Where are the best places to look for Black Friday deals on Canon cameras this year, especially for their mirrorless lineup?
I'm trying to upgrade my ancient Rebel T6i before my cousin's wedding in January since I promised to take photos, so my budget is capped at about $2000 for a body and maybe a decent starter lens. I've been doing some digging and noticed that B&H and Adorama already started their early holiday sales, but the discounts on the EOS R8 and R6 Mark II seem pretty small right now, like only a hundred dollars off. I also read on a photography forum that Canon's official refurbished store actually has the absolute deepest discounts during Black Friday week, sometimes way better than retail new.
But I'm kinda torn because some people say refurbished is risky if you have a hard deadline like a wedding and can't risk a dud, while others swear it's basically brand new. Should I hold out for the actual Black Friday weekend for better retail discounts at Best Buy or Amazon, or is the refurbished route my best bet to stay under budget?
Jumping in here to share my own experience. Over the years, I've tried many ways to stretch a tight budget, especially when facing a hard deadline like a wedding. When I upgraded from my old DSLR, I realized retail Black Friday deals on brand new bodies are usually pretty disappointing, but there are better ways to play it. In my experience, you can get much better value by looking outside the usual big-box stores:
- Look at MPB or KEH. I bought a used Canon EOS R7 Mirrorless Camera from MPB last year. It looked brand new, saved me hundreds, and came with a six-month warranty, which is great peace of mind.
- Split your budget strategically. Instead of a pricey kit, buy a used body and pair it with a cheap but sharp lens like the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM for those low-light wedding shots.
- Check authorized regional dealers like Samys Camera. They often run tax-free promos or throw in free memory cards and extra batteries during holiday sales. Going this route saved me a ton of cash, which I put straight into lighting gear. Since your wedding is in January, buying now from a trusted used dealer gives you plenty of time to test everything.
To add to the point above, totally agree refurb is king. If you go new, try:
- Canon EOS R8 with RF 24-50mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM Kit (under $1500)
- Buying used from MPB (they warranty everything) Saves tons of cash.
Go for the Canon Refurbished store! I got my Canon EOS R8 Mirrorless Camera there and it was seriously brand new. Heres how they compare:
- Canon Refurb: Deepest discounts, same warranty, but stock sells out instantly.
- B&H/Adorama: Brand new Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera, reliable shipping, but discounts are super small. Tbh, refurb is totally safe and you save a ton!
