For my reason never run out completely, January is always a great time to buy a new camera. This year, one of our favorite full-frame mirrorless cameras is on sale, along with some action cameras, instant cameras, and more useful accessories.
If you’re looking for a new camera, be sure to read our buying guides carefully, such as The best mirrorless camera, Best compact camera, Best camera bagand Best action camera. Also, check out our video tutorials to All the gear and tips you need to create studio-grade home videos and How to upgrade your YouTube recording setup.
Special Offer for Gear Readers: Get One 1 year subscription for WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you will). Sign up to help fund the work we do every day.
Camera deals
Panasonic Lumix S5
Photo: LumixOur favorite full-frame video solution is currently on sale for its lowest price ever (the same price it dropped during Black Friday 2021). Our test The best mirrorless camera guide for more details on why we like the Lumix S5 so much. This agreement is also available at Amazon.
GoPro has been running variations of this deal for a while, but it’s still a good deal. New, larger capacity Enduro batteries are also on sale (and worth the investment based on my testing). This deal includes a one-year GoPro Subscription, so if you don’t want that to go beyond the free year, be sure to set a reminder to cancel.
This deal has been running since just before Christmas, but I’m including it because it’s still good value and this pocketable action cam (8/10, Recommend with WIRED) can go places even a GoPro can’t — like being 50 feet underwater, no additional case needed. It’s especially great for underwater photography, thanks to its f/2.0 lens, which is very fast for a camera of this size.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 90
Photo: AmazonI have a Fujifilm Instax printer, and you know what I wish for? Camera. Because the camera is way more fun. Point, shoot, print. It’s hard to beat that for instant gratification. Out of all the Fujifilm Instax cameras I’ve tested, this is my favorite. This deal is for cameras only, so be sure to grab some movies. A pack of 20 is $14 at Amazon.
No, this isn’t technically a deal, but it’s brand new and I think it’s pretty cool. Yes, it is a disposable camera equipped with Tri-X 400. There is no word on whether you can push/pull when developing them. And I know, disposable is not good; I should really load a Tri-X coil in my dim 1950s Japanese rangefinder, but that’s not going to happen to me. Though if you really can’t stand single use, there’s still the Kodak M35, which is possibly the cheapest reusable film camera around $35. Kodak M35 is available at Amazon.
Accessory
Joby GorillaPod 3K
Photo: JobyWeighing in at under 4 pounds, but able to hold up to 22 pounds of camera, this Manfrotto is currently at the top of my list to replace my broken tripod. I haven’t tested it yet, but it looks like a solid choice if you value portability over brute force.
The GorillaPod’s now famous bendable proto-legs make it worth owning even if you have a “real” tripod. It’s lightweight, can be twisted and bent infinitely, and is capable of holding cameras and lenses weighing up to 6.6 pounds. If you don’t need that much support, the smaller GorillaPod 1K is also $27 off ($27 off)
DJI’s Ronin gimbal is practically an industry standard at the moment. Think of it as a way to turn your SLR into a GoPro. You get the buttery smoothness of your GoPro, but with the image quality and lenses of your full-size camera. This agreement is also available at Adorama.
This is the best SD card I have ever used in a digital camera. There are a few out there that are a bit faster, but I’ve never had a problem with this Lexar and it has proven to be very reliable. I don’t want to fix it, but I have two of these that are almost six years old and still work like new. If you don’t need that much space, the 64 gigabyte model is also $80 off ($15 off).
