I've been holding onto my 5D Mark IV for way too long and it's starting to show its age especially with the autofocus during some low light ceremonies I did recently so I'm finally looking to upgrade to the Canon R5. I have a big wedding shoot coming up in Chicago mid-September and I really want to have the new body by then but man the price tag is still a bit much to swallow for just the body alone. I'm trying to stay under $3000 if I can. I spent all morning browsing the Canon refurbished store and while they have them listed they seem to be out of stock every single time I check which is super frustrating. I also read some stuff on Reddit about a Canon loyalty program where you can call them and trade in an old serial number for like 10 or 20 percent off but then I saw a post from last month saying they might have discontinued that for the R series or changed the rules? It's all very confusing and I dont want to spend an hour on hold if it's a dead end. Does anyone know if there are any current promo codes or if those loyalty discounts are actually still a thing for the R5? Or maybe somewhere else that has a legit sale right now that isn't a gray market site...
The loyalty program is definitely still a thing, so dont write it off yet. I used it recently to grab some glass. You just need to call Canon direct and give them your 5D serial number. It usually nets you about 10-20 percent off. Heres how the main options stack up for getting that Canon EOS R5 Body Only under budget:
- Canon Loyalty Program: Call 1-866-443-8002. It often brings the price down to roughly $2600 for a refurbished unit or $2900 for new. You have to be persistent on the phone though.
- Canon Refurbished Store: The Canon EOS R5 Refurbished is the best value at $2499 during deep sales. Stock is annoying but you can use tracker sites to get alerts.
- Authorized Dealers: Look at a Canon EOS R5 Body for EDU or trade-in deals. Sometimes retailers like B&H offer extra credit if you trade in that old 5D. Avoid gray market sites. For a wedding pro, having that US warranty is non-negotiable.
