Ive been shooting with my trusty Canon 5D Mark IV for what feels like a decade now, and honestly, it has served me well for weddings and portraits, but I feel like Im finally hitting a wall with the dynamic range when Im pushing the shadows in post. I really need to upgrade to mirrorless before the wedding season kicks off in March because I just dont want to deal with the weight and the mirror slap anymore, especially with long days on my feet. I have about 2500 bucks saved up, which I know is a bit tight for a professional body plus decent glass, but I keep hearing that Black Friday is the only time to actually get a deal that doesnt require selling a kidney.
I feel pretty anxious about pulling the trigger because I dont want to buy into a system that gets replaced in six months. Ive been eyeing the Sony A7R IV or maybe the Nikon Z7 II if the price drops low enough, but the market feels so saturated with fake discount codes and affiliate garbage that I have no idea where to actually look for legit sales. Like, do I trust the big guys like B&H or Adorama, or are there hidden gems on smaller sites I should be watching? I checked CamelCamelCamel for some pricing history but the trends are all over the place this year.
- Should I be checking the manufacturers direct store instead of retailers?
- Is it worth waiting for Cyber Monday or will the stock be gone by then?
Im in the Chicago area if that matters for shipping or in-store stuff, though I guess that doesnt change much for online deals. Does anyone actually have a solid strategy for tracking these specific pro-level bodies during the sales, or am I just gonna be stuck refreshing pages until my eyes bleed and nothing happens...
Honestly, 2500 bucks is gonna be tight for a pro setup, but sticking with B&H or Adorama is usually your best bet. Theyre legit and their return policies actually protect you if something arrives damaged. Forget the sketchy small sites, just stick to the major retailers so you dont get scammed. Since you are moving from a 5D, you should look at the Sony A7R IV 61MP Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera. It hits that high-res sweet spot you need for wedding crops. If that stays pricey, the Nikon Z7 II 45.7MP Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera is a total workhorse and usually sees decent discounts during November. Here is how I track this stuff:
- Check the manufacturers store directly sometimes they toss in freebies like extra batteries or memory cards which adds up fast.
- Dont wait for Cyber Monday. The good stuff sells out way faster than you think.
- Look at used listings on MPB or KEH if the new price stays too high. They often have open-box gear that is basically brand new. I wouldnt sweat the "getting replaced" thing too much. Mirrorless tech is pretty mature right now, and even older models like the Sony A7R IV 61MP Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera are gonna crush your old Canon for shadow recovery. Just set alerts on the major sites and dont overthink the tracking sites too much, they can be misleading.
Coming back to this, I honestly had some issues with the big retailers' Black Friday bundles last year. The included lenses are often mediocre, not as good as expected for pro work. If you really wanna push your budget, I honestly suggest checking out the used market on MPB or KEH instead of chasing new sales. You can grab a clean Canon EOS R5 45MP Full Frame Mirrorless Camera or a Sony Alpha A7R IV 61MP Full Frame Mirrorless Camera for way less than retail.
- Use Photobird or the Canon Price Watch street price tracker for real-time alerts.
- Skip the kit lenses, theyll just hold you back.
- Prioritize the body first, glass second. Unfortunately, stock is super unpredictable lately. My advice? Just hunt for high-quality used gear from reputable sites, you'll save enough to actually afford good glass.
Regarding what #3 said about how the bundles are often mediocre, they are absolutely right. I have seen way too many people get stuck with kit glass that just doesnt cut it for professional work. Before you start pulling the trigger on any sales, what kind of glass are you currently using on your 5D IV? If you have some nice L-series lenses, have you looked into the cost of just picking up an adapter instead of replacing your whole kit at once? Be really careful with these holiday sales. A lot of stores inflate the base price right before Black Friday to make the discount look bigger than it actually is. Make sure to check the actual retail price history on a few different trackers before you commit. Also, watch out for grey market listings disguised as deals on those smaller sites, because those wont have a valid manufacturer warranty if something goes wrong. It is not worth the risk for gear you rely on for your livelihood.
My buddy told me the exact same thing last week. Guess he was right lol.
> Stick to the major retailers so you dont get Totally agree. Don't risk it on shady sites for such a big purchase. Honestly, if you want to stretch that budget, look into a refurbished Sony Alpha 7R IV Full-frame Mirrorless Camera or a Nikon Z 7II Mirrorless Camera Body directly from their sites. You get a warranty and it saves you enough to grab a solid lens. Just keep an eye on their official refurb portals, they drop stock randomly.