Just catching up on this thread. Before you dive into a Black Friday purchase, I need to ask which lenses you are planning to carry over? Unfortunately, if you intend to use your existing APS-C glass, the results are usually not as good as expected. The Sony a7C II Body will force a crop that cuts your resolution down to about 14MP. It is a common point of disappointment for people moving up from the a6000 series who dont realize they are losing so much sensor area. Quick tip: avoid the retailer bundles with third-party batteries. I have had issues with off-brand cells causing data errors on these newer bodies. You are better off buying the Sony NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Battery separately. Also, ensure you get a fast card like the Sony TOUGH SF-G Series 128GB SDXC or the buffer will struggle to keep up with the new AF system.

Building on the earlier suggestion about sticking to the big authorized retailers, I totally agree!! Im super cautious with my money and honestly getting a USA warranty is the most important thing when youre dropping two grand on a Sony a7C II Body. I love this camera so much and wouldnt want anyone to get stuck with a grey market unit that Sony wont repair. One thing that really helped me as a beginner was looking into the EDU or student discount programs at places like B&H or Adorama... sometimes those discounts are actually better than the Black Friday ones and they are way more reliable! Plus you dont have to fight the crowds or worry about stuff going out of stock. Also, definitely make sure to factor in a really good screen protector like the Sony PCK-LG3 Screen Protect Glass right away. I was so nervous about scratching that beautiful flip screen when I first got mine! And dont forget a fast card like the SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB UHS-II SDXC so you can actually use the amazing 4K video features without the camera lagging or giving you errors. Its such a fantastic leap from APS-C, youll love it!

Gonna try this over the weekend. Will report back if it works!

Hey,

I’ve been tracking Sony bodies every Black Friday for years (A7III, A7C, A7IV, FX3, etc.), and I’m shooting the a7CII right now alongside an A7IV for work. Here’s my honest take:

**Tip:** If you want a7CII specifically, I’d personally *wait for Black Friday*, but keep expectations modest: think small rebates or bonus bundles, not a huge price drop.

Why:
- New-ish bodies like the a7CII usually don’t get crazy cuts the first major sale season. Based on how the A7IV and original A7C went, what you typically see is:
- $100–$200 instant rebate
- Or same price, but + free extra battery, cheap SD card, or bag
- Sometimes a kit discount that effectively makes the 28–60mm almost free
- Sub‑$1,900 body-only is *possible* but not guaranteed. I’d say more likely you see $1,998–$2,098 with a decent bundle from places like B&H, Adorama, or Amazon (sold by Amazon, not a random reseller).

What I actually do every year:
- Add the body and kit to wishlists at B&H, Adorama, Amazon and check daily the week of Black Friday.
- Watch for **manufacturer rebates** on Sony’s site—they usually quietly flip on around mid-November.
- Check local camera shops too. I’ve scored better in-store bundles than online a couple times (extra battery + SD + small discount).

If you don’t *need* it for a paid job right now, I’d wait. If your APS‑C is limiting your work (AF or low light), then grabbing the a7CII now at full price is still a decent option—the AF and tracking really are a clear step up.

Hope this helps!

I’d actually look at it a bit more “numbers first.” Historically, new-gen Sony bodies don’t drop much that fast, but Black Friday often brings: (1) instant rebates ~$100–200, (2) retailer gift cards, and (3) value bundles (extra battery, cheap SD, maybe a small bag) rather than a big raw price cut. So if you’re hard-targeting <$1,900 body-only, I think that’s *possible* but not guaranteed; what’s more likely is $1,998 with bonus stuff. Technically, if you’re upgrading from APS‑C, you’ll get the biggest jump from sensor + AF + lenses, not the holiday discount, so I’d also weigh alternatives: an A7IV body on sale plus a solid prime (like a 35/1.8) can end up similar money and arguably more flexible for stills. If you really want the compact form and that updated AF though, I’d wait until the Black Friday ads leak, compare B&H, Adorama, and Amazon (plus Sony’s own store), and only pull the trigger early if you see stock getting tight. Hope that helps you time it a bit!

Hey,

I’d look at this more from a “total cost over 1–2 years” angle rather than just chasing a Black Friday tag.

1) **How new it is**: a7CII is still pretty fresh, so big cuts are unlikely. If we see anything, I’d expect something like $100–$200 off or a “pay full price but get extras” style bundle. Under $1,900 body-only is possible, but I wouldn’t *count* on it.

2) **Bundles vs. buying separate**: Retailer bundles (kit lens + card + extra battery) sound good, but often the card/battery are cheap no‑name stuff. Sometimes it’s better value to grab a small official discount and then buy a genuine NP‑FZ100 and a decent UHS‑II card yourself. Works out similar money but better gear.

3) **Practical trick**: check used/open-box at places like B&H, Adorama, KEH, MPB right before and right after Black Friday. A lot of people upgrade then, so slightly used a7CII bodies can pop up and you might hit your $1,900 target there faster than via “official” sales.

If you don’t *need* it this month, I’d wait through Black Friday/Cyber Monday, watch for a small rebate or a good used copy, and pull the trigger based on that. Otherwise, buying now and hunting deals on accessories is also a decent option.

Hope this helps!

Hey, one thing I don’t see mentioned yet is the “safety / reliability” side of chasing Black Friday deals.

If you wait, I’d personally stick to big, known retailers (B&H, Adorama, Amazon *sold by Amazon*, local authorized dealers). New bodies like the a7CII are pricey, so Black Friday sometimes brings shady:

- **Grey‑market imports** (no Sony USA warranty, trouble with repairs)
- **Open‑box / “display” units** with lots of shutter actuations
- **Bundles with sketchy third‑party batteries / cheap cards** that can overheat, fail, or corrupt files

If you do go for a BF bundle, I’d check:

- It’s clearly **Sony USA warranty** (or your region’s official warranty)
- Return policy is decent (at least 14–30 days, no restocking trap)
- Batteries are **genuine NP‑FZ100** and the SD card is from a real brand (Sandisk, Sony, Lexar, etc.) and rated fast enough for video

Price‑wise, I think you *might* see a small, safe discount (like $100–200 or a legit bundle) from those big shops, but I’d personally avoid “too good to be true” a7CII deals from random sites this year. Paying a bit more for a clean warranty and known batteries/cards is, IMO, the safer bet on a new release.

Hope this helps!

Hey,

I’m shooting the a7CII as my main body now and I’m more of a “buy once, use it for years” type, so I’ll come at this from the long‑term angle rather than just the sale price.

**Background / what living with it is like**
I came from an older Sony APS‑C as well (a6500). The a7CII has been fantastic for long‑term use: AF is miles better, the ergonomics are surprisingly decent for such a small body, and the battery life is solid once you factor in a couple spares. I use it for travel, family stuff, and some paid gigs here and there.

**Why this matters more than chasing the perfect Black Friday price**
Over a 3–5 year ownership, a $100–200 Black Friday discount honestly gets “lost” compared to:
- How soon you start actually shooting with it (missed trips/events until then)
- The cost of accessories you’ll *definitely* end up buying anyway (extra battery, decent card, strap, maybe an L‑bracket)
- Resale value: newer bodies like the a7CII tend to hold their value better in the first couple years, so buying a bit earlier isn’t as risky

From what I’ve seen with recent Sony bodies, you’ll probably get **modest** BF deals (small instant rebate, maybe a kit bundle with card/bag/battery), but nothing crazy this soon after release. It’s amazing, but it’s still new.

**My cautious recommendation**
If:
- You’ve got important trips/events between now and January, and
- You’re already committed to Sony full‑frame long term…

…I’d honestly lean toward buying now *from a big, reputable retailer* (B&H, Adorama, major local shops). If a Black Friday promo appears in the return/price‑match window, call them right away—B&H and others have been pretty good about retroactive adjustments in my experience.

If your schedule’s quiet and every dollar really matters, then yeah, wait and watch for:
- Body‑only at ~$1,999 with a small rebate
- Or kit + free battery/card/bag

But long‑term? This is one of those bodies you buy, enjoy for years, and don’t overthink the exact week you pulled the trigger.

Hope this helps! Feel free to ask if you want more "day to day" impressions of the a7CII itself.

Hey, from more of a “market watcher” angle, I’d actually zoom out and compare brands before banking on a big a7CII Black Friday drop.

In my experience, Sony full-frame bodies hold their price better and get *smaller* early discounts than Canon/Nikon/Fuji. Canon in particular tends to do more aggressive body + kit + bonus item promos around Black Friday (especially at places like Adorama and B&H), and Nikon sometimes throws in crazy bundle values on Z5/Z6II kits. Fuji will often do solid instant rebates on bodies + lenses too.

So if your main goal is max value right now rather than specifically a7CII, you might see:
- Better **headline discounts** on Canon R8/R6 (older gen) or Nikon Z5/Z6II kits
- Sony doing more modest **instant rebates** or accessory bundles, not huge price cuts this soon after release

If you’re 100% set on the Sony ecosystem, I’d expect minor BF drops or freebies, not a huge sub‑$1,900 slam dunk. If you’re brand‑flexible though, it’s worth checking competing models’ BF promos — the “deal of the day” might actually be outside Sony.

Hope that helps you weigh brand vs. price a bit more!

Hey, I’m kinda in the same boat as you – I jumped from an older APS‑C to full frame and was eyeing the a7CII too.

One angle that hasn’t really been mentioned yet is the “DIY savings” side instead of waiting for some magical all‑in‑one Black Friday bundle.

In my experience, the body price doesn’t move *that* much this soon after release, but you can absolutely DIY your own “bundle” and come out ahead:

- **Buy body-only from a legit dealer** (Sony authorized) if it drops even $100–200 for BF.
- **Lens**: grab the 28–60mm used or open-box. That little kit zoom shows up a lot from people who upgraded glass fast. I’ve saved more that way than any official bundle ever gave me.
- **Cards & batteries**: honestly, I stopped caring about “free 64GB card!!!” deals. You can pick good UHS-II cards and third‑party batteries (Wasabi, Newmowa, etc.) during separate Amazon/B&H sales and usually pay less than the baked‑in bundle pricing.

So personally I’d:
1) Watch for a small BF rebate on the **body only**.
2) Build the rest yourself from used / open-box / separate sales.

What APS‑C body are you coming from and what lenses do you already have? That might change whether the kit lens is even worth it for you.

Hope this helps!