Ive been a Nikon shooter for literally a decade but Im finally pulling the trigger on switching to Sony mirrorless because my D850 just isnt keeping up with the eye-tracking I need for these upcoming wedding shoots. Im looking at the A7R V but man, the prices right now are insane and Im seeing the same MSRP on B&H and Adorama and its stressing me out because Ive got a huge gig in San Diego in like ten days and I really need to get my hands on the gear before then to get used to the menu system. My budget is pretty firm at $3,000 for the body alone, maybe a bit more if its a bundle with a 24-70mm GM but thats probably dreaming. Does anyone know where the actual deals are hiding? I checked Greentoe but Ive never used them before and Im worried about the shipping speed since Im on a tight clock. Are there specific Edu discounts or maybe some reliable grey market sellers that wont screw me over on the warranty? Im even open to open-box if the shutter count is low but every sale I find ends up being like fifty bucks off which is a joke.
- fast shipping (need it by next Friday)
- must be a US model for the warranty
- looking for at least 15% off retail if possible
- reputable seller only
Where are people actually buying their Sony kits these days without paying full sticker price? Is there a specific time of week when these sites update their clearance sections or what...
> Im looking at the A7R V but man, the prices right now are insane I totally get the sticker shock, been there. Back when I was upgrading for a landscape trip last year, I was super cautious about grey market sites because of the warranty nightmares. It turned out the B&H EDU Advantage program was the way to go. Honestly, I was so satisfied with the experience... no complaints at all. If you have an old .edu email or a friend in school, you can usually see the Sony Alpha a7R V Mirrorless Camera Body for way less than the 3900 dollar retail price. The open-box section on Adorama is another solid bet. I once grabbed a Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens that looked like it had never even been used. Shipping is super fast too, usually 2 or 3 days to the west coast. Greentoe is cool but with a ten day clock, thats way too risky... sticking with the big names works well for peace of mind.
Agree with the guys above about the EDU route, it is definitely the cleanest way to save money on new gear. Since you are in a massive rush for that San Diego shoot tho, you might want to look at Best Buy open-box deals. If you find a Sony Alpha 7R V Mirrorless Camera listed as Excellent condition, it usually means someone bought it, tried it for a day, and realized they couldnt afford it. You get the full US warranty and can usually pick it up in-store same day. Here is why I like these specific spots:
- Best Buy Open-Box: Zero shipping stress. You can inspect the sensor right there at the counter.
- Greentoe: I know you are worried about speed, but if you bid closer to your target price rather than lowballing, retailers often accept and ship within 24 hours. Just mention you need it by next Friday in the comments.
- Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens: For the lens, check out B&H Photo Video used section. They rate things very conservatively and a 9+ or 10 rating is basically mint. Honestly, getting an A7R V for exactly 3k is gonna be tough for a brand new unit, but open-box or a high-rated used one from a place like MPB is probably your best bet to hit that budget and get it by next week... good luck with the wedding!
Saw this while scrolling... I actually got lucky with my Sony Alpha 7R V Mirrorless Camera by using the B&H EDU discount program. My old university email still worked, and it knocked nearly 15 percent off the price. They got it to me in two days. If youre hunting for the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens too, Focus Camera often has unadvertised bundles that save a ton if you call.
