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Where to pick up 24-70/2.8 from?

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Cameron Habib

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So I'm considering picking up a new 24-70/2.8 in the near future. I was hoping to get a bit of a deal on one, but haven't been able to find any sales, discounts, or savings on one (aside from going grey market). Anyone go through this process recently and come across and good coupon or trick for saving a few dollars? Much appreciated.
 
Cameron Habib said:
So I'm considering picking up a new 24-70/2.8 in the near future. I was hoping to get a bit of a deal on one, but haven't been able to find any sales, discounts, or savings on one (aside from going grey market). Anyone go through this process recently and come across and good coupon or trick for saving a few dollars? Much appreciated.
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You're talking about the Nikon version and not the Tamron/Sigma, right? If so, I bought mine about one month ago and as you mentioned there were no discounts or sales. Assuming you live in the US, I bought my copy from BH photo. It was at the normal price, but they offered 4% reward back which came out to about $75 and also they offered a UV and Circular Polarizer filter. I didn't bother using the filters since they were a no name brand, but at least it was free. Also, since I don't live in NY, I didn't pay any taxes either so that was money saved. Hope that helps.
 
Cameron Habib said:
So I'm considering picking up a new 24-70/2.8 in the near future. I was hoping to get a bit of a deal on one, but haven't been able to find any sales, discounts, or savings on one (aside from going grey market). Anyone go through this process recently and come across and good coupon or trick for saving a few dollars? Much appreciated.
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Hi!

The 24-70 is one lens that I would tend to buy new or, if buying if used, with some type of warranty. A number of these lenses had defective helicoids that resulted in a $600 repair.

Flickr users complaining of stiff/stuck Nikon 24-70 zoom ring (including a number of NPS "Pro's")

(there are plenty of other reference to this problem; just Google Nikon 24-70 "stiff zoom ring" )

I haven't heard much about this for the past two years; I suspect Nikon has quietly fixed the problem and that new 24-70's are fine.

But I'd be very careful getting an older/used 24-70 and ending up with one that has a defective helicoid. So I'm glad to hear that you are thinking of buying new. I would be leery of getting a "grey market" 24-70, as repairs can be problematic.

BTW, since I had the helicoid replaced in my 24-70, it has been fine...I'm just out $600!

RB

 
HI Cameron, I don't know of any deals on new 24-70s. They are well worth the price of $1886 that B%H wants. Did you end up getting a D810 like you were thinking about? If you did this lens is the perfect companion. I looked at your webpage gallery and it looks like a good focal length for what you shoot. Some really nice images by the way.

One thing you might think about is used. I have bought from Lens Authority (the sales part of LensRentals). They are very honest and have some good deals. They rate their used equipment on a scale, 10 being perfect which they say there is no such thing. The thing is they check all of their equipment when it comes back in and take very good care of it. I think Roger said they sell it at 2 years old.

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www.lensauthority.com

They give a 90 day warranty and a n extended 2 year warranty for a lens under $1500 is $14, not bad. You also get a 3 day inspection period to check it out. One option to possibly save some money.
 
As it happens, mine is for sale right now. It is in mint condition (I've hardly used it, hence the sale) and has no helicoid problems - very smooth zoom. PM me if you'd like more details. Price guide (it's up for auction) is around $1400.
 
Cameron Habib said:
So I'm considering picking up a new 24-70/2.8 in the near future. I was hoping to get a bit of a deal on one, but haven't been able to find any sales, discounts, or savings on one (aside from going grey market). Anyone go through this process recently and come across and good coupon or trick for saving a few dollars? Much appreciated.
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Cameron

I would strongly consider buying from an authorized Canadian dealer as the lens is significantly less expensive there.

Check out pricing at Photoprice.Ca.

ADORAMA or B&H are US$1887.

Canadian vendors are CA$1550 - CA$1650 = US$1413 - US$1504.

The lens will be exactly the same product although it will not have a US serial number and would have to be serviced by a NIKON CANADA service centre for warranty repair . . . not a huge deal as you would prob have to ship the lens back to your US source also for warranty work . . . but it would be a few more days in transit.

You would effectively have a grey market lens so that may also impact future resale and a NIKON USA service center may refuse to repair the lens period . . . warranty or no warranty . . . although independent repair centers would be able to service the lens.

PHOTO EXPERT lists the lens at CA$1599 . . . and I think they offer free shipping to the US . . . I live about 3 miles from their shop and can vouch for them as an excellent first class retail shop . . . I have bought several thousands of dollars of gear from them . . . and they are highly reputable and great to deal with.

Definitely something worth considering!

Good luck with your quest!

Best,

V G
 
B&H, as well as most other US box stores, fix prices according to Nikon's MAP (minimum advertised prices). this ensures maximum profit all around. if you're in the US, refurbished models do sell for a little less — or if you can wait, sometimes there are lens rebates offered at the end of sales quarters.

in Canada, price fixing isn't as rampant as in the US, so that option may save you some money too. otherwise, the only option for the Nikon faithful (at least in the US) is to suck it up and pay full retail. best of luck. :-/
 
Van Griff said:
Cameron Habib said:
So I'm considering picking up a new 24-70/2.8 in the near future. I was hoping to get a bit of a deal on one, but haven't been able to find any sales, discounts, or savings on one (aside from going grey market). Anyone go through this process recently and come across and good coupon or trick for saving a few dollars? Much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Cameron

I would strongly consider buying from an authorized Canadian dealer as the lens is significantly less expensive there.

Check out pricing at Photoprice.Ca.

ADORAMA or B&H are US$1887.

Canadian vendors are CA$1550 - CA$1650 = US$1413 - US$1504.

The lens will be exactly the same product although it will not have a US serial number and would have to be serviced by a NIKON CANADA service centre for warranty repair . . . not a huge deal as you would prob have to ship the lens back to your US source also for warranty work . . . but it would be a few more days in transit.

You would effectively have a grey market lens so that may also impact future resale and a NIKON USA service center may refuse to repair the lens period . . . warranty or no warranty . . . although independent repair centers would be able to service the lens.

PHOTO EXPERT lists the lens at CA$1599 . . . and I think they offer free shipping to the US . . . I live about 3 miles from their shop and can vouch for them as an excellent first class retail shop . . . I have bought several thousands of dollars of gear from them . . . and they are highly reputable and great to deal with.

Definitely something worth considering!

Good luck with your quest!

Best,

V G
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This is good information, thank you. I hadn't heard about this option.

Out of curiosity, how does one determine if a 24-70 has a US or Canadian serial number? Do people just ask for original receipt when they buy used?
 
I appreciate the replies everyone. I was fairly sure that there wasn't any coupon or sales going on at the moment, but figured I'd check anyways. Most of the used lenses I've been seeing have been going for about $400 off MSRP, which is what I've been finding most grey market ones at, and given the value of a warranty on these things, I think I'm just going to bite the bullet and go with a new USA version if I do decide to ultimately go that route.

As for the dating of the lens in regards to problems, is there a known serial number system to determine production date?

Finally, is there any problem with purchasing from Amazon? If I do decide to purchase, I'd like it in time for a quickly approaching trip, and Amazon is great on shipping with guaranteed delivery dates - is it too much in assuming they're an authorized retailer and Nikon won't give me an issue with warranty, etc?
 
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buy/sell on fredmiranda.com. They pop up all the time at excellent prices.
 
Dre325 said:
Dre325 said:
Cameron Habib said:
So I'm considering picking up a new 24-70/2.8 in the near future. I was hoping to get a bit of a deal on one, but haven't been able to find any sales, discounts, or savings on one (aside from going grey market). Anyone go through this process recently and come across and good coupon or trick for saving a few dollars? Much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Cameron

I would strongly consider buying from an authorized Canadian dealer as the lens is significantly less expensive there.

Check out pricing at Photoprice.Ca.

ADORAMA or B&H are US$1887.

Canadian vendors are CA$1550 - CA$1650 = US$1413 - US$1504.

The lens will be exactly the same product although it will not have a US serial number and would have to be serviced by a NIKON CANADA service centre for warranty repair . . . not a huge deal as you would prob have to ship the lens back to your US source also for warranty work . . . but it would be a few more days in transit.

You would effectively have a grey market lens so that may also impact future resale and a NIKON USA service center may refuse to repair the lens period . . . warranty or no warranty . . . although independent repair centers would be able to service the lens.

PHOTO EXPERT lists the lens at CA$1599 . . . and I think they offer free shipping to the US . . . I live about 3 miles from their shop and can vouch for them as an excellent first class retail shop . . . I have bought several thousands of dollars of gear from them . . . and they are highly reputable and great to deal with.

Definitely something worth considering!

Good luck with your quest!

Best,

V G
Click to expand...
This is good information, thank you. I hadn't heard about this option.

Out of curiosity, how does one determine if a 24-70 has a US or Canadian serial number? Do people just ask for original receipt when they buy used?
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Dre

Many . . . and most . . . but not all . . . US lenses have the . . . US prefix before the serial number . . . so the serial number would be . . . US1234567 . . . while Canada and most . . . if not all . . . other grey markets would just show . . . 1234567.

Check your lenses . . . if they have the . . . US . . . before the serial number then they are NIKON USA lenses.

Doesn't happen with all lenses tho . . . some hi end lenses don't have the US designation in front even for US lenses.

Best

V G
 
Cameron Habib said:
I appreciate the replies everyone. I was fairly sure that there wasn't any coupon or sales going on at the moment, but figured I'd check anyways. Most of the used lenses I've been seeing have been going for about $400 off MSRP, which is what I've been finding most grey market ones at, and given the value of a warranty on these things, I think I'm just going to bite the bullet and go with a new USA version if I do decide to ultimately go that route.
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NIKON CANADA lenses carry the same full 5 year warranty that NIKON USA lenses carry . . . but they have to be warranty serviced by a NIKON CANADA authorized dealer in Canada.
Cameron Habib said:
As for the dating of the lens in regards to problems, is there a known serial number system to determine production date?
Click to expand...
Yep . . . PhotoSynthesis.
Cameron Habib said:
Finally, is there any problem with purchasing from Amazon? If I do decide to purchase, I'd like it in time for a quickly approaching trip, and Amazon is great on shipping with guaranteed delivery dates - is it too much in assuming they're an authorized retailer and Nikon won't give me an issue with warranty, etc?
Click to expand...
I believe AMAZON is an authorized NIKON dealer but you will have to confirm if they are selling a US or grey market lens or if they are selling a third party lenses which may not be an authorized NIKON USA dealer.

Best,

V G
 
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