I've been eyeing the Sony A7IV for like six months now but the price just wont budge and my budget is strictly around 2k max for the body. I really need to grab it before my sisters wedding in September since Im the designated photographer (no pressure right haha). I did some digging and found these crazy low prices on eBay for what they call international versions but then I read a few horror stories about Sony refusing to touch them if they break because they dont have a US warranty. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. I also checked out the student discount on B&H since I still have my edu email but it only shaved off like a hundred bucks which still leaves it pretty high after tax. I live near Chicago so I checked out some local shops too but they are all stuck at the same MSRP. Is there some secret to finding a legitimate deal or maybe a specific time of month when the big retailers drop the price? I've heard people mention Greentoe but it feels a bit sketchy to me like how does that even work... are there any other reliable sites that actually have good discounts or should I just give up and look at the A7III instead?
TLDR: Check used listings at MPB! I snagged a Sony Alpha 7 IV 33MP Mirrorless Body for $1850 and it was amazing. Best way to save without sketchy gray market risks tho!
Honestly, stick to official refurbished or open-box units from authorized dealers if the warranty is a priority. Its basically the only way to hit your budget without the gray market headache.
- Check for an official Sony Alpha 7 IV Full-frame Mirrorless Camera Body refurbished through Sony. Adorama and B&H usually list these with a limited warranty that Sony actually honors.
- Open-box is a decent option at Best Buy. Since youre in Chicago, checking the larger suburban stores often turns up returns that are basically brand new but discounted heavily.
- Wait for the early summer sales cycle. Sony usually drops prices right before the heavy wedding season starts, and these promos usually stack with your EDU discount. Avoiding those international eBay listings is the right call tho... repair shops wont even look at them without a US serial number.
> Greentoe but it feels a bit sketchy To add to the point above: Greentoe is actually legit. In my experience its just authorized dealers clearing stock. Snagged a Sony Alpha 7 IV Mirrorless Digital Camera for $2k flat.
Exactly what I was thinking
bump
Been using this for years, no complaints