We’ve still got some time until Black Friday arrives, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get the shopping going already. In fact, many retailers have started putting out early Black Friday deals. This makes right now a great time to get some early holiday shopping done, or to pick up some tech for yourself. Photographers should be glad to hear this, as there are a lot of Black Friday camera deals already available. We’re currently seeing models discounted from top brands like Canon, Nikon, Sony, and others. So read onward for the best early Black Friday deals available to shop, as well as some information on what to keep an eye out for when shopping these camera deals.
GoPro Hero 12 Black — $300 $350 14% off
Landing the GoPro Hero 12 Black for just $300 is a bit of a steal, as you’ll be getting all sorts of cool action camera features. The Hero 12 Black delivers high dynamic range video with an extra large field of view, and it also takes great still photos. It has GoPro’s HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization capabilities, making it the perfect combination of versatility and affordability with this Black Friday deal.
Canon EOS R100 with 18-45mm lens — $500 $600 17% off
Canon is a favorite among photographers, and if you’re looking for an entry-level camera from the long-time camera maker, the EOS R100 offers up $100 in Black Friday savings here. The camera itself has a 24-megapixel sensor that can capture beautiful photos and 4K video. You’ll also get three free months of iCloud+ with this camera, and the Canon RF-S 18-45mm IS lens.
Nikon Z30 with 16-50mm lens — $700 $850 17% off
The Nikon Z30 is a popular mirrorless camera among beginners, as it’s packaged with a versatile 16-50mm lens that gives you plenty of focal length to get a photography newcomer going. It’s capable of shooting 4K video as well. With this Black Friday deal you’ll not only save $150 off the Z30’s regular price, but you’ll also get three free months of Apple iCloud+ service. This is a great way to store and share all of your favorite photos.
Sony A7C with 28-60mm lens — $1,598 $1,900 16% off 
If you’re interests in carrying a camera around lean more toward the video side of things, one of the best options to consider is the Sony A7C. It has a full-frame sensor and is designed specifically with video shooting in mind, though it’s fully capable as a photography camera as well. Here it’s packed with the Sony 28-60mm lens, and seeing this bundle priced at less than $1,600 is one of the better Black Friday camera deals we’re seeing.
Canon EOS R7 with 18-150mm lens — $1,700 $1,900 10% off
A higher end option from Canon is the EOS R7 mirrorless camera. It comes with a 32.5-megapixel sensor, and for this deal it’s bundled with the Canon RF-S 18-150mm IS lens. This is a versatile combination that will allow you a lot of reach if you like to stand back and take photos, yet it still provides plenty of resolution and detail. This deal is also good for more than 10% off and a total savings of $200.
How to choose a camera on Black Friday
The first thing you want to do when shopping Black Friday camera deals is ensure you’re getting a camera that offers more than what your smartphone already offers. Many of the best phones have incredibly capable cameras. Most DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and action cameras are going to outperform a smartphone camera without much effort, but there are plenty of cheap, off-brand cameras that sound good on paper but likely won’t hold up over time. Your phone is a great default camera option, so make sure you’re getting a more capable camera if you’re going to spend the money during Black Friday.
If you’re shopping for your first camera you’re also going to want to be sure you’re getting something that has a lens. Shopping GoPro deals will ensure you land a camera with a built-in lens, but if you’ve got your eye on a new DSLR or mirrorless camera, you’re going to need to purchase a lens or make sure the camera comes bundled with one. The best Black Friday camera deals will likely include a lens, but that isn’t necessarily the case, so pay attention to that while shopping.
As is the case with any great Black Friday deal, pricing is going to come into play. When it comes to cameras, for the most part you’re going to get what you pay for. So the best way to go about shopping Black Friday deals will be to determine your budget and do your best to find a camera at that price point. Almost every brand is likely to have a model within range of that price, so you can make a purchase knowing you’re getting the most camera you can for the price and pick a brand that suits your liking.
How we chose these Black Friday camera deals
As we were choosing the best Black Friday camera deals we set out to ensure we were suggesting things that offer the most bang for the buck. Cameras can be expensive purchases, and while many of the features are pretty similar across brands and within camera lineups, certain discounts were more appealing. We focused primarily on finding the largest discounts available on cameras we know to be popular choices among a broad range of shoppers.
High end, professional-grade cameras come in at extremely high price points, and it’s rare to find a discount on models aimed at professionals. We stayed away from these cameras when tracking down the best Black Friday camera deals, and instead filled our list with more practical options. We also focused on brands recognizable to most consumers, as they make cameras with the affordability, ease of use, and lens options general consumers are typically looking for.