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.