Hey everyone — I’m trying to finally buy my first DSLR and I keep getting overwhelmed by all the “bundle deals” out there. My budget is capped at $700 total (including tax if possible), and I’m hoping to get the best value without ending up with a box of useless accessories.
A little context: I’ve been shooting on my phone for years, but I want a real camera for travel and family stuff (kids’ sports, birthdays, quick weekend trips). I’m also interested in learning manual settings and basic editing, so I’d rather not buy something that I’ll outgrow instantly. I’ve been looking at the common starter options like the Canon Rebel line and Nikon D3xxx/D5xxx series, and I’m seeing bundles that include things like 2 lenses, a bag, tripod, filters, SD card, and sometimes even a cheap external flash.
Here’s what I’m confused about: are these bundles actually good deals, or are most of the add-ons basically junk? For example, a lot of kits include a super cheap tripod and a stack of filters I’ve never used before. I’d rather put my money toward a better lens (maybe something beyond the usual 18-55mm kit lens) or a second battery/memory card that’s actually reliable.
I’m totally fine buying from reputable sellers only (Amazon sold by Amazon, B&H, Adorama, Best Buy, etc.), and I’m open to refurbished if it’s worth it. I just don’t want to accidentally buy an outdated body or a bundle that looks great on paper but performs poorly.
So, what are the best DSLR bundle deals under $700 right now, and which specific bundles (or bundle items) are actually worth paying for vs skipping?
> are these bundles actually good deals, or are most of the add-ons basically junk? For your situation, most “big” bundles are honestly 80% fluff. I’ve bought a couple over the years and the cheap tripod/filters/flash were basically e-waste… the body+lens price is the real deal, the rest is marketing. What I’d do under $700: buy a legit kit from B&H/Adorama refurb and add ONLY 3 things: a real SD card, spare battery, and a decent strap. Something like Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens or Nikon D5600 DSLR Camera with AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens is fine. Put remaining cash toward Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens (portraits/indoors) and SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB SDXC UHS-I Card V30 U3. Skip “UV filter packs” unless you actually need them. gl!
+1 to what was said earlier — those giant bundles are mostly fluff lol. If you wanna stay under $700, I’d look for a clean body+kit from B&H/Adorama refurb and then add *only* useful stuff: Canon EOS Rebel T8i EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Kit or Nikon D7500 DX 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Kit (used/refurb). Skip the junk filters, but do grab Canon LP-E17 Battery Pack (or Nikon equivalent) + a decent strap. What sports are your kids in?
+1 to the above — the “bundle” value is almost always fake, honestly. Background: I’ve done the big kits a few times over the years and the tripods/filters/cheap flash stuff ended up in a drawer. Why it matters: that junk eats ur budget + makes you think you got a deal. Solution: price it as body+lens only, and only pay extra for legit things (extra battery + decent SD card + a simple bag). gl!
Ok adding this to my list of things to try. Thanks for the tip!
Saved for later, ty!
