Canon RF lens Cyber Monday Sales?

Wait really?? Thats actually super helpful. I always thought it was the other way around.

Hey, I’ve been watching RF lens pricing pretty closely since 2020, and honestly, Cyber Monday for Canon RF is usually “nice to have” savings, not blowout deals.

From my own purchases:
- My RF 35mm f/1.8 dropped about $50–$80 during holiday promos, not more.
- The RF 100–400 often sees modest discounts or bundle gift cards at places like B&H/Adorama rather than huge price cuts.

In your budget, I’d *personally* target:
- **RF 100–400**: more likely to get a usable sale + occasional store gift card.
- **RF 35mm f/1.8**: small discount but it’s already good value, and pairs really well with the R6.

You might want to:
- Track prices now on **Canon Price Watch** and set alerts (seriously helpful for seeing what’s *actually* a deal).
- Compare Canon’s “instant savings” with B&H / Adorama / Amazon *same day* – sometimes dealers add freebies (cards, filters) that beat Canon’s store overall value.

I’d be careful not to wait for a unicorn discount on the 24–70/2.8 or 70–200/4. They do go on sale, but the percentage off is usually small and still well over your budget.

Hope this helps!

Hey, I went through almost this exact thing last year with my R6 and it was… honestly kind of disappointing.

Story: I waited specifically for Cyber Monday hoping for a big drop on the RF 70–200 f/4. Tracked it at Canon, B&H, Adorama, Amazon, plus a couple of smaller authorized shops. The “Cyber Monday” price ended up being the same as the regular holiday promo that had already been running for weeks. The only change was marketing banners.

From what I’ve seen technically:
- Canon controls RF pricing pretty hard. Most dealers are stuck with the same **MAP pricing**, so “deals” are usually small (~5–10%) and just instant savings Canon authorizes across the board.
- The **70–200 f/4** almost never gets a huge cut. If you see $100–$200 off, that’s already about as good as it tends to get new.
- The **RF 35mm f/1.8** and **100–400** are more likely to get slightly better discounts or store-specific extras (points, gift cards, bundles) because they’re lower-priced and higher-volume.

What actually helped me more than Cyber Monday:
- **Used / refurb**: Canon’s own refurbished store, MPB, KEH, and even B&H used. I ended up getting my RF 35mm f/1.8 refurb from Canon for less than any “sale” price I’d seen.
- **Watching price history**: Use something like CamelCamelCamel (for Amazon) or browser extensions to see if the Cyber Monday price is really lower than, say, October.
- **Dealer perks instead of discounts**: Some shops quietly throw in store credit or bonus like a filter, extra battery, or reward points. You’re still paying MAP, but effective cost is lower.

With your budget and R6:
- If you want reach on the cheap side, the **RF 100–400** is the one I’d expect to see an actual usable discount on.
- If you care more about low light and walk‑around, the **RF 35mm f/1.8** is a great match for the R6 and more likely to dip into the “feels worth it” zone.

Lesson learned for me: don’t wait for some magical Cyber Monday RF blowout… it’s usually just the same Canon instant savings with a different banner. I’d set a target price based on refurb/used and only jump on a "deal" if it actually beats that in real numbers, not hype.

Hope this helps you avoid the same mild letdown I had 😅

Hey, one angle I haven’t seen mentioned yet: Cyber Monday is exactly when people get burned on *unsafe* lens deals.

If you go hunting outside the usual Canon/B&H/Adorama crowd to squeeze your budget, be super careful about:

- **Grey market RF lenses** – cheaper, but no Canon warranty in your region, and sometimes no service at all. Looks like a deal… until you have AF or IS issues on your R6 six months later.
- **Too-good-to-be-true bundles** – random “free” filters/bags from sketchy sites. Half the time they’re hiding a used or imported lens, or they strip out the official Canon hood/case to cut costs.
- **“Refurb” vs “Open Box” wording** – Canon *refurbished* from the Canon store is fantastic (tested, warranty, like-new). But generic “refurb/open box” on marketplaces can mean “customer return, not inspected”. On a $1K lens, that’s a big safety risk.

So in your price range (and safety-first):
- Watch **Canon Refurb Store** and **B&H/Adorama used** for the 35mm 1.8 and 100–400 – prices spike down around now, but you still get return windows and some warranty.
- Stick to **authorized dealers only** for any 70–200 f/4 or 24–70 2.8 “deal” – check Canon’s authorized list if you’re unsure.

My strategy: set price alerts (CamelCamelCamel / Keepa / B&H wishlists), then only pull the trigger if it’s a legit seller + clear warranty + solid return policy. Saving $100 isn’t worth it if the lens decentering or AF issues can’t be fixed later.

TL;DR: for RF glass, I’d rather grab a slightly smaller discount from a safe source than chase sketchy Cyber Monday “blowouts” and regret it.

Hope this helps!

Hey, so I track RF prices way too much and… unfortunately Cyber Monday on RF glass is usually more “10–15% off” than crazy fire sale.

Option A – Buy new on ‘sale’ (Canon/B&H/Adorama)
- Pros: warranty, easy returns, no guessing on condition.
- Cons: discounts often small, especially on popular stuff like the RF 35 1.8 and 70–200 f/4. You might see the 100–400 dip into your budget, but it’s rarely a steal.

Option B – Refurb / Outlet (Canon Refurb, KEH, MPB, Used at B&H/Adorama)
- Pros: honestly the best value long‑term. Canon refurb with an extra coupon has beaten any Cyber Monday price I’ve seen on the 35 1.8 and 100–400. Used “Excellent” from big dealers is usually indistinguishable from new.
- Cons: stock is random, you have to jump fast, and you might not get the exact lens you had in mind.

Option C – Wait for non‑holiday promos
- Pros: Canon runs random instant‑savings promos mid‑year that are as good or better than holiday ones, especially on the 100–400 and 24–70.
- Cons: you’re stuck waiting and watching price trackers.

If you’re being cost‑conscious with that $800–$1000, IMO:
- Prioritize the RF 100–400 if it drops near ~$550–600 new or ~$450–500 used. Great reach, light, and pairs well with your 24–105.
- Or grab the RF 35 1.8 refurb/used around ~$350–400 and keep some budget for later.

Strategy wise: set price alerts on camelcamelcamel (Amazon), and use the “price history” charts on B&H/Adorama or sites like Honey to see if the so‑called Cyber Monday deal is actually lower than normal sale pricing. If it’s only $50 off a lens that regularly goes on promo, I’d personally pass and go refurb/used instead.

TL;DR: Cyber Monday for RF is… fine, not amazing. For pure value, I’d absolutely compare Canon refurb + used listings against any advertised “deal” before pulling the trigger.

Hope this helps!