Upgrade to mirrorless, 1500 budget?

[Nick2025]

Hi! I’m looking for a new camera with a total budget of 1500€ (body + one lens possibly) and I would like some advice I’m a young amateur looking to start working with it; I’ve been shooting for several years, but only a few times have I been paid, mainly because I’m currently using a Canon 500D (I know, but with the help of post-production, I can still get good results). I already have some EF lenses, so I’m debating whether to stay with Canon or switch systems. What worries me about Canon is the lack of third-party RF lenses.

What do I do?

Street and travel photography
I want to start doing portraits and event photography seriously
I want to start making videos seriously (I’d like 10-bit for learning color grading, which is why I ruled out the Sony A7 III).

I already own:
Canon EF 70-210mm f/4
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF-S 18-55mm kit lens
Canon Speedlite 430EX II flash

Cameras I'm considering:
Canon R7 and R6 (First version)
Fujifilm X-S20 – I could get it brand new for just under 1000€ (I have a discount), while the others I’d have to buy used. However, it doesn’t have dual card slots, and Fuji is still a bit of a niche system (although I like the idea of film simulation, and open gate)
Sony A6700 – I don’t like the ergonomics at all (I have big hands), though it might be fixable with an extended grip. Also, it doesn’t have dual card slots.

Can you help me? After days of research, I’m at a dead end.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Overread]

3rd party R mount lenses are going to improve, Canon have recently signed deals with firms like Sigma so we should see more 3rd party mount options appear. Also don't forget that with an adaptor your EF lenses will still work on the Canon R bodies. Furthermore the EF line has some great optics in it and you can pick them up in good condition second hand right now. So you can use that as a more affordable selection of lens options if the higher end RF mount lenses are just too pricey.

Changing systems is always a big debate because each system has their ups and downs; furthermore its a big cost because its not just a camera; its the flash and the lenses that you've got to swap over.

It's doable, but you need a big reason; a really good one to want and need that brand change to really take you places that you know the current brand can't quite deliver on. Plus its tricky because each brand can basically do everything the others can - you can get pro amazing shots with each of those 3 brands.


Honestly from your comments I feel like the canon is going to be the one you settle on. You don't really sound like you've big reasons or gains to move to either of the other two and it sounds like your skill level is at a point where niche/tiny gains might not be something that you're hunting for from a system change. With portraits and event photography the R6 would be the natural choice - it has a better high ISO performance,

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/image-comparison?attr18=daylight&attr13_0=canon_eosr6&attr13_1=canon_eosr7&attr13_2=apple_iphonex&attr13_3=apple_iphonex&attr15_0=raw&attr15_1=raw&attr15_2=jpeg&attr15_3=jpeg&attr16_0=12800&attr16_1=12800&attr16_2=32&attr16_3=32&normalization=compare&widget=1&x=0&y=0.006424344885883165

and better dynamic range

Photographic Dynamic Range versus ISO Setting

It's only drawback is its limited video recording time and heat build up - but at the same time consider that many professional videos are not one constant long stream but often lots of shorter bits added together. However it sounds like that's more of an experimental area for you and it comes with a load of other costs too (audio gear; rigs; focusing setups and so on and so forth); so it feels like it's not going to be potentially as pressing a factor as the pure photography side.

 

[Nick2025]

3rd party R mount lenses are going to improve, Canon have recently signed deals with firms like Sigma so we should see more 3rd party mount options appear. Also don't forget that with an adaptor your EF lenses will still work on the Canon R bodies. Furthermore the EF line has some great optics in it and you can pick them up in good condition second hand right now. So you can use that as a more affordable selection of lens options if the higher end RF mount lenses are just too pricey.

Changing systems is always a big debate because each system has their ups and downs; furthermore its a big cost because its not just a camera; its the flash and the lenses that you've got to swap over.

It's doable, but you need a big reason; a really good one to want and need that brand change to really take you places that you know the current brand can't quite deliver on. Plus its tricky because each brand can basically do everything the others can - you can get pro amazing shots with each of those 3 brands.


Honestly from your comments I feel like the canon is going to be the one you settle on. You don't really sound like you've big reasons or gains to move to either of the other two and it sounds like your skill level is at a point where niche/tiny gains might not be something that you're hunting for from a system change. With portraits and event photography the R6 would be the natural choice - it has a better high ISO performance,

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/image-comparison?attr18=daylight&attr13_0=canon_eosr6&attr13_1=canon_eosr7&attr13_2=apple_iphonex&attr13_3=apple_iphonex&attr15_0=raw&attr15_1=raw&attr15_2=jpeg&attr15_3=jpeg&attr16_0=12800&attr16_1=12800&attr16_2=32&attr16_3=32&normalization=compare&widget=1&x=0&y=0.006424344885883165

and better dynamic range

Photographic Dynamic Range versus ISO Setting

It's only drawback is its limited video recording time and heat build up - but at the same time consider that many professional videos are not one constant long stream but often lots of shorter bits added together. However it sounds like that's more of an experimental area for you and it comes with a load of other costs too (audio gear; rigs; focusing setups and so on and so forth); so it feels like it's not going to be potentially as pressing a factor as the pure photography side.

Thank you for the thorough and articulate answer. It makes sense and therefore I've decided to go with the R6.
As far as you know, is there a new model coming out that could lower the price of the R6?
Last question, I’m planning to buy the EF-RF adapter to use my two zoom lenses, but do you have any recommendations for a lens to purchase?

 

[Overread]

There is already an R6MII (I've got one). There will always be a "new camera around the corner" in some make or model. In general the waiting game is a long one as that "when" might be a while and it might be longer before you see prices drop. There's also always the risk that prices drop and then supply drops at the same time so you have to be swift to get the best deal. In general its a tricky game to play so easier just to take prices as they are. Plus these days with tariffs and what not being thrown around prices could still spike up short or long term with such things happening.

As for a lens to recommend I think the important thing is to first identify what you need that your current gear isn't satisfying and then establish what will fix those issues and then what price points those options are at and how much you can justify/spend.

Sometimes its better to make-do with what you've got and jot down what issues you get and see if you can spot a pattern and then see what solutions there are. Otherwise you can end up buying really nice lenses but ending up never using them because they don't fit your situation/style and so forth - even if they are very popular lenses.


That said for general event and portrait photography there's always the golden pair of a 24-70mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8 set of lenses which will cover a LOT of ground. With the improved ISO performance of modern cameras like the R6 you could even go for a 24-105 f4 and not be too limited.

 

[Nick2025]

There is already an R6MII (I've got one). There will always be a "new camera around the corner" in some make or model. In general the waiting game is a long one as that "when" might be a while and it might be longer before you see prices drop. There's also always the risk that prices drop and then supply drops at the same time so you have to be swift to get the best deal. In general its a tricky game to play so easier just to take prices as they are. Plus these days with tariffs and what not being thrown around prices could still spike up short or long term with such things happening.

As for a lens to recommend I think the important thing is to first identify what you need that your current gear isn't satisfying and then establish what will fix those issues and then what price points those options are at and how much you can justify/spend.

Sometimes its better to make-do with what you've got and jot down what issues you get and see if you can spot a pattern and then see what solutions there are. Otherwise you can end up buying really nice lenses but ending up never using them because they don't fit your situation/style and so forth - even if they are very popular lenses.


That said for general event and portrait photography there's always the golden pair of a 24-70mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8 set of lenses which will cover a LOT of ground. With the improved ISO performance of modern cameras like the R6 you could even go for a 24-105 f4 and not be too limited.

Thank you!

 

[Golem]

About "improving" availability of third party RF lenses, Canon has limited that to APSC.

Agreed that youll do best to stay with Canon and get the adapter for your EF lenses. I do that, and highly recommend the extra cost for the version having a control ring.

If you tend to find yourself squeezing into small spaces be aware of the tiny, but great, 16/2.8 for $275. EF lenses in that range will be no cheaper, and being old SLR retrofocus lenses they would also be huge.
.

Below you see a 19/3.5 retrofocus Canon lens adapted to a modern LV body. The 16/2.8 RF is smaller than a normal 50mm.

 

[jvo pforum]

Every single photographer, especially the most famous ones weston, adams, smith, sudek, koudelka, krul, abbot, maier evans, heath, morrell, laughlin, and on - had MUCH simpler and less capable equipment. They did great work!

Today's camera is more sophisticated, more technologically advanced, better designed and manufactured than the ones they used. Out-of-the-box you can produce a technically excellent image. Artistic merit is another issue. If I can't produce a better image with the one I've got, the new one may help a little, though I'll soon be looking again for the equipment to fix my photography.

Now having said that, I think everybody should go out today and buy a new camera. The camera manufacturers will be happy and thrive!

 

[Don Fischer]

When I go out looking for a few good photo's I don't worry much about the camera. Going to mirrorless isn't gonna help you much there. and seems to me I've seen several Fulica mirrorless that are going for well under $1000. I think your much better off financially with a mid grade DSLR and spend money on Lens.

My first DLSR was a Nikon D70. short on mp's but got a lot of photo's I really liked with it. Found one if those old photo's, a buck deer, I did years ago. Since then I've sort of up graded a couple timse. First to a D5000 and then to my present D7000. have got deeper into printing also and using a 13" Canon printer now. Took the old buck photo and ran it through at 13" x19" and was amazed how good it came out so tried another at 12"x24" and again super results. This from a camera I upgraded from. Drove one point through to me. Ain't the camera it's the shooter and which lens he or she uses and how well they learn to put the object in the frame! I read years ago about a college teacher teaching new people photography. He made then start out with simple old box cameras. His idea was to take a good photo first you had to learn to take a good photo. How you pose the object in the lens has a great deal to do with that. You will never get a really good photo till you learn take a good photo first, camera won't bail you out! Don't blow a bunch of money you don't need to get a camera you actually can't take advantage of. Your gonna find that how you shoot is going to make more improvement than upgrading equipment. You can always upgrade but you'll never improve till you get the shooter fixed.

 

[nerwin]

I am someone who went mirrorless and went back to DSLR.

The truth is, it doesn't matter what you shoot with. Get whatever feels comfortable and whatever you ENJOY using. The fact is though, it inevitable that DSLRS just ain't gonna stick around forever. Mirrorless is the future, however, cameras have become so incredibly expensive now. Look at that new Fuji XE5...$1700?!

I bought a nearly brand new Nikon D750 for $575. The images will mostly be indistinguishable from any other modern camera released today image quality wise. I personally just can't justify getting another Z mirrorless system again for the little advantages it gave me. I agree IBIS, focus peaking and crazy AF performance is nice to have but I also shoot manual film cameras which don't have any of that and I get by just fine.

I'm not telling you what to get, but I would recommend you sit down and give it a think over. Will upgrading to one of the Canon ROS R cameras be worth it over an older but still good Canon 90D or 6D MK2 or heck a 5D MK4? I know you're considering switching systems as well so I'd take a look at all of them, Nikon, Panasonic, fujifilm Sony, etc. They all make great cameras. You seem to be interested in video so I kinda want to steer you into the direction of Panasonic S5 models. They are really a video centric mirrorless camera over a photo centric camera where as say Nikon is photography primary and video is secondary...on the Panasonics video is primary and photography is secondary. The S5II is often bundle with a 50 1.8 S and a 20-60 lens at a really really good price and man that camera is excellent for getting serious about video.

Its worth looking into anyways. I agree about the Sony cameras..no offense to ones who shoot Sony. I also had a sony too and you're right, the ergonomcis are just terrible to me. I recently checked them out at best buy and I just can't get comfortable with. It doesn't even come close to the comfort levels the D750 I have haha.

Good luck!