Nikon D3200 bundle: $299 - includes 2 lenses, WiFi adapter, bag

[jerue]

Nikon D3200 bundle for $299.

Comes with the following:

• D3200 body and standard equipment (battery charger/usb cable)
• 18-55mm lens
• 55-200mm lens
• Nikon WU1-A WiFi adapter
• Nikon bag

CAVEAT EMPTOR:

• Refurbished product
• Everything about this indicates GREY MARKET; more about that, Nikon Grey Market

Still, for $300 it's not bad if you want the 55-200 for some up-close photography (ahem: your keyboards?  ), but I'd rather use the 18-200.

Edit: changed last sentence.

[mkawa]

no, the refurbs that come out new jersey aren't gray market. everyone is trying to clear their d3200 inventory, and it seems there was a lot of it..

to be clear, what i mean is that one of the nikon service centers is in new jersey, and cameta, adorama a few other vendors purchase refurbished USA parts from nikon and sell them surplus for great prices. often these cameras have little to no use on them; they're customer returns or w/e

nikon USA no longer services _any_ gray market product, even if you pay them

[VoteForDavid]

Those lenses are plastic outside, but the optics are a shocking value for the money even at regular retail price.  For the price of that lot, you get a *good* beginner's camera and two *good* lenses plus accessories.  If one is looking to get into photography and can spare it, this is a good lot to go for.  Note that if one distributor is looking to dump their generation-old kits, the rest will usually follow within a few months.

buydig is listed as an authorized distributor for Nikon and they seem to have a decent reputation but I've never dealt with them personally.  If you're worried about grey market gear, send them a message about this lot and ask if this is domestic or grey specifically.

http://cdn-6.nikon-cdn.com/where-to-buy/nikon_img_auth_dealers.pdf
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/2437949#forum-post-29646854

What I have done is work at an ebay-focused company for a few years, and maintaining an ebay feedback rating in the high 99% range means some serious customer service action when there is a problem.  I've also purchased Nikon-refurbished equipment a couple of times and it's been like-new each time.

[mkawa]

buydig/beach camera are reliable (same company). and yah, kit lenses are fantastic. fun fact: they are plastic both inside and out. modern aspherical lenses and other fancy aberration reducing refractor designs are constructed by laying crystallized polymers on a much thinner glass substrate. the technology for producing these lens elements is so reliable now that these hybrid polymer/silica lenses outperform all but the most labor and time intense glass lens production.

to make something like the nikon 14-24mm, generally regarded as the best production compound lens in that focal range takes about a year to make from the initial molten silica pour to lens unit assembly.

in contrast, production of a kit lens probably takes about 30 minutes.

[ander]

Let's face it: This is a terrific deal. Any court in the land would agree.

[nubbinator]

It's also long dead and was, for all intents and purposes, necroed after it was dead.

[mkawa]

ah, but there's a slightly better one!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-D3300-Digital-SLR-Camera-Body-24-2-MP-Black-USA-/141316308136

[nubbinator]

I wouldn't call that a better deal when it doesn't have lenses and other accessories.

[mkawa]

oh, good point. well, you can pick up an 18-55 used for cheap-ish (going rate about 50$) (since 99% of the units on the used market will be brand new).

[1391406]

I wouldn't call that a better deal when it doesn't have lenses and other accessories.

It's a damn good deal for a D3300.

[1391406]

This seller is claiming the D3300's they're selling are new for $319 shipped.