Im getting so annoyed trying to track down a decent deal for my sister. Shes moving to Japan in January and really needs a solid travel camera, so I promised Id help her find one before she leaves. My budget is strictly capped at 800 bucks, which is already tight for a decent mirrorless setup. I have been watching Best Buy and B&H for weeks, but the prices keep fluctuating and its driving me nuts.
Im currently torn between grabbing a Sony a6100 or maybe trying to find a deal on a Canon R50 if the price drops enough. I feel like Ive seen them hover around the same price point lately, but I have no idea who usually actually cuts the price on Black Friday versus just doing some lame bundle deal that I dont need. Should I just wait for the big day or pull the trigger now if I see a decent discount? Is there any point in checking smaller retailers or do the big guys always win on the camera stuff? Honestly just ready to be done with this research...
Honestly, skip the stress and check B&H or Adorama instead of the big box stores. They usually do way better bundles that actually include useful gear instead of just filler. TL;DR: Pull the trigger on the Canon EOS R50 Mirrorless Camera with RF-S 18-45mm Lens if you see it drop near 600 bucks because that lens is surprisingly sharp for travel. Best Buy is okay, but they love those lame bundles with cheap tripods or bags you'll probably toss. B&H is my go-to because their 'deal' bundles often have extra batteries or decent SD cards like the SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC UHS-I Card, which you absolutely need anyway. I've used the Sony Alpha a6100 Mirrorless Camera with 16-50mm Lens for years and it still works great for travel photos, but the menu system is kinda dated compared to the R50. If shes a beginner, the Canon UI is gonna make her life way easier. Honestly, dont hold your breath for huge price cuts on the bodies themselves. Sony and Canon rarely drop prices more than 50 or 100 bucks below the current street price. If you see a price you can live with now, just grab it. You dont wanna be stressing out in December when shipping gets all backed up.
Honestly, checking local camera shops is safer. I had issues with big retailer shipping during holidays. Just grab a Fujifilm X-T30 II Mirrorless Camera 26.1MP and call it a day.
Honestly, the Sony a6100 is getting kinda long in the tooth regarding its sensor tech and autofocus performance, which is a bummer. If you really want a solid travel setup that wont lag behind, you should look at the Sony Alpha a6400 Mirrorless Camera 24.2MP APS-C 4K. The weather sealing is way better than the 6100, which is huge if shes gonna be out in the elements in Japan. Unfortunately, finding a body-only deal under 800 bucks is tough right now, but check these out:
- Fujifilm X-T30 II Mirrorless Digital Camera 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 for better color science
- Panasonic Lumix G100 Mirrorless Camera 20.3MP 4K with 12-32mm Lens if you need something super compact Dont wait for the big day if you see a price drop on these. The inventory is always super spotty and usually the good stuff goes fast.
