Should I wait for Prime Day 2026 to buy a Canon lenses?

Question

really need to upgrade my gear but the cost of canon glass is making me sick. i read on some photography blog that prime day is the holy grail for deals but then i saw a video saying rf lenses almost never go on sale and it's mostly just third-party stuff. im kinda desperate because i have a big travel gig in a few months and really need a 24-105 f4 or maybe a prime.

budget is around $1200

needs to be lightweight for hiking

must be weather sealed

is waiting for the 2026 prime day actually gonna save me legit money or should i just buy used now?...

Elk306 · Accepted Answer

Re: Waiting until 2026 is a massive gamble... totally agree. In my experience, Prime Day is mostly for cheap accessories, not pro glass. For your $1200 budget, you should just grab a used Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM.

Fully weather sealed for hiking

Constant f4 aperture Better to have it now so you can actually practice before that travel gig starts. Waiting two years for a sale is just gonna hold your work back.

Imogen Rose Hall · Answer

Waiting until 2026 is a massive gamble that probably wont pay off. In my experience, Prime Day is rarely the holy grail for high-end glass like the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM. You mostly see deals on entry-level bodies or older accessories. Over the years, I have found that the real savings happen on the Canon Refurbished site or through reputable used marketplaces. Since you have a $1200 budget, you can easily snag a used Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM right now and have money left over for other trip expenses. It is weather-sealed and perfect for hiking. If you want a prime, something like the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM is affordable, though it isnt fully weather-sealed like the L-series. Buy used now so you can actually practice with the gear before your travel gig starts. Honestly, having the lens in hand for months of practice is worth way more than a hypothetical discount...