure risk.
Wow ok that changes things. Gonna have to rethink my approach now.
Ugh, honestly I am in the exact same boat and it is driving me crazy. I have been watching prices for weeks and it feels like every time I have the cash ready, the sales just vanish into thin air. It is super frustrating when you have a job lined up and the gear you need keeps fluctuating.
- Honestly, I had issues with the autofocus on my old body and just wanted an upgrade that wouldnt break the bank.
- I was looking at the Sony Alpha a6700 APS-C Mirrorless Camera but the crop sensor situation is not as good as expected for some of the low light venues I shoot.
- Maybe look into a used Sony Alpha a7C Full-frame Mirrorless Camera instead? I really thought there would be more aggressive price drops by now. It is just one of those annoying times where you have to decide if you pay the premium now or keep waiting and hoping for a deal that might never come. Definitely not fun.
