Retailers wont slash prices on the R50 anytime soon because demand is steady. If you need to stay under 700 with gear ready for Japan, skip the new kit box and check these instead:

• Fujifilm X-T30 II 26.1MP used body if you hunt for a deal
• Sony a6400 24.2MP open box setup Tax will kill your budget if you buy brand new retail.

Late to the party but you should just grab a Canon EOS Rebel T6 18.0 MP used kit instead of waiting around. My buddy bought one on a strict budget for his Asia trip and it handled street photos totally fine. You'll save enough cash for extra batteries.

Waiting around for holiday sales on hot entry-level bodies is a total gamble and usually a waste of precious prep time before a big trip. If you need something reliable within your strict Canon EOS R50 24.2MP price range right now, you have fantastic options if you look outside the standard retail boxes.

• Panasonic Lumix G85 16MP kit with the 12-60mm lens, offering incredible stabilization for street walking.
• Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV 20MP which is super compact and punches way above its weight class.
• Nikon Z50 20.9MP if you can snag a lightly used copy on local marketplaces. Seriously, grab something a couple weeks early so you actually learn the menus before landing overseas!

Prices for current entry mirrorless bodies rarely see dramatic cuts during November sales because demand stays high anyway. With a strict 700 budget, buying brand new might actually be impossible once you factor in sales tax and a decent memory card. Instead of stressing over retail discounts, look into the Canon EOS Rebel T7 18-55mm IS II Kit if you want to stay under budget with brand new gear, though the autofocus tech is admittedly dated compared to newer mirrorless systems. A much better technical route for your Japan trip is grabbing a Sony Alpha a6100 16-50mm Lens Kit or hunting down a used Fujifilm X-T30 II 15-45mm Lens Kit on secondary markets like MPB or KEH. Japan has insane photography stores like Map Camera and Bic Camera too, but buying before you fly gives you crucial testing time. Sensor stabilization and reliable eye-AF will save your landscape and street shots out there, making those alternative bodies much stronger contenders for travel than holding out for a unicorn deal on an R50.

Honestly id skip waiting for black friday drops because entry level bodies just dont discount enough to save your trip budget anyway. Tax and extras will totally wreck a 700 limit fast. Plus messing with new gear overseas without testing it first is super stressful. Here is what id actually do instead:

• Look for open box deals from trusted camera shops so you still get some kind of return policy
• Check out the Sony Alpha A6100 24.2MP Mirrorless Camera as a solid backup option
• Grab a cheap lens protector so you dont ruin the glass while traveling I tried rushing a new camera setup right before a big trip last year and unfortunately had issues with settings freezing up on me because I didnt know the menus yet. Not fun at all when you are trying to take photos. Good luck finding something in time, japan is amazing and you are gonna have a blast even if it takes a little digging to find the right gear.

+1

Honestly dont wait around for Black Friday if you need it for a trip next month! You'll miss out on practicing with it before you leave. I panicked about prices right before my own big trip last year and learned a few things the hard way:

• Refurbished models are usually way cheaper and practically brand new anyway
• Buying body only and grabbing a cheap used lens saves a ton
• Waiting until the exact week of a sale often means stock sells out instantly Just grab a certified used or refurbished one now so you can actually learn the menus before heading to Japan. Have an amazing trip!

Seconded!

Great info, saved!