Amazon Prime Day: Camera Lens Deals Recap

Amazon Prime Day is a great time for photographers to bag a bargain, with the online retailer offering discounts on camera gear and equipment. However, during one Prime Day, Amazon made a pricing error, selling a $13,000 lens for just $94.48. The Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS Telephoto Lens was reduced by 99%, and some shoppers took full advantage, sharing their hauls on Reddit and Slickdeals. Amazon honoured the orders, although it didn't take long for the company to correct the mistake.

Amazon Prime Day camera lens deals

Amazon Prime Day is a great time to buy a camera lens, with deals often eclipsing the camera body price cuts. While the Prime Day deals are usually headlined by discounts on coffee machines, TVs, laptops, and Amazon's own tech, there are also some fine camera deals to be had.

In 2019, Amazon accidentally listed the $13,000 Canon EF 800mm f/5.6 IS lens for just $95. The company honoured the orders made by some lucky Canon fans before the mistake was corrected.

In 2022, there were some good discounts on Canon EF mount lenses, including a 23% price cut on the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, and a 21% reduction on the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L US USM. There were also deals on Canon's RF-series lenses, such as the RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, and the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, an affordable and extremely sharp prime lens.

For Sony fans, there were discounts on the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 and the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8, while the Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS, Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS, and Sony E 10-18mm f/4 OSS all saw price cuts during Prime Day 2020.

Nikon lens deals were fewer, but there were still some good picks, including the Nikon Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3, which sold for well under half its RRP, and the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8, which was available for 25% off in the UK.

While Fujifilm and Panasonic deals are harder to come by, there were still some discounts to be had on Prime Day. For example, the Fujinon XF56mm f/1.2 had 15% off during Prime Day 2020, and a similar reduction on the Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 R closer to Black Friday.

The 2024 Amazon Prime Day camera deals included:

• Up to 25% off GoPro
• 4K dash camera for $67.20
• OM-5 for $999
• $300 off the Canon EOS R8
• 41% off the Leica SL2
• $400 off the Nikon Z6 II
• $1,000 off the Canon EOS R5
• $100 off the Insta360 Ace Pro
• $126 off the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo
• $700 off the Nikon D780

So, if you're in the market for a new camera lens, it's worth keeping an eye out for Amazon Prime Day deals. You might just find the lens you're looking for at a heavily discounted price.

Amazon honoured accidental discounts

To Amazon's credit, the company honoured the orders rather than cancelling them. This decision is commendable, especially considering the deals were shared on Slickdeals, where even more people would have seen them. Amazon did, however, act quickly to remove the deals and stop losing money on the expensive equipment.

While this accidental discount event occurred during Prime Day, it is not the only time Amazon has offered impressive camera deals. During the 2024 Prime Day sales, for example, there were deals on the GoPro Hero 12 Black, Canon EOS R8, and Nikon Z6 II, among others.

Amazon Prime Day can be a great time to find deals on camera equipment, but it is important to be cautious of extreme pricing errors, as seen in the $13,000 camera equipment being sold for $94.48.

Best Prime Day camera deals

Amazon Prime Day is a great time to buy a camera lens, and the 2024 event was no exception. While there were some fantastic deals on camera equipment, there was also a pricing error that saw some very expensive camera gear discounted by 99%.

The pricing error saw a range of expensive camera equipment, including the $13,000 Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS Telephoto Lens, priced at just $94.48. Other deals included the $550 Sony a6000 and 16-50mm lens bundle, the $1,299 Fujifilm X100F, and the $2000 Canon EOS R, all reduced to $94.48. Some shoppers even filled their carts with these deals, spending close to $1,000 for massive savings.

To Amazon's credit, the company honoured the orders rather than cancelling them.

The 2024 Prime Day camera deals also included some great bargains, such as:

• GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299 (usually $399.99)
• Canon EOS R8 for $1,199 (usually $1,499)
• Sony a7 III ILCE-7M3 mirrorless 24.2 MP for $1,345 (usually $1,999)
• Nikon Z 8 8K Video Mirrorless Camera Body w/ NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens for $4,400 (usually $5,100)
• Canon EOS R6 Mark II RF24-105mm for $3,099 (usually $3,599)
• Insta360 Ace Pro for $349 (usually $449)

Prime Day lens deals

Amazon Prime Day is a great time to grab a bargain on camera lenses, with deals on Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and Panasonic lenses.

Canon

Canon's RF-series lenses are a good bet for deals, as the older ones are now established enough to see price cuts. The Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, for example, is a highly versatile lens that didn't go on sale last Prime Day, but it did earlier this year, so it may be due another discount. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is another top pick for a deal, as it's an affordable and extremely sharp prime lens that works well for portraits and street photography.

Canon's EF-mount lenses are also worth watching. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, a great prime lens for Canon DSLRs, saw a 23% discount in 2020, so it's one to watch again. The Canon EF 24-105 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM also saw a big price cut in the past, with a massive 35% discount.

Nikon

Nikon Z-series lenses are also worth keeping an eye on. The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 is a high-quality prime lens that recently came back into stock at Amazon with a 25% discount in the UK. The Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30 mm f/4 S also had a decent 15-18% discount in both the US and the UK last month, so it's another one to watch.

Sony

The Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 and Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 received generous discounts in last year's sales, so they are good bets for deals this Prime Day.

Fujifilm

Fujifilm lens deals can be harder to come by, as they tend to stick to their standard pricing, but it's still worth considering Fujifilm lenses during Prime Day. You may have better luck with third-party lens brands like Viltrox, which offers great-value primes like the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 AF.

Panasonic

Newer L-mount lenses for cameras like the Panasonic Lumix S5 and S1H haven't been sold at particularly low prices yet, but this Prime Day could be different. The Panasonic Lumix S Pro 16-35mm f/4 and the Panasonic Lumix S Pro 50mm f/1.4 are at the top of our wishlist.

Other Deals

In addition to these potential deals, there are sure to be some surprises, like the $13,000 Canon EF 800mm f/5.6 IS lens that was accidentally listed for just $95 during Prime Day 2019. Amazon honoured the orders, so keep an eye out for similar mistakes this year!

Amazon Prime Day camera deals FAQ

Prime Day camera deals are officially over since we've passed midnight on July 17, which concluded the two-day sale. However, there are still plenty of Prime Day prices available after the event. Some prices have increased slightly but remain competitive.

For 'official' Amazon Prime Day deals, you will need to be an active subscriber. However, there are a few categories, including cameras, that tend to get good deals outside of the official Prime Day sale, which don't need an active Prime subscription. In short, there are thousands of competitive discounts across Amazon over Prime Day, some of which are officially billed as Prime deals (and need an account) and some of which are simply great deals.

If you want to be safe, a good option is to simply sign up for the 30-day Amazon Prime Day free trial as that will automatically entitle you to all deals over Prime Day and free delivery.

We usually see a good selection of the big brands on sale over Prime Day, including Canon, Sony, Nikon, GoPro, DJI, Panasonic, and OM System. Generally speaking, there are good options across the gamut, although deals on Fujifilm cameras are rare due to the brand's high popularity.

In terms of quality, Amazon Prime Day camera deals can vary. The retailer often discounts old stock for Prime Day, which can yield both great deals and forgettable options that are worth skipping. However, some diamonds in the rough can be found, and with recent camera launches, there is a knock-on effect for the prices of older models.

Frequently asked questions