If you’re looking for a new camera, the holiday season is the perfect time to make a purchase. There are excellent Black Friday deals out there right now, including one on our favorite model, the GoPro Hero 13 Black. You’ll also find great offers on cameras from Insta360, DJI, Fujifilm, and more. For comprehensive info on action cameras, check out our complete guide. Don’t forget to read our recommendations for the Best GoPros, Best 360 Cameras, Best Instax Cameras, Best Travel Cameras, and Best Mirrorless Cameras.
Do You Need a New Camera?
Probably not. What you might really need is to spend more time with the camera you already have. However, if getting a new camera gives you a boost in confidence and motivation, who am I to stop you? It’s hard not to crave gadgets—like the Sony A7C R, which boasts standout autofocus far superior to my A7R II, a larger sensor, better dynamic range, and a lighter design. But even with an upgrade, I know it won’t magically make me a better photographer.
Improving your photography skills takes time and practice. Try shooting every day, even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Walk around your neighborhood and explore different compositions, experiment with lighting, and go out and shoot more. You might end up with a lot of mediocre photos, but each one is a chance to learn.
The Best Action Camera Deal
GoPro hasn’t released a new Hero action camera this year, so the Hero 13 remains the latest model, and it’s on sale for Black Friday. The Hero 13 marked a significant upgrade for GoPro, with an interchangeable lens system that includes Macro, Ultra Wide, and Anamorphic lenses, plus four neutral density filters. This new setup opens up creative possibilities that other action cameras simply don’t offer.
One of my favorite features of the Hero 13’s lens system is its ability to auto-detect which lens is attached and adjust settings accordingly. This is a major time-saver for anyone who doesn’t want to tweak settings every time they swap lenses or add a filter. I’ve enjoyed using all three lenses, but the Ultra Wide is my go-to, especially when shooting from my bike’s handlebars for that immersive footage. Plus, the Hero Black ultra-wide edition is on sale too.
All the classic GoPro features are here, including top-notch Hypersmooth stabilization and various shooting modes. If you purchase through gopro.com, you’ll also get a year of GoPro Premium, their subscription cloud storage service. One downside? Battery life is decent but not stellar, so I’d recommend picking up an extra battery.
Without a new Hero 14 this year, how does the Hero 13 hold up for the future? I’d say it’s very future-proof. The newly announced DJI Action 6 has a variable aperture lens, which is interesting, but it employs an automated aperture instead of a full aperture priority mode. Plus, I’m cautious about DJI products, especially with the import ban starting in December 2025. The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is also on sale and I love it, particularly with new accessories that enhance its functionality. Ultimately, though, when I head out for biking, paddling, or snowshoeing, the GoPro Hero 13 Black is still my camera of choice.
Other Great Action Camera Deals
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
For most people, the Action 5 is the best pick. It offers better battery life than the Hero 13 and performs well in low light, though keep in mind that support in the US will be limited after December 2025.
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
If you’re planning to film vlogs, the Ace Pro 2 is our top suggestion. It features an impressive lens and sensor co-engineered with Leica, capable of 8K video at up to 30 fps. My only concern is the lack of 10-bit color, but unless you’re editing color in post, it’s not a huge deal.
Deals on Action Camera Accessories
The Best 360 Camera Deal
The GoPro Max 2 is the top 360 camera available and is currently $100 off. Its dual 14 mm lenses each record to a 1/2.3-inch chip—the largest in a 360 camera. This setup provides what GoPro calls “True 8K” video, meaning the recorded area of the sensor really captures 8K, unlike other models that only record a fraction of that. The Max 2 offers sharper, clearer video and adds support for 10-bit color in Log files, making it hard for the competition to match.
Other 360 Camera Deals
Insta360 X5 360 Camera
Our previous top choice, the Insta360 X5, remains an excellent 360 camera. It uses twin 1/1.28″ sensors to capture nearly 8K video, with impressive dynamic range and color accuracy—though it may lean a bit towards oversaturation.
Insta360 X4 360 Camera
This model is at its best price yet. While the X4 has been succeeded by the X5, it still offers great quality. It matches the X5 in resolution (8K) but is lacking in sensor updates and improved color options.
A Fun, Screen-Free Digital Camera
What if there were a film camera that captured digital images? That’s what the Camp Snap camera is all about. The screen-free design means you won’t know how your images turned out until later, allowing you to stay in the moment more easily. The Camp Snap can store up to 2,000 photos on its preinstalled memory card and comes with a USB-C cable for easy downloads.
The Best Deals on Instant Cameras
Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 99 is the best pick for those who enjoy manual controls and creative effects. It offers manual focus, exposure controls, and fun color effects, like simulating light leaks. The Mini 99 features an adjustable exposure dial, making it easier to capture well-lit shots without washing out your images.
Other Instant Camera Deals
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
This model is a consistent favorite each Black Friday. It’s our top choice for budget Instax because it’s capable yet easy to use, wrapped in a colorful design appealing to beginners.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 41
The Mini 41 is essentially the same as the Mini 12 but crafted to look more like a “traditional” camera.
The Best Deals on Our Favorite Photo Printing Services
A photograph isn’t complete until it’s printed, and right now, there are some fantastic deals for affordable printing options.
Mpix
Our top choice for printing photos, Mpix is offering a 30% off sale. They produce high-quality prints even at full price, making this an excellent deal. The photographs printed on Kodak Endura paper have rich, deep blacks and true-to-life colors.
Shutterfly
For family gifts, Shutterfly has a sitewide 50% off sale. Their book printing service has consistently delivered great results in our tests, and their calendar options are also solid.
Adorama’s Printique
For the highest quality prints we’ve tested, look no further than Printique. It’s our top pick, though prices can be high—this deal makes it more accessible. They offer a range of papers, including Kodak Endura and Fujifilm Matte, with options to print the date and file name on the back.
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