I nearly got scammed by a fake site last year. It looked professional but the price was way too low. Honestly, saving money isnt worth the risk of losing your warranty. You might want to consider:

• Checking Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera Body for open-box specials at authorized retailers
• Using student discounts if you have a .edu email Be careful with those random sites, seriously.

Honestly, paying full retail for the Canon EOS R6 Mark II 24.2MP Mirrorless Body is a mistake if you are on a tight budget. For birding in Chicago, this body is a beast because of the 40fps electronic shutter and the Dual Pixel CMOS AF II animal tracking. It handles subject acquisition for small birds way better than the older models, but that $2,500 MSRP is definitely steep. I have tracked the pricing data for a bit, and here is how you can actually hit that $2,000 target:

• Canon Refurbished Store: This is the gold standard for deals. They frequently drop the price to $1,999 or even $1,899 during their big seasonal sales. The gear is inspected by Canon and carries a full 1-year warranty, so it is basically brand new.
• Used Marketplaces: Look at MPB Canon R6 Mark II Body or KEH. You can find Excellent condition units for around $2,050 right now. It is slightly over your budget but safer than random websites.
• Loyalty Program: If you have an old broken Canon DSLR, you can call their loyalty line and they sometimes offer 10-20 percent off a new mirrorless body. Avoid those sketchy sites you mentioned. Those are usually grey market imports that wont have a US warranty, or they will call you after the purchase and try to upsell you on basic accessories like batteries that should have been in the box. Since birding requires long glass, saving $500 on the body lets you pick up a Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM which is a solid budget-friendly lens for the park. Just keep an eye on the official refurb site, it usually restocks on Tuesdays.

> Im sorry if this is a super basic question but I am completely lost and this is going to be my first real camera purchase. Ngl I was in your exact shoes a few years back. I spent months saving every penny for my first setup and honestly, I was so focused on the camera price that I totally forgot about the glass. Are you planning on buying a kit that comes with a lens, or do you already have something to put on it? When I bought my first setup, I barely had enough left for a memory card and it felt so bad having a $2k paperweight until the next payday lol. It taught me that sometimes the deal isnt just the price tag, but what actually comes in the box. Chicago winters are no joke for gear either, so you might wanna keep some cash aside for a decent bag or extra batteries. If youre starting from zero, the total cost for birding gear creeps up fast... its easy to forget the little things.