My main camera just died and I have a huge wedding shoot in Indianapolis next weekend so I am panicking. I need a Sony a7IV like yesterday. Budget is strictly under $2200 for the body. I saw some deals on B&H but they all seem to be for students only and I graduated years ago lol. I also looked at some eBay open box stuff but the sellers look kinda sketchy and I cant risk a dud right now with such a tight deadline. Is there any site running a real sale this week that isnt just for students? Maybe some hidden coupon codes for Adorama or Focus Camera? Where are you guys seeing the biggest price drops right now?
Just catching up on this thread... if you are in a pinch for that Indy wedding, here are a few spots I have had good luck with lately. Best Buy open box deals are super underrated. I snagged a Sony Alpha a7 IV 33.0MP Digital Camera last year and it worked perfectly right out of the box. No complaints. Here is how they stack up for your deadline:
- Amazon Renewed: Usually sits around $2,050. Fast shipping is the main win here if you have Prime.
- KEH Camera: They are super strict with grading. An Excellent condition Sony Alpha a7 IV Body Only will be solid and they actually inspect the sensors properly. Tbh, their 180-day warranty is better than most anyway.
- MPB: Very reliable for used pricing, though shipping speed varies based on the warehouse location. Ngl, if you want it today, just call the local Best Buy stores in Indianapolis. Sometimes their Excellent grade returns drop well below $2,100.
Been thinking about your situation and that Indianapolis deadline is tight. ^ This. Also, you might want to consider checking out Greentoe if you havent already. Basically, you name your price and authorized dealers can accept it. Its totally legit and you still get the full warranty, which is huge for a wedding pro. I have seen people snag a brand new Sony Alpha a7 IV 33MP Full Frame Mirrorless Body for around $2100 there lately. Just be careful with the timing tho, it can take a couple of days to get an offer accepted and then another few to ship. If you do it tonight, you might make it. If that feels too risky for your schedule, I would suggest looking at MPB. They are way more reliable than random eBay sellers because they actually test and grade the gear themselves. You can usually find a Sony Alpha a7 IV Mirrorless Camera in excellent or like new condition for right around $2000. Since they are a massive operation, their shipping is usually pretty spot on and you can pay for the fast stuff to be safe. Honestly, if you get to Wednesday and still dont have a tracking number in hand, just rent one. Snag a Sony Alpha a7 IV Digital Camera Body from a rental house for the weekend. It sucks to spend the extra cash, but its way better than showing up to a wedding with a dud or no camera at all. Just make sure to double check the shutter count if you buy used... weddings put a lot of wear on those things.
Man, sorry about your camera dying right before a wedding. Thats literally every photographers nightmare scenario. Since you need it fast and cant risk eBay sketchiness, honestly look at Adorama for their open box stuff. I picked up my Sony Alpha a7 IV 33MP Mirrorless Camera Body there a few months back and it arrived looking brand new. They usually have them for around $2100 when they are in stock and they give you a limited warranty which helps with the peace of mind. If Adorama is dry, you should definitely check MPB or KEH. I know you said you want a discount but with a wedding next weekend, reliability matters way more than saving fifty bucks. MPB lists the actual shutter count usually, so try to find one with like under 5k clicks. Getting a used Sony Alpha a7 IV Full Frame Mirrorless Body from a pro dealer is way safer than a random eBay seller. Focus Camera sometimes has bundles where they throw in a fast SD card or a spare battery for the same base price, which is basically a discount if you need the extras. Check their site for any instant rebates. Most of the major retailers are running the same Sony authorized discounts right now anyway. Dont forget to check local stock for the Sony Alpha a7 IV Mirrorless Camera for pickup if you get desperate. It might be full MSRP but at least you can test it immediately and return it if there is an issue. Good luck with the Indy shoot tho, those big weddings are no joke... just make sure you test the eye-AF before the ceremony starts.
Ugh, I am literally in the same boat right now. My main body started throwing shutter errors yesterday and I have a huge corporate gig coming up fast. Honestly, that wedding deadline you have sounds stressful as hell... I remember back in the day when my setup fried during a beach shoot in the middle of a session. I learned the hard way that saving a few bucks on a sketchy unit just isnt worth the anxiety when you are standing in front of a client. I spent that whole night frantically refreshing tabs instead of sleeping, basically praying for a miracle. Tbh, I am currently hunting for the same kind of deal because I just cant trust my current setup anymore for paid work. The panic is real and it makes you realize how much we rely on these things working 100% of the time. Hopefully we both find something solid before the weekend hits...
Just catching up on this thread and man, I totally feel your pain! I remember back when my rig fried right before a huge mountain shoot. I was so panicked I almost bought a Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera just because it was in stock, but I stuck with my Sony glass and I am so glad I did! The autofocus on the Sony Alpha a7 IV 33MP Mirrorless Camera is just lightyears ahead for those moving aisle shots. It is seriously amazing gear. Quick question tho, do you have a local shop in Indy you could call to see if they have any floor models for sale? Sometimes they will give you a massive discount just to move the display unit. My quick tip: check out KEH Camera Sony Alpha a7 IV or MPB Sony Alpha a7 IV. They are way more reliable than eBay because they actually rate the sensor condition and shutter count properly. Also, call Abt Electronics and ask for their best price on the body... they sometimes have unadvertised deals that are fantastic! Youll definitely find something under $2200 if you look at those pro-used sites.
Omg I am literally in the exact same boat right now and it is so stressful! My gear just started acting super glitchy right before a huge session this weekend and the panic is real! Looking into some DIY repair videos right now to see if I can just fix the internal contacts myself but man it looks risky lol.
- I think I heard someone mention that some of the smaller authorized shops might be doing unadvertised phone-in deals if you just call and ask.
- Not sure but IIRC a buddy mentioned that some places might match those student prices if you can prove you have a registered business?
- Someone told me that certain retailers have hidden open box sections that dont always show up in the main search results so maybe try digging deep into their clearance tabs. Searching for a solution is a full-time job today! Honestly we are gonna get through this though. You are gonna do an amazing job at that wedding in Indy, just keep your head up!