It's official: Amazon Prime Day is taking place on July 16-17. But we're already excited because there are some excellent deals on cameras and lenses on Amazon that are too good to ignore even before the big day.
The great thing about shopping now is that you don't need to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of the current discounts, which might not be the case when Prime Day arrives; as the name suggests, the sale primarily caters to Amazon's paying members.
However, having a Prime subscription, which costs just $9.99 a month, not only gives you access to free expedited shipping but also additional perks like exclusive discount codes and coupons. You can sign up using the buttons below to get a 30-day free trial if you haven't been a member before.
Top US retailers
Amazon: Cheap prices on lot of camera gear
Adorama: Big discounts on cameras and tech
Apple: Save on your old iPhone or iPad
B&H Photo Video: Deals on camera brands
Best Buy: Save on TVs, laptops, appliances
Canon USA: Buy direct to save money
Dell: Discounts on laptops and PCs
GoPro: $150 off Hero 12 Black
HP: Save on laptops, desktops, monitors
Lenovo: Huge savings on laptops
Microsoft Store: Get powerful PCs & laptops
Mixbook: Cheap photo books & calendars
Samsung: Hard drives, SD cards, and more
Walmart: DSLR, Mirrorless & action cameras
Best Prime day camera deals
Sony A7 III|$1,799.99|now $1,298
SAVE $501.99 at Amazon
The A7 III is still today a "made-it" camera for many users and thanks to its 34MP full-frame stills and 4K video means you're getting a lot for for your money!
Fujifilm GFX50S II GF35-70mm kit|$4,499.95|now $3,499
Save $1,000.95 at Amazon The GFX 50S II got top marks from us when we reviewed it, and it's still a very tempting proposition. The advantages of a medium format sensor – and a 51.4MP sensor at that. With this amazing saving, it can now be had for a far more affordable price than ever before.
Nikon Z50 + 16-50mm & 50-250mm|$1,346.95|now $1,146.95
SAVE $200 at Amazon If you're looking to pick up photography for the first time this ready-to-shoot kit offers two zoom lenses that cover super wide to telephoto to capture everything you want to shoot - now at an even better price!
Canon EOS R6 Mk II | was $2,499 | now $1,999
Save £500 at Amazon In our Canon EOS R6 Mark II review , we said that this camera "makes mincemeat of other hybrids" and we mean every word. It's Canon's fastest camera and with more AF tracking modes, it's a real beast.
Panasonic Lumix GH6|$2,097.99|$1,809.95
SAVE $288.04 at Amazon
Less than half-price on what is one of the best hybrid cameras on the market! With this Panasonic Micro Four Thirds camera, you're able to capture 25.2-megapixel images, along with cine 4K and 4K 4:2:2 video recording. If video is your main focus, but you also like taking imaging, this is the perfect camera for you!
Lenses
Canon RF 100-400mm f5.6-8|was $649| $599
Save $50 at Amazon Compact and lightweight, this lens offers a vast telephoto zoom range for the RF mount and offers 5.5 stops of stabilization.
Panasonic Lumix 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 L-Mount| was $1,099.99 | $847.99
Save $252 Grab this great full-frame lens from Panasonic that covers a vast zoom range suitable for sports and wildlife photography, as well as video.
Amazon Prime Day 2024: Key information
Amazon Prime Day 2024 date and time
Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.
The official start date of this year's Prime Day sale is scheduled for July 16-17, 2024. However, some deals are already live!
This 48-hour extravaganza will feature significant discounts on a wide range of photographic equipment, including cameras, lenses, tripods, and filters. Additionally, you’ll find some of the top laptops, camera phones, and tablets on sale too.
How to make the most of Amazon Prime Day
Despite the name, most of the deals offered during Amazon Prime Day are open to everyone, but if you really want to make the most of it and maximise your savings, it's best to be a Prime member. There are several offers that are only available to subscribers, so signing up means you won't miss out on the really juicy bargains.
However, you don't need to shell out for a monthly membership in order to make the most of the sales festivities. Instead, why not sign up for a 30-day free trial closer to the sale in order to take advantage of the discounts – and then simply cancel the membership when Prime Day is over.
If you do sign up now, you'll also be able to take advantage of the other free perks that come with a Prime subscription, namely full access to Prime Video, Prime Reading (a 'lite' version of Kindle Unlimited) and Prime Gaming (another version of Twitch). Plus, of course, the free-and-fast shipping promise is there for all eligible products.
Do cameras go on sale for Prime Day?
If you're after a bargain on a camera body, lens or other photography accessories, you can save a packet by shopping on Amazon during Prime Day.
It should be noted that not all camera brands are available on Amazon, with Sony being the main omission. If you aren't too fussed about Sony cameras and lenses, then Amazon is a treasure trove.
Canon, Nikon, Olympus/OM System and Fujifilm are the usual suspects that get some serious price drops for Prime Day. Panasonic cameras also get discounted, but typically that's been on the micro four thirds models and not the S-series full-frame cameras.
There are plenty of instant cameras that get discounted for Prime Day too, particularly the Fujifilm Instax range, but you'll also find some Polaroids there too, alongside some international models shipping in from Amazon US and UK. If you do choose an international model, make sure you're able to buy the compatible film refills locally.
Action cameras from Insta360 and DJI also do get discounted, with Amazon being one of the rare retailers in Australia to actually stock the former brand. Keep an eye out for DJI drones to drop prices too.
If you're after a model or brand that isn't available or discounted on Amazon, chances are eBay might have a competing sale and you could save a pretty penny there. So be sure to shop around if you're after the best camera deals.
When can you get the best deals on cameras?
The best time to buy a new camera or lens would be during massive sales such as Prime Day or Black Friday. The discounts are definitely a lot better during these times.
While Prime Day only gets you offers on products sold on Amazon, Black Friday is when pretty much every specialist camera retailer will offer discounts and the competition to offer the best prices will be high.
That said, Amazon typically has the best prices on the cameras and lenses it stocks, even outside of sales events. So do keep an eye on prices on the retail giant's site.
How to find the best camera deals during Prime Day
If you're shopping for a new kit – whether it's your first camera, a gift for someone or an upgrade – it helps to keep a few things in mind when shopping during Prime Day.
1. Try and sign up for a free Amazon Prime subscription
This should give you full access to the sale, including Prime-exclusive offers. You can cancel at any time.
2. Figure out what you want to buy beforehand
Shopping any major sale can be overwhelming. So knowing exactly what you're after can save you both time and money. Take the time to do some research on price histories of the items you would like to buy. While camera prices don't necessarily fluctuate too much, it's still good to know whether a deal is worth your hard-earned money – after all, we don't upgrade our cameras as often as we do our phones, so the investment is best made with some thought.
3. Be flexible on what you want
Sometimes the specific model you want may not be discounted, but if you aren't faithful to a specific brand, you might get a better offer on a camera from a different brand – one with similar specs. This is easier with APS-C models more than full frames, but if you're open to the idea of a different model, it might make bargain hunting a little more economical. We also admit that this is easier for people looking for their first camera and not already tied down with a specific system. You could also look into third-party lenses for your camera bodies instead of opting for the one made by the brand.
4. Create a wish list
Once you've narrowed down what you're after, you can save them in a wish list on Amazon. This will also show you price fluctuations (if any) in the lead up to the sale and makes it really super quick and easy to then move the item to your shopping cart directly from there.
5. Check back through the event
We've noticed in the past that Amazon's prices change through the duration of the sale. Sometimes a piece of camera gear will be cheaper on day two of the sale. So while it might be worthwhile picking something up as soon as the offer has gone live on the shopping site (particularly if stock is limited), it could pay to wait too. If stock hasn't run out, then you could save yourself a few more dollars.
6. Stick with us
Not to toot our own horn, but if you're willing to get some help, we'll be on hand to scour Amazon Australia for the best deals on photography gear. We won't list them all, but we will hand-pick what might be the best options across the different categories of gear. This could make it quick and easy for you to find a specific deal rather than spend hours going through the shopping site to find a particular option.
