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Honestly, have you tried the DIY approach to getting a discount?? I'm pretty much a beginner at this, but I heard you can use the Canon Loyalty Program to save a ton. Basically, you just find an old, broken Canon camera (you can probably get one for cheap at a garage sale or something?) and then call Canon to trade it in for a discount on a new Canon EOS R5. It's like a self-service way to lower the price yourself instead of waiting for a professional store to have a sale. I think it might get you way under that $3500 limit?? Not 100% sure if they are doing it today, but it's definately worth a try to see what they say! Does anyone know if they still take realy old film cameras for that?

> basically, you just find an old, broken Canon camera... and then call Canon to trade it in for a discount That’s a clever way to do it, but honestly, I’m not sure if the extra hassle is always worth the payoff for everyone. I remember when I was looking to upgrade to my current setup a few years back; I spent weeks hunting for the absolute lowest price point and obsessing over every potential rebate. Eventually, I just bit the bullet and bought it near full price because I had a big shoot coming up. Looking back after several years of heavy use, the small "deal" I was so worried about doesn't really matter anymore. The body has held up incredibly well through weddings, rain, and some pretty rough travel... it’s basically a tank. I’ve realized that for gear at this level, the longevity and the shots you actually capture while others are still "waiting for a sale" are where the real value is at. It’s pretty much paid for itself ten times over by now, regardless of the initial cost.

Unfortunately, the R5 sensor's rolling shutter had issues with my automotive panning shots – not as good as expected for the price. For stills it's amazing, but if you're shooting cars in motion, honestly consider a Sony a7 IV. I switched and haven't looked back. Check out some used options; you might even snag one around $2500.

R5's great, but consider Sony a7 IV; better low-light, similar price. Sensor tech's newer.

Instead of the R5, consider a dashcam! Thinkware's great for capturing accidents, especially at that $3500 price point!

Skip new; refurbs are often like-new. Canon USA's refurb R5 is around $3200 and comes with a warranty. Save cash for lenses; glass matters more.