I have been trying to figure out what camera to buy for like three weeks now and honestly my head is spinning with all the numbers and letters they use for these things. My neighbor who is into photography told me that if I want something that wont be obsolete in a year I should look at the Canon R6 Mark II because it has good autofocus or something? I mainly want it because my daughter is starting middle school soccer and my iPhone 13 just makes her look like a blurry smudge on the field when I try to zoom in from the sidelines and it is really frustrating to not have any good memories of her games.
We have a big family trip coming up to Orlando in mid-August and I really want to have the camera by then so I can practice using it before we go to the parks and try to take some nice portraits. I started looking at prices on Amazon and B&H and they all seem to be exactly the same price which is like 2500 dollars which is a lot more than I wanted to spend if I am being honest. My total budget for the body is really closer to 2000 or maybe 2200 if I skip buying a fancy bag right away but I still need to get a lens too right? It seems like the lens is almost as expensive as the camera itself which I did not expect at all.
Someone told me about gray market cameras being cheaper but that sounds kinda sketchy like maybe they fell off a truck or wont have a warranty? I definitely want a real one that wont break and leave me stuck with a paperweight. I am in the US and I dont mind buying from a store online if they are legit and wont steal my credit card info. Are there certain times of the month when Canon does sales or maybe like a refurbished site that is actually safe to use for someone who doesnt know how to check if a used camera is broken? I just want a good deal so I can afford a decent lens to go with it... where do people actually go to find the best prices on these things?
Regarding what #1 said about "I'm super satisfied with my Canon EOS R6..."
- I totally agree. Refurb is the way. If they're sold out, check used gear at KEH or Adorama tho. If the R6II is just too pricey, the Canon EOS R8 Mirrorless Camera has the same tech for way less money. Pair it with a Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM... its a solid, budget-friendly setup for the parks and soccer.
I'm super satisfied with my Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera Body from Canon's official refurbished store.
- Full warranty Saved money for the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM lens too!
Building on the earlier suggestion, i definitely agree that staying away from gray market stuff is the move. I almost got burned by a super cheap deal on a site that looked legit, but then I realized it had zero US warranty and honestly, $2000 is way too much to gamble with. If the R6II is still stretching the budget too thin, you might want to consider the Canon EOS R7 Mirrorless Camera. Its actually better for soccer in some ways because it has a crop sensor that makes your lenses zoom in further for free, which is perfect for the sidelines. I started with a crop sensor body and it was way easier on the wallet while still getting those sharp action shots. Quick tip: try the Canon Loyalty Program. If you have an old Canon point-and-shoot or even a broken film camera, you can call their direct line and they often give you a discount on a new or refurb body. Its the safest way to get a deal without worrying about getting a paperweight. Just be careful with those huge Amazon bundles that include free tripods and filters... they are usually low-quality junk that you wont ever actually use.
Seconded!
