So I have been saving up for months to finally make the jump from my ancient Canon Rebel T6 to a Sony mirrorless system. I do a lot of local event photography here in Chicago, mostly indoor stuff like small galas and birthday parties, and my current setup is just struggling so bad in low light. I really want to get my hands on either a Sony a7 IV or maybe the a7 III if I need to save some cash, but man, retail prices are brutal right now. My absolute hard limit is $2000 for a body and at least a decent starter lens, and I need to have it in my hands by mid-November before the holiday gig season kicks off.
I have spent the last week digging through forums trying to find the best way to get a discount. I saw a lot of people recommending B and H Photos EDU program, which would be perfect, but I literally just graduated college last month and my student email is already deactivated, so that door is closed. Then I saw a bunch of threads talking about Greentoe where you can bid on gear. It sounds cool and people say you get brand new stuff from authorized dealers, but I am honestly a bit paranoid about how the warranty works with them if I end up with a lemon. I also checked out refurbished options on Focus Camera and Secondipity, but their stock seems super random and I am worried about buying something that has a massive shutter count already.
Since I am cutting it a bit close with my timeline, I really want to make sure I am getting the best bang for my buck without getting scammed or buying something that wont have a US warranty. Are there specific times of year or hidden authorized dealer sites that run better promos on Sony gear, or should I just bite the bullet and buy used from somewhere like MPB?
Honestly, Greentoe is totally legit for US warranties since they route through authorized dealers. If you want used, KEH is safer than random refurbs.
- Greentoe: Brand new Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Camera, full US warranty, but bids take a few days to process.
- KEH Camera: Used gear, very conservative rating system, 180-day warranty, but stock varies. Both options easily keep you under that 2k limit.
Oh man, you are going to be absolutely blown away by the low light jump from a T6 to Sony! Seriously, it is night and day. Since you have a hard deadline and need that peace of mind, definitely look at MPB. I buy almost all my gear there and love it! Unlike other sites, they show you the exact photos of the actual camera you are buying and list the precise shutter count, plus they give you a six-month warranty. You can easily snag a used Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Camera in excellent condition for around $1,200. Pair that with a used Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD Sony E for about $600, and you have a killer event setup well under your $2,000 limit! Plus, they ship super fast so you will definitely have it in hand before the November craziness starts.
Like someone mentioned, KEH is great. In my experience over the years, I think they sometimes drop sneaky promo codes in their newsletter, which might save you extra cash.
