I still wonder what a "refurbished" lens really is. Is it just a boxed lens that was returned, a used lens which has been checked out? Are any refurbished lenses just lenses that had problems (or were broken) and have been repaired?
Hmmmm. Well yer kinda rolling the dice i'm afraid.
- The classic definition is repaired returned items that the first consumer found faulty. Frankly, those are the ones -- particularly with complex zoom lenses -- you do not wish to get. Either mis-manufactured tolerances or -- much worse -- first consumer impact damage problems latent in the lens can manifest themselves in later problems.
- Some refurbs are returned items and exchanged that cannot be sold new and are, as mentioned, checked out before resale. Otherwise they are fine.
- And some are (and i have been lucky enough to get a 24-120f4 of this group) "white box breakouts" with NikonUSA new warranty. As best i can tell the importer brought them in as kits but demand did not support the kit volumen imported.
i know of no way to ascertain which of these conditions a particular refurb item is from before the sale.
From a consumer point of view the big question is who -- exactly -- did the "refurb" function and warrants the item. Gray market refurbs means you are betting on the vendor/store.
-- gary ray
Semi-professional in early 1970s; just a putzer since then. interests: historical sites, virginia, motorcycle racing. A nikon user more by habit than choice; still, nikon seems to work well for me.
