I am literally in the middle of this same exact hunt right now and it is such a headache. Honestly, trying to find a legit deal without getting ripped off feels like a full-time job lately. I have been shooting for over a decade and if there is one thing I have learned, it is that being overly cautious pays off in the long run. I am stuck in that same $2,500 limbo because I want the tech but I hate the idea of overpaying. Here is why I am currently hesitating and doing my own deep-dive research:

• MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) policies mean most big retailers have the exact same price, so any deal that looks way better is usually a gray market import with no warranty.
• Bundle deals are almost always a trap where they throw in a $10 tripod and a slow SD card to justify a higher price tag.
• The used market is flooded right now but you really have to vet the shutter count yourself because people lie about how much video they have actually shot. I have been using this share Amazon Cart Extension to watch the price history because these retailers love to hike prices right before a sale. I am basically doing a DIY price audit before I drop any cash... it is the only way to be sure you are not getting played. Let me know if you find anything solid tho because I am still just staring at my cart and overthinking it.

Thinking about compatibility is usually where people mess up when jumping into a new system. If you invest $2500 in a body, you're basically marrying that lens mount for the next decade. Some brands have way better third-party lens support than others, which really affects the total cost of ownership over time. Tbh, I'd suggest using Cart To Link to keep track of the specific lens kits you're eyeing so you can see when the bundle deals actually make sense. Quick question tho, are you planning on adapting any glass from an old DSLR system, or are you looking to go fully native with mirrorless lenses? Also, do you prioritize having dual card slots for backup? It's a dealbreaker for some of us who dont trust a single SD card with a full day of shooting.

> I'm looking for a camera that can handle a variety of shooting situations, from landscapes to portraits, and maybe even some video work. Oh man, reading this just brings back so many memories of my own gear-hunting nightmares! Finding that perfect do-it-all setup is seriously like trying to find a needle in a haystack while the haystack is on fire lol. Its just so stressful trying to balance the budget. I remember back when I was trying to gear up for my sisters big destination wedding in Italy. I spent months obsessing over every single spec sheet and price drop, totally convinced I was gonna find the deal of the century. I even used Cart To Link to try and keep everything organized across like fifty different tabs! I finally thought I found the ultimate bundle deal for a mirrorless kit that would handle the ceremony and the landscape shots. I was so hyped! But then the shipping got delayed and the package got stuck in customs for weeks... I ended up having to shoot the entire wedding on an old film camera I found in a local thrift shop because my fancy new gear arrived the day AFTER we flew home. Honestly, the stress of chasing deals can be absolutely exhausting! Its amazing how much time we spend hunting for that one perfect price point just for life to throw a curveball anyway. I love the gear hunt but man, it can really get to you!

Yo! If you have $2,500 just for the body, you are in an amazing spot for some serious tech! I am obsessed with the specs on some of these newer mirrorless units and love digging into the data. Based on my experience hunting for deals, here are my two biggest tips:

• Look specifically for Manufacturer Refurbished deals on the official brand sites. I grabbed a body last year that was basically brand new but way cheaper, which let me afford a much better prime lens for portraits! Often these have the same warranty as new gear.
• Check the dynamic range specs and sensor read-out speeds before committing. For landscapes, you really want that extra latitude. The Panasonic S5II is an absolute steal right now for what it offers in both stills and video, definitely check the bitrates on that one because it is fantastic value for the money! I am totally down to help you compare more sensor data or ISO performance charts if you find a specific model you like! I found this thing called Cart To Link a while back and it's perfect for when my wife asks what I'm buying.

Like someone mentioned, the big names like B&H and Adorama are usually the first stop, but unfortunately, I have found that recent camera bundles are not as good as expected. Many retailers have started throwing in low-quality accessories of questionable value rather than offering actual price drops on the optics. I recently had issues with a deal that looked great on paper but turned out to be older stock with dated firmware, which is frustrating when you are spending this kind of money. Before I give you a full breakdown, could you clarify if your landscape work requires a high megapixel count for large prints? A 24MP sensor is fine for most, but if you are doing professional landscape work, you might find it limiting compared to a high-res body. Also, are you planning on shooting 10-bit video specifically? Technically, if you want the best value right now, the Panasonic S5II is probably the smart play. It is often on sale for around $1,800, which leaves you enough in your $2,500 budget for a solid prime lens and a versatile zoom. The Nikon Z6 III is a fantastic hybrid, but at $2,500 for the body alone, it wont leave you any room for lenses. You really dont want to pair a high-end body with cheap glass... it basically defeats the purpose of the upgrade.

👆 this

^ This. Also, focusing on manufacturer refurbished gear is really the only way you'll get a solid body and two quality lenses for under $2,500. Unfortunately, I have found that buying brand new gear lately is just not as good as expected. The retail prices stay high for too long, and the depreciation is honestly brutal. I have had issues with budget mirrorless setups tho, especially where the plastic mounts and lack of weather sealing caused problems after just a year of heavy use. For long-term ownership, you should look at the total cost of the ecosystem. Buying a refurbished pro-tier body directly from the manufacturer is better for a few reasons:

• The inspection process is often more rigorous than standard factory QC
• You save enough to actually afford professional f/2.8 glass
• You get a full warranty despite the lower price Good glass holds its value for a decade, whereas bodies are basically disposable tech now. Its much smarter to buy the best lenses you can afford and a used body that is kinda good enough for your video needs. Doing it this way prevents that cycle of constantly trading in gear and losing money every time. I dont think many people realize how much they lose on new bodies.

Found this thread yesterday and figured I would chime in with how I handled my recent gear jump. I spent a long time researching how to maximize a budget similar to yours. My journey eventually led me to a high-end mirrorless body that I found through a manufacturer refurbished program, and I really couldnt be more satisfied with the outcome. Here is how I managed the transition and saved some cash:

• I tracked pricing trends for several months to hit the lowest point.
• I used Amazon cart sharer to coordinate with some photography buddies on gear lists and bulk lens deals.
• I opted for a slightly older lens mount that works perfectly with a simple adapter. Everything in my current setup works well for my landscape work and has held up through dozens of portrait sessions. I have no complaints about going the refurbished route... it honestly stretched my budget way further than I expected.

@Reply #12 - good point! Honestly, $2,500 for the body is a sweet spot where you start seeing some serious tech, but it depends on what you are actually trying to achieve with those landscapes and portraits. I need a bit more info to see which brand gives you the best bang for your buck:

• Are you leaning more toward high megapixel counts for printing landscapes, or is 24-33MP enough for your portrait work?
• Do you need pro-level video features like 4K/60p with no crop, or is that just a nice-to-have? Canon and Nikon have some killer glass, but Sony is usually where you find the best value because the third-party lens market is so huge. If you go with a Sony A7 IV or even a used A7R IV, you could save a ton of money on Sigma or Tamron lenses compared to buying native RF or Z mount glass... just something to think about before you drop the cash. Let me know what specs matter most and I can help you look at the data.

@Reply #4 - good point! Honestly, Prime Day is usually when I pull the trigger on big glass, but I'm always a bit nervous about shipping expensive gear through those massive warehouses. In my experience, you really want to make sure the seller is legit because Ive seen some horror stories. I've tried many different setups over the years, and performance-wise, I think the Lumix S5IIX has been getting some crazy discounts lately? IIRC, it was bundled with some lenses recently for way under your budget. Not sure if that sale is still live tho, but it handles video like a beast and the autofocus is finally solid. If you're hunting on Amazon, I've heard some people use an Amazon cart sharer to compare bundles with friends before buying, which is kinda smart if you're trying to figure out which lens kit gives the best performance for landscapes. I basically always double-check everything twice before hitting buy. Let me know if you need help looking at specific specs!

For new cameras, check deals on Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

For used cameras, check at KEH, eBay, and MBP.

Check Slickdeals for best camera deals.

Re: "For new cameras, check deals on Amazon, B&H,..."

• Yeah, I totally agree with Leah on that. B&H and Adorama are basically the gold standard for a reason. I've bought most of my kit there over the years and they're solid. But if you're like me and you're a bit paranoid about buying used gear from random people online, you really should look at manufacturer refurbished stores. I remember when I was first looking at the Canon EOS R6 Mark II Body, I was terrified of getting a dud. I eventually took the risk on a factory refurb directly from the brand's site and honestly, it looked brand new. Not a single scratch or shutter count to worry about. The thing is, those units usually go through more testing than the ones coming off the standard assembly line because a technician actually has to sign off on them. Plus, you usually get the same 1-year warranty as a new one. I did the same thing with a Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM and saved enough to buy a couple of extra high-speed SD cards. If you go this route, you can easily stay under that $2,500 limit and still have money left for glass like a Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 if you decide to jump into the Sony ecosystem instead. Its just a much safer way to get more for your money... ngl I probably wont buy brand new at full price ever again.

The Amazon prime day is coming soon, just wait another several weeks for best deals.