Ive been looking at these Sony cameras for like three weeks now and honestly my head is spinning. I think I want a mirrorless one because everyone says they are the future but the prices are just so high. I am trying to save up for my sisters wedding in late October because I really want to take some decent photos of her and the family since she didnt hire a professional photographer which is kind of a disaster waiting to happen if I dont get a good camera. But man I have no idea what I am doing.
I went to a local Best Buy but they only had the super expensive ones on display and the guy there started talking about full frame vs crop sensor and I just nodded like I knew what he meant but I was totally lost. My budget is like maybe 800 or 900 bucks if I really stretch it and eat ramen for a month but that has to include a lens and whatever else I need to actually take a photo. I keep seeing these ads for the a6000 or a6400 but then some sites say those are old? Or maybe they arent? I dont know and I am sorry if these are dumb questions but I really dont want to mess this up.
I am really worried about buying something used on eBay because what if it arrives broken or has like dust inside the glass parts? I live in a pretty small town in Ohio so there arent any cool camera shops nearby where I can just go talk to someone who wont judge me for being clueless. I have been checking Amazon every day but the prices never seem to move at all. Is there like a specific time of year or a secret website where people get these for cheaper? Maybe a refurbished place that is actually trustworthy? I am just so anxious that I am gonna spend all my savings on the wrong thing or miss a huge sale by like two days. Where do you guys actually go to find the best deals or discounts that arent scams?
You have to check out MPB or B&H Photo for their used and refurbished sections right now! Seriously, dont even bother with sketchy eBay sellers when these places give you a real warranty and inspect everything first. I started out exactly where you are and it is so exciting! Sony mirrorless is fantastic for weddings because the eye-tracking is like magic... it stays locked on your sister even if she is moving or spinning around on the dance floor. Here are the two best bets for your budget:
This one is amazing. It has weather sealing which is great if the wedding is outdoors and the autofocus is lightning fast. I love it because the build quality feels super solid and professional in your hand.
Basically the same internal tech as the more expensive ones but the body is plastic. It is a bit cheaper so you might have extra cash for a spare battery or a faster SD card which you definitely need for a wedding! Honestly, skip the old a6000. It is just too slow for a wedding and you will miss the best shots. I really recommend getting a used Sony a6400 Mirrorless Camera with 16-50mm Lens from a site like MPB because they are super trustworthy and you will save hundreds compared to buying new. You are gonna do a fantastic job!
Jumping in because I went through this exact same stress for my cousins outdoor wedding. I ended up getting a Sony Alpha a6400 24.2MP Mirrorless Camera with 16-50mm Lens and I was so satisfied with how it handled. The eye-tracking autofocus is basically magic for weddings since it locks onto the bride so you dont get blurry faces... it really saved my butt.
- Crop sensors like the APS-C in the a6400 are lighter so your arms wont die during the ceremony.
- The a6400 has significantly better tracking than the older a6000 for moving people.
- Buying refurbished from authorized dealers usually gets you a 90-day warranty for peace of mind. Honestly I still use that setup today and have no complaints about the image quality. You dont need the super expensive full frame stuff to get those crisp shots. Look at the Sony Alpha a6100 4K Mirrorless Camera too if you need to save an extra hundred bucks for a faster memory card or extra battery tho.
Saved for later, ty!
