Cyber Monday is practically tailor-made for photographers. It's the international internet holiday that allows creative professionals to one-up the notoriously high price of cameras and gear and gives hobbyists a chance to save some serious money in pursuit of their passion.Today, Pixsy prepared an exclusive photographer's guide to Cyber Monday that puts the best bargains, tailored to any budget, at your fingertips. Furthermore, we've got some great tips on how you can beat the traffic, and to ensure you aren't suckered in by the rush.
Your Essential Cyber Monday Retailers
The trick behind getting the most out of Cyber Monday is knowing not just where to grab the best deals, but when. Most shops throw up and take down their greatest giveaways in a matter of an hour, and the popular models are only sold in limited quantities.As far as professional photographers are concerned, these are the sites you should be browsing first thing Monday morning:
CanonUSA
Canon's direct store is running a "refurbished sale," with great deals on their DLSR, Mirrorless and Point & Shoot cameras.
Best Deals:
#1 Refurbished EOS 80D with 18-55mm Kit Digital SLR Camera for $899 ($1079)
#2 Refurbished EOS 70D EF-S 18-55mm IS STM Kit with EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 for $929 ($1599)
#3 EOS 7D Mark II Body for $1499 ($1799)
#4 PowerShot G5 X Refurbished for $699 ($719)
#5 Up to $400 off on Refurbished Canon Lenses
Amazon
The king of Cyber Monday is once again the best place to go this year for both entry level and professional-standard cameras.
Best Deals:
#1 Nikon D3300 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II Zoom Lens for $399 ($250 off)
#2 Nikon D750 Digital SLR Camera w/ 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Auto Focus-S NIKKOR Lens for $2296 ($3396)
#3 Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens for $548 ($708
)#4 Canon EOS Rebel T6i Video Creator Kit for $799 ($999)
#5 Up to $1600 on Nikon Lenses
Adorama
If you want deals from a trusted photography retailer, Adorama has some unique specialist bundles you won't find anywhere else.
Best Deals:
#1 Nikon D810 DSLR Camera with Free Accessory Bundle for $2496 ($2996)
#2 Nikon D500 DX-format Digital SLR Sports and Wildlife Kit for $3246 ($3796)
#3 Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera Body w/ Photo Inkjet Printer for $1249 ($1549)
#4 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Mirrorless Camera w/ $150 Gift Card for $997 ($1197, worth $1645!
#5 Up to $150 Free Adorama Gift Card with Sony E-mount Lenses
B&H
Whether looking to upgrade your DSLR or grab a Mirrorless camera at a top price, B&H Photo has brilliant bargains across the board.
Best Deals:
#1 Nikon D500 DSLR Camera with 16-80mm Lens for $2396 ($3066)
#2 Canon EOS 7D Mark II with 18-135mm Lens and PIXMA PRO-100 Printer Kit for $2219 ($2553)
#3 Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm & 55-210mm Lenses for $698 ($1048)
#4 Fujifilm X-T1 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lens for $1299 ($1699)
#5 Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Zoom Lens for $369 ($669)
Ebay
You can always find reliable deals from some sellers on Ebay. These are just a few we spotted, but you'll need to move fast!
Best Deals:
#1 Canon EOS Rebel T6i SLR Camera w/ 18-55mm Lens& 30 Piece Accessory Bundle from RedTag Camera for $699 ($1099)
#2 Nikon D5300 Digital SLR Camera & 4 Lens top kit from VideoPhoto4Less for $694 ($1399)
#3 Fujifilm X-T1 Mirrorless Digital Camera from Electronics Valley for $649 ($1299)
Top Bargains on Gear and Accessories
If you're already kitted with the perfect camera, Cyber Monday is a great chance to grab that dream accessory that's always been just a bit out of your budget. Here are some top photography gear deals worth checking out:
- 3DR Solo Quadcopter from B&H for $399 ($999) - Drone photography is taking over the industry one flight at a time, and there's no reason you shouldn't get in on the craze with this well-reviewed filming drone. It even comes supplied with its own 3DR smart battery.
- Speedlite 600EX-RT Refurbished from Canon USA for $349 ($439) - A new level of performance and reliability for professional flash photography. Canon DSLR owners just cannot miss out on grabbing this light at such a low price.
- Polaroid ZIP Mobile Printer from Amazon for $99 ($159) - If you love mobile photography, but miss the joy of printing your own Polaroids, this fun printer will meet you halfway. Uses Premium Zink zero papers, meaning there's no ink involved.
- Datacolor Spyder5ELITE from Amazon for $195 ($279) - Designed for professional photographers, this device offers expert color accuracy solution for laptops, desktops, and projectors. Perfect for seeing, printing and sharing your images as intended.
Best Deals on Photography Services
Professional photographer relies on dozens of software packages and subscriptions to maintain their workflow. There's no reason why you shouldn't go browsing through these photography bargains to help ease your overheads even if you're just starting out:
20% off all Adobe Creative Cloud Apps - Get Photoshop CC, your own portfolio website and more for a limited time.
50% off Contrastly package - Lightroom presets, Photoshop actions and more for half the price, with the code BLACKFRIDAY50.
40% off ShootProof - Professional sales tools, including digital contracts and direct lab fulfillment on a yearly plan.
30% off Sprout Studio annual subscription - Studio management, online galleries, digital fulfillment, album proofing, and much more.
Lightroom Made Easy tutorial at 38% off The Photography E-book tutorial at 60% off
Handy Cyber Monday Tools & Tips
So now you know where to shop, but how can you do so without A. missing the deadline by a millisecond and B. getting a bad deal? These Cyber Monday tricks will ensure you close out the day with an excellent purchase in your virtual pocket.
Create accounts beforehand: One of the side-effects of Cyber Monday is you ending up buying from entirely new sellers. To ensure you aren't slowed down by filling out account details, make sure you pre-register with the retailers we listed earlier.
Follow your favorite brands on Twitter and Facebook: A lot of products, including some of the ones we listed above, will go through even further reduction as the day wears on. You can be first in the queue by creating a specific Facebook/Twitter account and following only the stores and brand names that interest you.
Remember shipping costs: Some bargains can seem pretty unbelievable until you factor in the price of delivery. Always look for alternative options where possible, such as collect-in-store.
Download apps to fill in your shipping address automatically: Every year, hundreds of shoppers fumble at the last hurdle of the transaction. Use software like Dashlane to save and pre-fill all your important info.Join some deal forums: For those really committed, you can always join a forum or social media group dedicated to deal hunting. Examples include Fat Wallet, SlickDeals, and the /r/Photography Megathread.
Tools
Invisible Hand - This browser add-on and mobile app will crawl the internet and tell you if a product is available cheaper elsewhere.
EZPriceAlerts - Our blog post was US focused, but if you're looking for good deals internationally this price tracker can be fine-tuned to your region.
Keh.com - It's not always necessary to buy brand new, and this pre-owned camera store is likely to have insanely good deals on Cyber Monday.
CamelCamelCamel - Worried about overpaying on one site vs. another? This site specializes in Amazon, NewEgg, and Best Buy price tracking.
Before we leave you to plan your Cyber Monday shopping, we want to let you know that Pixsy has our own special offer to announce.
From Black Friday until the end of Cyber Monday, Pixsy will be opening its doors for instant access. We will also have up to $200 off our paid plans for a limited time only. We will be sending out more details closer to this Friday, so keep an eye out!
