I've been shooting on my trusty 5D Mark IV for what feels like an eternity now and honestly it’s still a beast but the weight is starting to kill my wrists after a long day of shooting. I’ve been eyeing the mirrorless transition for a while because I really need better eye-tracking for some upcoming event work but man, the pricing this year for Black Friday is all over the place. I thought I knew how to navigate these sales but I’m seeing some really weird stuff on B&H and Adorama where the discounts are basically just the same price as two months ago but with a cheap bag or a slow SD card thrown in.
Ive got about $1800 to $2000 saved up specifically for a new body and maybe an EF-RF adapter since I’m not ready to sell off all my L-series glass just yet. I really wanted the R6 Mark II but the prices keep jumping around every time I refresh the page. I even checked some smaller authorized dealers like Mikes Camera or Samys but they seem to be out of stock or only have these massive bundles with kit lenses I dont actually want or need. Its frustrating because I know the tech but the market feels super manipulated right now.
Here is what I am looking for specifically:
- Full frame sensor is a must because I do a lot of low light stuff
- Decent IBIS because I tend to have shaky hands when I am tired
- Budget is strictly under 2k for the body
- Based in the US so I need someone who ships fast before my December gigs start
Is it better to wait until the actual Friday or do the early bird deals usually stick? I heard some rumors that Canon might drop a refurbished sale on their direct site thats even better than the new prices but I’ve never bought refurbished before and I’m kinda nervous about the shutter count or sensor dust. Anyone seen a legit leak or a tracker that isn't just a bunch of affiliate links? I just want a straight answer on where the actual bottom line is gonna be this year...
Honestly, these Black Friday sales have been a total disappointment lately. I remember hunting for gear last year and it was just a mess of fake discounts. I wasted so much time refreshing pages just to see deals that were basically MSRP with a free lens cloth thrown in. Its super frustrating tho. Here is the reality based on my experience:
- The Canon USA Refurbished store is basically the only place to get a real discount. I bought a refurbished Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Body and it was pristine with a tiny shutter count.
- Official refurb units come with the same 1-year warranty as new ones. They actually inspect those more thoroughly than the assembly line stuff.
- Avoid those big retail bundles. Those bags are always cheap and the SD cards are usually trash. I tried waiting for the actual Friday once and everything just sold out. If you see the Canon EOS R6 Mark II Body hit your price point on the refurb site, grab it.
I've been super happy going through the official site for my new gear. I picked up the Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Body and it works well with no complaints. Shipping was fast too, which is huge for your December gigs.
- Try the Canon Loyalty Program; call them with your 5D serial for a potential extra discount.
- Stick with the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R Standard to save money on glass. Buying direct felt way safer to me than tracking random bundles.
To add to the point above: I actually have to disagree a bit because the savings this year are absolutely amazing if you pivot your strategy away from the big box retailers! My experience shooting with this brand for over fifteen years has shown that their direct-to-consumer refurbished store is a total game changer. I love it! People get so nervous about refurb stuff but every single body I’ve grabbed from them arrived looking brand new with a shutter count near zero. It’s a fantastic way to stretch that two thousand dollar budget way further than you think. You mentioned you’re doing event work and worried about your wrists, which I totally get. The weight difference is a life saver! Before you commit to a specific body tho, what kind of lighting setups are you usually dealing with at these December gigs? Are you shooting mostly handheld in dark ballrooms or do you use a lot of on-camera flash? Also, are you planning on sticking with those heavy zooms or are you thinking about moving to some lighter primes down the road? Understanding how much weight you’re actually gonna save while using an adapter is super important for your wrist health. Seriously, dont sleep on those manufacturer direct sales because the deep discounts usually drop right around midnight on the actual holiday!
