Another End-of-the-Month Refurb Sale, Nikon USA

Berend Botje said:

Berend Botje said:

Concerning the Zf, definitely hold one in your hands before you buy. In particular, if you are going to use a heavier or longer lens on it, the lack of a true grip can be an issue for some, and I don't like any add-on grips.

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I hear you. This is also why I didn't jump on the deal when I saw it first posted (thank you!).

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Come to think of it, if one can get a refurb Zf (as well as Z7ii) for $1200 plus tax, if you don't like it, you can probably re-sell it for a little profit. I wouldn't be surprised that some individuals are already doing that in this round.

The $1200 price for refurb Zf and Z7ii was probably a typo/error on Nikon's part, and they quickly stopped it. We'll see whether those deals will return in the next month or two. If they don't, it was likely an error on Nikon USA's part. Great for those who managed to captured it during the few hours they were available.

Berend Botje said:

I do use long lenses (currently the 180-600mm and plan for a 50-300mm for travel). I have always used such long lenses on modern bodies (D90/7100 Z6II/8), and want a 2nd camera body to be a backup for use with those lenses.

My experience with the older SLR ergonomics go back to the OM system (making your Nikon Fs huge by comparison). I never had any problem with the ergonomics of my OM-2, but my longest lens was the 85mm f/2 and I would not like to hang my 180-600 on a the OM-2 body that still sits on my shelf

Berend Botje said:

I also don't like using any Micro SD card in the second slot. However, it is your individual preferences that matter, and they could be totally different from mine.

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I agree. In this regard too I would prefer compatibility with the Z8, and rather not have an SD card as the primary storage solution.

Click to expand...

I certainly don't like having an SD cards as the primary. I was totally ok with my D750 and D7200 having dual SD slots, but (1) I didn't shoot 20 fps on those cameras (they are not capable of that) and (2) I didn't use them for video much. Nowadays, I capture a lot of 4K video and I would much rather record that on a CFexpress card.

shuncheung said:

Berend Botje said:

shuncheung said:

Concerning the Zf, definitely hold one in your hands before you buy. In particular, if you are going to use a heavier or longer lens on it, the lack of a true grip can be an issue for some, and I don't like any add-on grips.

Click to expand...

I hear you. This is also why I didn't jump on the deal when I saw it first posted (thank you!).

Click to expand...

Come to think of it, if one can get a refurb Zf (as well as Z7ii) for $1200 plus tax, if you don't like it, you can probably re-sell it for a little profit. I wouldn't be surprised that some individuals are already doing that in this round.

The $1200 price for refurb Zf and Z7ii was probably a typo/error on Nikon's part, and they quickly stopped it. We'll see whether those deals will return in the next month or two. If they don't, it was likely an error on Nikon USA's part. Great for those who managed to captured it during the few hours they were available.

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I'm thinking you're right on the Z7 II at least, since it sells used for around $1200, although maybe not, because used cameras have 180 days from most used gear warehouses, whereas Refurbished is only 90 days. But generally used cameras have higher-shutter counts. My guess is that the Z7 II may be going back to $1999 soon, an they want t oget rid of the refurbished ones before then, hence the $1200, but it could be a typo. On the Zf, who knows. That's also a great price (last one was only $300 off, so $1699).

If I had caught it in time, I probably would have grabbed a Z7 II. But they may be gearing up for an aggressive holiday sale with some deep discounts on the Z II bodies through Christmas.

shuncheung said:

shuncheung said:

I do use long lenses (currently the 180-600mm and plan for a 50-300mm for travel). I have always used such long lenses on modern bodies (D90/7100 Z6II/8), and want a 2nd camera body to be a backup for use with those lenses.

My experience with the older SLR ergonomics go back to the OM system (making your Nikon Fs huge by comparison). I never had any problem with the ergonomics of my OM-2, but my longest lens was the 85mm f/2 and I would not like to hang my 180-600 on a the OM-2 body that still sits on my shelf

shuncheung said:

I also don't like using any Micro SD card in the second slot. However, it is your individual preferences that matter, and they could be totally different from mine.

Click to expand...

I agree. In this regard too I would prefer compatibility with the Z8, and rather not have an SD card as the primary storage solution.

Click to expand...

I certainly don't like having an SD cards as the primary. I was totally ok with my D750 and D7200 having dual SD slots, but (1) I didn't shoot 20 fps on those cameras (they are not capable of that) and (2) I didn't use them for video much. Nowadays, I capture a lot of 4K video and I would much rather record that on a CFexpress card.

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shuncheung said:

Berend Botje said:

shuncheung said:

Concerning the Zf, definitely hold one in your hands before you buy. In particular, if you are going to use a heavier or longer lens on it, the lack of a true grip can be an issue for some, and I don't like any add-on grips.

Click to expand...

I hear you. This is also why I didn't jump on the deal when I saw it first posted (thank you!).

Click to expand...

Come to think of it, if one can get a refurb Zf (as well as Z7ii) for $1200 plus tax, if you don't like it, you can probably re-sell it for a little profit. I wouldn't be surprised that some individuals are already doing that in this round.

Click to expand...

You make a very good point - and add to the nagging feeling I should have gone for it

shuncheung said:

The $1200 price for refurb Zf and Z7ii was probably a typo/error on Nikon's part, and they quickly stopped it. We'll see whether those deals will return in the next month or two. If they don't, it was likely an error on Nikon USA's part. Great for those who managed to captured it during the few hours they were available.

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I think I will wait and see what the prices of the different options will do over the next months. With the Z8 in my bag it is not as if I urgently need a new camera, especially with winter coming.

shuncheung said:

shuncheung said:

I do use long lenses (currently the 180-600mm and plan for a 50-300mm for travel). I have always used such long lenses on modern bodies (D90/7100 Z6II/8), and want a 2nd camera body to be a backup for use with those lenses.

My experience with the older SLR ergonomics go back to the OM system (making your Nikon Fs huge by comparison). I never had any problem with the ergonomics of my OM-2, but my longest lens was the 85mm f/2 and I would not like to hang my 180-600 on a the OM-2 body that still sits on my shelf

shuncheung said:

I also don't like using any Micro SD card in the second slot. However, it is your individual preferences that matter, and they could be totally different from mine.

Click to expand...

I agree. In this regard too I would prefer compatibility with the Z8, and rather not have an SD card as the primary storage solution.

Click to expand...

I certainly don't like having an SD cards as the primary. I was totally ok with my D750 and D7200 having dual SD slots, but (1) I didn't shoot 20 fps on those cameras (they are not capable of that) and (2) I didn't use them for video much. Nowadays, I capture a lot of 4K video and I would much rather record that on a CFexpress card.

Click to expand...

TheNextThing said:

Both the Zf and Z7ii are $1200 as well.

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Holy crap!! I paid $1629 for mine from Map Camera a couple months ago and it was a great deal then. But $1200 is cheaper than a new X-T50. Wow, I wish I had $1200 so I could get a second Zf body.

shuncheung said:

Berend Botje said:

shuncheung said:

I have delayed too long several times on Nikon refurb sales, but just kept frequent checks and have always managed to purchase what I was after, just with a delay of a few weeks, sometimes at an even better price.

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Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope we may see the Zf at 1200 again. I like the body only option because I would like to add the 28mm/2.8 SE, which does not come as kit. However, I would still need to get my hands on a Zf body and play with it a bit before I would want to buy it refurbished.

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When I post about these refurb sales, I usually mention that "while supply lasts." When I was a teenager, I missed a few buying opportunities because I waited an hour or two and the stores were sold out. Nowadays when I go to a brick-and-mortar store, if the supply for an item is low, I place it on my (physical) shopping cart immediately and continue shopping. I can always decide not to buy it later on.

And if there are some sale items I am interested, I always order first before I post about the sale on this forum. :-D

Concerning the Zf, definitely hold one in your hands before you buy. In particular, if you are going to use a heavier or longer lens on it, the lack of a true grip can be an issue for some, and I don't like any add-on grips. I also don't like using any Micro SD card in the second slot. However, it is your individual preferences that matter, and they could be totally different from mine.

Click to expand...

I thought I would hate the micro SD second slot, but it's not a big deal. I got a card that seems to live up to its 100Mbytes/sec write speed claims, plus I don't high speed burst very often, and I'm getting fast enough read speeds that it dumps 600 JPEGs off it in literally seconds. I write NEFs to the bigger UHS II slot and JPEGs to the little card. So it really works great, it's just mildly annoying to fiddle with that tiny card using my big fingers, plus the adapter to regular card size.

Of note, I see more and more laptops coming with only the micro SD reader. So if you're shooting JPEG and using a new, smaller laptop then the little card might be just the thing. Perhaps it was a better Idea than I thought.

Mr Bolton said:

TheNextThing said:

Both the Zf and Z7ii are $1200 as well.

Click to expand...

Holy crap!! I paid $1629 for mine from Map Camera a couple months ago and it was a great deal then. But $1200 is cheaper than a new X-T50. Wow, I wish I had $1200 so I could get a second Zf body.

Click to expand...

I kind of wonder though if these deeply discounted Z7 II's and Zf's perhaps are not top of the line refurbished items, meaning they work, but they may have high shutter counts for example, or some wear and tear on them (like the grips). I kind of also wonder if they're "refurbishing" some cameras people are trading in too, say for the Z9 promo's they have had in the past....

--
PLEASE NOTE: I usually unsubscribe from forums and comments after a period of time, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. Feel free to PM me if you have a questions or need clarification about a comment I made.

sirhawkeye64 said:

Mr Bolton said:

TheNextThing said:

Both the Zf and Z7ii are $1200 as well.

Click to expand...

Holy crap!! I paid $1629 for mine from Map Camera a couple months ago and it was a great deal then. But $1200 is cheaper than a new X-T50. Wow, I wish I had $1200 so I could get a second Zf body.

Click to expand...

I kind of wonder though if these deeply discounted Z7 II's and Zf's perhaps are not top of the line refurbished items, meaning they work, but they may have high shutter counts for example, or some wear and tear on them (like the grips). I kind of also wonder if they're "refurbishing" some cameras people are trading in too, say for the Z9 promo's they have had in the past....

Click to expand...

fair point.. but hey I don't really care for that price! It's got a Nikon warranty of some sort at least, so if it's gonna die it will probably do it within that time. I'll save $800 for a bit of brassing and a slightly loose flippy screen hinge.

I've never been afraid to buy the floor model and save.

sirhawkeye64 said:

I kind of wonder though if these deeply discounted Z7 II's and Zf's perhaps are not top of the line refurbished items, meaning they work, but they may have high shutter counts for example, or some wear and tear on them (like the grips). I kind of also wonder if they're "refurbishing" some cameras people are trading in too, say for the Z9 promo's they have had in the past....

Click to expand...

This is a refurb sale, not used cameras from, e.g. KEH, where they have Like New, Excellent+, Fair ... Ugly categories and the prices vary depending on item condition.

Initially I thought Nikon might have a lot of those on hand and wanted to sell them quick, but the fact that refurb Z8, Z7ii, and Zf all sold out after merely one day indicates that Nikon priced them way too low. They probably could have sold all they had if they priced the Zf and Z7ii at $1500.

Just last month, September 2024, refurb Z6ii were at $1200. Seems crazy that after a month, the Z7ii has dropped to the Z6ii level.

In any case, those deals are no longer available. November 1 is just around the corner. We'll see what kind of holiday discounts Nikon will have. Perhaps due to interest rate increases in the US, US$1 is once again 153 yen today. The environment is quite favorable for more sales.

dacrema said:

maverick256 said:

The 800PF refurbished is on sale for a little over $4.1k before tax. I had to work really hard to not just press the buy button right now. Probably should talk to the wife first...

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Press the “BUY IT NOW” button and explain that you spent so much less that you would have on a diamond Rolex. This was a real deal. You saved thousands of dollars.

and look forward to months on a couch in an uncomfortable room…. ;-)

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DO NOT lead with what you spent. Lead with the savings of thousands. Do not mention the cost in any known currency. If questioned, start speaking in fractions or percentages.

BGD300V1 said:

dacrema said:

maverick256 said:

The 800PF refurbished is on sale for a little over $4.1k before tax. I had to work really hard to not just press the buy button right now. Probably should talk to the wife first...

Click to expand...

Press the “BUY IT NOW” button and explain that you spent so much less that you would have on a diamond Rolex. This was a real deal. You saved thousands of dollars.

and look forward to months on a couch in an uncomfortable room…. ;-)

Click to expand...

DO NOT lead with what you spent. Lead with the savings of thousands. Do not mention the cost in any known currency. If questioned, start speaking in fractions or percentages.

Click to expand...

Sounds like someone who has been married for a couple of decades.

shuncheung said:

sirhawkeye64 said:

I kind of wonder though if these deeply discounted Z7 II's and Zf's perhaps are not top of the line refurbished items, meaning they work, but they may have high shutter counts for example, or some wear and tear on them (like the grips). I kind of also wonder if they're "refurbishing" some cameras people are trading in too, say for the Z9 promo's they have had in the past....

Click to expand...

This is a refurb sale, not used cameras from, e.g. KEH, where they have Like New, Excellent+, Fair ... Ugly categories and the prices vary depending on item condition.

Initially I thought Nikon might have a lot of those on hand and wanted to sell them quick, but the fact that refurb Z8, Z7ii, and Zf all sold out after merely one day indicates that Nikon priced them way too low. They probably could have sold all they had if they priced the Zf and Z7ii at $1500.

Just last month, September 2024, refurb Z6ii were at $1200. Seems crazy that after a month, the Z7ii has dropped to the Z6ii level.

In any case, those deals are no longer available. November 1 is just around the corner. We'll see what kind of holiday discounts Nikon will have. Perhaps due to interest rate increases in the US, US$1 is once again 153 yen today. The environment is quite favorable for more sales.

Click to expand...

No I'm aware this is a refurbished sale and know how the resale market works with KEH and MPB in terms of how they rate/grade their gear, but I'm saying that in some cases one might want to go the used route , or that a used camera may cost a similar price, but may have a longer warranty and potentially lower shutter count. $1200 for a Zf and Z7 II seems a bit aggressive and makes me wonder why are they so cheap? Especially for a Zf... when the last sale they were $1699 a few weeks ago. Maybe it's a typo. But it sounds like the Z7 II was in fact $1200. Now that's about what they go for on the used market I guess in perhaps "good" condition, although the prices do range from about $1000 from what Ive seen (probably "fair condition") to upwards of $1800 (like new condition), so $1200 makes me think these may not be in the best of condition or may actually be reasonably used but refurbished by Nikon.

--
PLEASE NOTE: I usually unsubscribe from forums and comments after a period of time, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. Feel free to PM me if you have a questions or need clarification about a comment I made.

How come no one is talking about lenses? The now-sold-out 180-600 was SUPER cheap. I was tempted to pull the trigger. I will need a long telephoto for Botswana next year.

Just checked and Z7ii is again available. I already got mine.

norro said:

Just checked and Z7ii is again available. I already got mine.

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Thank you. Today is the last day of this 4-day refurb sale. Interesting that the Z7ii was out of stock on Wednesday (day 2) and then in stock briefly on day 3 and perhaps day 4. I doubt that Nikon has very many of them left. For those who want one, I would snatch one quickly: https://www.nikonusa.com/p/z-7ii-refurbished/1653B

But the Z8 and Zf are both still out of stock.

__________________

Update: never mind. A few minutes later, Nikon is now showing the Z7ii out of stock. It looks like they merely had a few of them today. :-(

sirhawkeye64 said:

shuncheung said:

sirhawkeye64 said:

I kind of wonder though if these deeply discounted Z7 II's and Zf's perhaps are not top of the line refurbished items, meaning they work, but they may have high shutter counts for example, or some wear and tear on them (like the grips). I kind of also wonder if they're "refurbishing" some cameras people are trading in too, say for the Z9 promo's they have had in the past....

Click to expand...

This is a refurb sale, not used cameras from, e.g. KEH, where they have Like New, Excellent+, Fair ... Ugly categories and the prices vary depending on item condition.

Initially I thought Nikon might have a lot of those on hand and wanted to sell them quick, but the fact that refurb Z8, Z7ii, and Zf all sold out after merely one day indicates that Nikon priced them way too low. They probably could have sold all they had if they priced the Zf and Z7ii at $1500.

Just last month, September 2024, refurb Z6ii were at $1200. Seems crazy that after a month, the Z7ii has dropped to the Z6ii level.

In any case, those deals are no longer available. November 1 is just around the corner. We'll see what kind of holiday discounts Nikon will have. Perhaps due to interest rate increases in the US, US$1 is once again 153 yen today. The environment is quite favorable for more sales.

Click to expand...

No I'm aware this is a refurbished sale and know how the resale market works with KEH and MPB in terms of how they rate/grade their gear, but I'm saying that in some cases one might want to go the used route , or that a used camera may cost a similar price, but may have a longer warranty and potentially lower shutter count. $1200 for a Zf and Z7 II seems a bit aggressive and makes me wonder why are they so cheap? Especially for a Zf... when the last sale they were $1699 a few weeks ago. Maybe it's a typo. But it sounds like the Z7 II was in fact $1200. Now that's about what they go for on the used market I guess in perhaps "good" condition, although the prices do range from about $1000 from what Ive seen (probably "fair condition") to upwards of $1800 (like new condition), so $1200 makes me think these may not be in the best of condition or may actually be reasonably used but refurbished by Nikon.

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Today is the 4th and final day for this sale. I got another e-mail from Nikon that the Zf and Z7ii were once again available at $1199.95. Therefore, I am pretty sure that it wasn't some kind of typo. However, by the time I checked, the Zf was once again sold out. The Z7ii was available for a few minutes and they were also out.

I think we can rule out that:

• Those were typos.
• Nikon USA had a lot of Zf and Z7ii that they wanted to dump. They ran out of stock pretty quickly.

It puzzles me why Nikon priced them so aggressively, especially the Zf is still fairly new. But what that may mean those great deals will be available again, perhaps in November and/or December.

November is only a few days away. We'll see what incentives Nikon will have for the holiday season.

shuncheung said:

shuncheung wrote

The $1200 price for refurb Zf and Z7ii was probably a typo/error on Nikon's part, and they quickly stopped it. We'll see whether those deals will return in the next month or two. If they don't, it was likely an error on Nikon USA's part. Great for those who managed to captured it during the few hours they were available.

Click to expand...

The price for both were featured prominently in the promo email so I don't think it was a mistake. My wild guess is the Z6III hastened the transformation of the ZF into a niche product. The ergonomics are tough with a heavy body. Maybe they got too much criticism on the ZFC for feeling like a toy.

I'm pondering if the $2k price with the 24-70 F4 is still worth it. I have the 24-120 and 24-200, but I think you'd want the smallest possible zoom with the ZF.

Then I'd also need to buy a set of Voigtlanders of course, which isn't productive for my efforts to be more minimalistic and have fewer lenses.







--

vcxz said:

vcxz said:

shuncheung wrote

The $1200 price for refurb Zf and Z7ii was probably a typo/error on Nikon's part, and they quickly stopped it. We'll see whether those deals will return in the next month or two. If they don't, it was likely an error on Nikon USA's part. Great for those who managed to captured it during the few hours they were available.

Click to expand...

The price for both were featured prominently in the promo email so I don't think it was a mistake.

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Correct. Today is the last day of the four-day sale, and I received another e-mail from Nikon. The Z8 is no longer listed, but once again they had the Zf and Z7ii @ $1199.95 again, although just briefly. Therefore, those prices seem to be intentional.

By the time I check, the Z7ii @ $1199.95 was still available, but they were all gone a few minutes later.

However, I am still very puzzled why Nikon is pricing those refurbs so low. They could have sold them @ $1500 easily.

vcxz said:

My wild guess is the Z6III hastened the transformation of the ZF into a niche product. The ergonomics are tough with a heavy body. Maybe they got too much criticism on the ZFC for feeling like a toy.

I'm pondering if the $2k price with the 24-70 F4 is still worth it. I have the 24-120 and 24-200, but I think you'd want the smallest possible zoom with the ZF.

Then I'd also need to buy a set of Voigtlanders of course, which isn't productive for my efforts to be more minimalistic and have fewer lenses.

Click to expand...

shuncheung said:

sirhawkeye64 said:

shuncheung said:

Refurb Z8 is down to $2799.95, merely $300 more than a new Z6iii.

https://www.nikonusa.com/p/z-8-refurbished/1695Q

Thee Z8 is really cutting into the Z6iii price range. I am still hoping that there will be some Z6iii discount next month, as the holiday shopping season starts.

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I'm going to guess the Z6 III probably won't go on sale until it's one year anniversary. I mean we might see $100 off for Black Friday but nothing big. That's just my suspicion because the Z6 III is still technically "too new" and if Canon does release their R6 Mark III either by the end of the year or early next year, Nikon will probably still hold firm on the price, because it does seem like it may be selling quite well (but I haven't checked the numbers, that's an assumption based on the number of people I see who claim to have one).

Apparently the Z8 refurbished is sold out now, so anyone who wanted one, they missed their chance ($2800 is a great deal). Although I don't quite know the aggressive pricing on the Z8 (new and refurbished) over the past several months. Last year, it was because of all the recalls but it seems that a lot of people are picking up Z8's even at just $200-$300 off).

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The Z8 was announced in May 2023 and then of course there were two service advisories in quick succession, in July and August 2023. But it had mostly recovered by September and October 2023. What surprised me was that Nikon USA's Z8 discount didn't happen on November 1 or November 15, but they suddenly introduced a $300 discount on Thanksgiving Day in the US (23 Nov 2023).

The Z6iii was announced in June 2024 (about a month and half later in the year compared to the Z8 in the year before). Therefore, I think there is a chance that it will be discounted during this holiday season. It will be modest, perhaps $200, but that could be on Nov 1 or even December 1, depending on sales situations. Or that is merely my wishful thinking.

In a way the Z6iii is already discounted as Nikon USA is now giving a "free" FTZii. Its value is $250 and perhaps one can resell it for $100 to $150. Used Z6iii are around $2000 now in the used market so that there is already some pricing pressure on new ones. We'll see in about a month.

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Well, I don't know if I call it being on sale necessarily in that context. For many ,they probably don't need the FTZ so there is no push to buy it to get it free. If you need it, then it's a great deal, if you're planning to buy a Z6 III anyway. But Nikon has also done free promos with other cameras (the original Z6/Z7 for example, which is how I ended up with 2 of them and later sold them for $300). I think though they know that a lot of Zf buyers (that would have been would-be Z6 III buyers) are not going to buy a Z6 III as a result and so they are trying to capture as much as they can before the R6 Mark III comes out (probably next year).

But I don't see a "free FTZ" necessarily as being on sale. You still have to buy the camera at full price. My guess is that Nikon has a lot of profit in the FTZ at $250 so they can afford to do it. Heck, they probably lose maybe $50 or $75 per sale on the "buy a Z camera get a free FTZ" promos, but that's recouped in the profits in the Z6 III. In fact, I would say they probably overpriced he Z6 III with the assumption that it can go on sale at some later date, and they still get their target profits. Same for the Z8. I'm sure Nikon is still hitting their sales and margins with the Z8 even at $300 off or something like that.

--
PLEASE NOTE: I usually unsubscribe from forums and comments after a period of time, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. Feel free to PM me if you have a questions or need clarification about a comment I made.

sirhawkeye64 said:

shuncheung said:

The Z8 was announced in May 2023 and then of course there were two service advisories in quick succession, in July and August 2023. But it had mostly recovered by September and October 2023. What surprised me was that Nikon USA's Z8 discount didn't happen on November 1 or November 15, but they suddenly introduced a $300 discount on Thanksgiving Day in the US (23 Nov 2023).

The Z6iii was announced in June 2024 (about a month and half later in the year compared to the Z8 in the year before). Therefore, I think there is a chance that it will be discounted during this holiday season. It will be modest, perhaps $200, but that could be on Nov 1 or even December 1, depending on sales situations. Or that is merely my wishful thinking.

In a way the Z6iii is already discounted as Nikon USA is now giving a "free" FTZii. Its value is $250 and perhaps one can resell it for $100 to $150. Used Z6iii are around $2000 now in the used market so that there is already some pricing pressure on new ones. We'll see in about a month.

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Well, I don't know if I call it being on sale necessarily in that context. For many ,they probably don't need the FTZ so there is no push to buy it to get it free. If you need it, then it's a great deal, if you're planning to buy a Z6 III anyway. But Nikon has also done free promos with other cameras (the original Z6/Z7 for example, which is how I ended up with 2 of them and later sold them for $300). I think though they know that a lot of Zf buyers (that would have been would-be Z6 III buyers) are not going to buy a Z6 III as a result and so they are trying to capture as much as they can before the R6 Mark III comes out (probably next year).

But I don't see a "free FTZ" necessarily as being on sale. You still have to buy the camera at full price. My guess is that Nikon has a lot of profit in the FTZ at $250 so they can afford to do it. Heck, they probably lose maybe $50 or $75 per sale on the "buy a Z camera get a free FTZ" promos, but that's recouped in the profits in the Z6 III. In fact, I would say they probably overpriced he Z6 III with the assumption that it can go on sale at some later date, and they still get their target profits. Same for the Z8. I'm sure Nikon is still hitting their sales and margins with the Z8 even at $300 off or something like that.

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Nikon USA is providing incentives in order to stimulate Z6iii sales. They wouldn't be doing that if the demand for the Z6iii were very high and they couldn't keep up with the demand. I already have two FTZii and sure don't need another one, but if I get a "free" one, I should be able to sell it for $100. Additionally, for example B&H is adding "free" SD card and camera bag to each Z6iii purchase.

Additionally, as just reported today, in the EU the Z6iii is already deeply discounted: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4781594

Therefore, I believe it is likely that Nikon USA will discount the Z6iii this holiday season. It could merely be my wishful thinking, but I am going to wait a bit and see.

sirhawkeye64 said:

shuncheung said:

sirhawkeye64 said:

I kind of wonder though if these deeply discounted Z7 II's and Zf's perhaps are not top of the line refurbished items, meaning they work, but they may have high shutter counts for example, or some wear and tear on them (like the grips). I kind of also wonder if they're "refurbishing" some cameras people are trading in too, say for the Z9 promo's they have had in the past....

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This is a refurb sale, not used cameras from, e.g. KEH, where they have Like New, Excellent+, Fair ... Ugly categories and the prices vary depending on item condition.

Initially I thought Nikon might have a lot of those on hand and wanted to sell them quick, but the fact that refurb Z8, Z7ii, and Zf all sold out after merely one day indicates that Nikon priced them way too low. They probably could have sold all they had if they priced the Zf and Z7ii at $1500.

Just last month, September 2024, refurb Z6ii were at $1200. Seems crazy that after a month, the Z7ii has dropped to the Z6ii level.

In any case, those deals are no longer available. November 1 is just around the corner. We'll see what kind of holiday discounts Nikon will have. Perhaps due to interest rate increases in the US, US$1 is once again 153 yen today. The environment is quite favorable for more sales.

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No I'm aware this is a refurbished sale and know how the resale market works with KEH and MPB in terms of how they rate/grade their gear, but I'm saying that in some cases one might want to go the used route , or that a used camera may cost a similar price, but may have a longer warranty and potentially lower shutter count. $1200 for a Zf and Z7 II seems a bit aggressive and makes me wonder why are they so cheap? Especially for a Zf... when the last sale they were $1699 a few weeks ago. Maybe it's a typo. But it sounds like the Z7 II was in fact $1200. Now that's about what they go for on the used market I guess in perhaps "good" condition, although the prices do range from about $1000 from what Ive seen (probably "fair condition") to upwards of $1800 (like new condition), so $1200 makes me think these may not be in the best of condition or may actually be reasonably used but refurbished by Nikon.

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I have received my z7II yesterday, it is in mint condition, the shutter count is only 3.