Im honestly so over trying to find a decent camera these days without having to sell a kidney or something. Ive been using this old Canon T3i for like forever and it finally decided to stop focusing properly right before my trip to Colorado next month so now im scrambling and everything is just so expensive. Like I go on B&H or Best Buy and even the entry level stuff is like $700 or $800 once you add a basic kit lens and it is driving me crazy because I remember when you could get a solid setup for way less.
I just want something that actually works and wont weigh me down while I am hiking but every time I think I find a deal it turns out to be body only or some grey market thing that doesnt have a warranty and I just dont want to deal with that stress. I tried looking at the Sony a6000 series but even those older models are still holding their price like crazy it makes no sense for tech that old. My budget is firm at $600 because I still have to pay for my flights and gear and I just cant justify going over that right now.
Here is what I am actually looking for if anyone can help me find a sale or a hidden gem:
- Must be under $600 total including a lens
- Mirrorless because I am tired of the bulky DSLR feel
- Fast autofocus because I miss too many shots of my dog running around
- Decent in low light if possible but I know that is asking a lot for this price
- Needs to be available now because I leave in three weeks
I looked at the Canon R100 but I heard the screen doesnt flip and the crop on 4k is terrible so that feels like a waste of money even if it is cheap. Is there anything else out there? Maybe some older Fujifilm stock or a Panasonic deal I missed? I am just so frustrated looking at these price tags day after day and seeing out of stock on anything that is actually affordable. Does anyone know if there are any specific sales or coupon codes floating around right now because I am about to just give up and use my phone which would suck for this trip...
Honestly, I totally get the frustration. Prices have gone absolutely nuts lately. In my experience, if you want something reliable that actually has a warranty and wont fail you in Colorado, you gotta look at the Micro Four Thirds stuff. I have tried many systems over the years, and for a strict $600 budget, the Panasonic Lumix GX85 with 12-32mm and 45-150mm Lenses is basically the only brand new deal that makes sense right now. It is super compact for hiking and the dual-lens kit is a steal. If you can find a sale or check official refurbished sites to avoid the grey market stuff, these are worth it:
- Canon EOS R50 with RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens
- Sony ZV-E10 with 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens I would definitely skip the R100 tho, it feels cheap and youll hate the fixed screen. Stick to the GX85 or a refurbished R50 if you want that peace of mind... three weeks is plenty of time for shipping.
