Where are the actual good Black Friday camera deals hiding this year? Im finally looking to upgrade from my old phone for a big trip to the Smokies in December and Ive got about $900 saved up which is a lot for me.
I saw on a few blogs that B&H and Adorama are the go-to places but then I saw a thread saying Amazon has better flash sales if you catch them at the right time. Its honestly stressing me out because I dont want to miss a huge drop on a Sony ZV-E10 or maybe a Fuji. Are there specific tracker sites you guys use or do I just keep twenty tabs open? I'm kinda worried some of these deals are just fake markups...
> I'm kinda worried some of these deals are just fake markups... Youre right to worry. I've been tracking prices for years and unfortunately most BF sales are just hype. I was let down by the Canon EOS R50 with RF-S 18-45mm Lens build quality, it felt kinda cheap compared to Fuji. The Fujifilm X-T30 II with 15-45mm Lens is way better for landscapes than that Sony... just use a tracker to spot the fake markups tho.
Just catching up on this thread and honestly everyone is making solid points. To add to the point above: B&H is definitely the gold standard for service, but those fake markups on Amazon are real... I've been burned before lol. If you're looking to save that $900 and get something really solid for the Smokies, I'd suggest looking at official refurbished gear or kits that are actually on clearance. I've been very satisfied with going that route because they test everything twice before shipping it out. A few ideas that usually have better actual value right now:
- Nikon Z50 Mirrorless Camera with 16-50mm Lens - super reliable and the build quality feels a bit more substantial for hiking.
- Panasonic LUMIX GX85 Mirrorless Camera with 12-32mm and 45-150mm Lenses - you can often find this two-lens kit for a steal, which gives you more reach for wildlife. Buying from a reputable spot like Adorama or the Nikon refurbished store is way safer than chasing a 2-hour lightning deal on Amazon that might be a gray market unit with no warranty. Just my two cents tho... dont let the BF hype stress you out too much!
tbh I've been so disappointed with how Black Friday has gone the last few years. It's mostly just companies trying to dump old stock or tricking people with those fake markups you mentioned. I tried to find a decent deal on a mirrorless kit last year and it was honestly just exhausting... ended up spending way more than I planned because I got caught up in the hype. Unfortunately, I've had issues with the big sales lately. Most of the deals I saw for the high-end stuff weren't as good as expected once you actually looked at the price history. It's kinda depressing how much effort you have to put in now just to not get ripped off. Since you're on a budget but want those Smokies shots, maybe look into Micro Four Thirds gear? I used the Panasonic LUMIX G100 Mirrorless Camera with 12-32mm Lens for a while and it's surprisingly good for travel, even though people mostly talk about it for vlogging. Stills are actually great too. If you want something that feels really solid, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV with 14-42mm Lens is a little tank. You can usually find these much cheaper than the hyped Sony or Fuji kits. Definitely check the open-box section at B&H instead of waiting for the actual Friday sales... that's where the real savings usually hide anyway. Good luck with the trip, those mountains are gonna be gorgeous!
Saw this earlier and had to jump in! You should definitely stick with B&H for total peace of mind. Amazon can be so sketch with weird third party sellers and you really want that official warranty. Honestly the Sony ZV-E10 Mirrorless Camera with 16-50mm Lens is an amazing choice!! If that sells out check for the Canon EOS R50 with 18-45mm Lens too. Its gonna be fantastic!
My buddy told me the exact same thing last week. Guess he was right lol.
