Im getting super stressed out because my old setup is literally falling apart and I have a huge wedding gig booked for mid-October. I need to upgrade to a Sony A7IV or maybe the Canon R6 II but the prices are just killing me right now. Ive been scouting around for weeks but its been a total nightmare trying to figure out if I should just bite the bullet or wait for a price drop that might not even happen in time.
I read on some subreddit that retailers usually do big pushes around Black Friday but thats way too late for me since the wedding is in Oct. Then I saw a thread on a gear site suggesting that stores sometimes have unadvertised sales when a new model is about to drop, but then someone else said that only happens if there is a massive overstock issue which I havent seen confirmed anywhere. Im honestly so confused because one minute Im reading about how prices are rock solid and the next Im seeing people talk about secret discounts at local shops but I live in a rural area in Ohio so I cant exactly just drive around to check different storefronts.
My budget is strictly capped at about 2800 for the body and a decent lens, which is tough because everything seems to be hovering just above that mark unless I find a solid bundle deal. I cant afford to waste money but I also cant show up to this shoot with a camera that might die mid-ceremony. Does anyone actually know if there is anything coming up in the next few weeks that might knock a few hundred bucks off these prices or am I just setting myself up for disappointment by waiting for a sale that isnt coming...
> I need to upgrade to a Sony A7IV or maybe the Canon R6 II Honestly, forget waiting for sales. Just grab a used Sony A7IV 33MP Full-Frame Mirrorless from a reputable site instead.
Saw this earlier but just now getting a chance to type out a reply. Honestly, I have been in that exact spot where your gear starts acting up right before a big job. It is stressful as hell. If you are worried about the A7IV or R6 II being out of reach, you might want to look at the Fujifilm X-T5 40.2MP APS-C Mirrorless or even the Nikon Z6 II 24.5MP Full-Frame Mirrorless. I remember needing a backup body years ago during a busy wedding season and I grabbed a used Nikon because the glass selection made it way easier to stay under budget without compromising on quality. Since you are rural, stop looking for secret store sales. They basically dont exist anymore because inventory is tracked so tightly. You are better off checking trade-in programs where shops offer a bundle discount if you trade in your old broken body. Even if it is falling apart, some places give a flat trade-in credit toward a new purchase. That credit usually covers enough to get you into a better lens than you would have bought otherwise. Stick to your budget, keep the gear simple, and dont bet on a sale that probably wont hit before October. You need reliability more than the latest features right now.
Honestly, waiting for sales on camera bodies right now is a total crapshoot and usually leads to nothing but stress. I learned this the hard way back when I needed a reliable secondary for a tight deadline and kept refreshing pages until I missed out on a decent inventory window. The retail margins on high-end stuff like the Canon EOS R6 Mark II 24.2MP Full-Frame Mirrorless are razor thin, so big drops are rare outside of holiday cycles. Since you are tight on time and budget, look at these instead:
- Panasonic Lumix S5II 24.2MP Full-Frame Mirrorless which gives you killer IBIS and phase-detect AF for way less money.
- Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens to pair with whatever body you snag, it is sharp as a tack. Don't gamble on an unconfirmed sale while you have a gig on the line. Get something that works now.
