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Nikon D800 Used price...why so low?


michael_scharf

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<p>Hi, I've had the D70s, D300 and more recently bought a D700. I paid $1,425 for the D700 which I now realize was super cheap. I figured I could sell the D700 for a profit and buy the D800 for a little more money. I certainly don't need the D800 but I'm always looking out for the resale value and in a few years the D800 will hold it's value a little better. I sold the D700 for $1,750 and have an offer from a guy selling a D800 for $2,000. It is only has 6k actuations and comes with box and in mint condition. Is this a good price. There are people on CL pricing from $2,200 all the way up to $2,600 for the D800. Why is there such a big markdown? I'm thinking that all the pros jumped on the D800 and then decided to go back to the D700. That might be why the D700 is selling used on ebay for almost as much as the D800. Any theory on this? I probably should have just kept the D700 instead of always trying to upgrade. Thanks for any help that you can provide.</p>
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<blockquote>

<p>...have an offer from a guy selling a D800 for $2,000. It is only has 6k actuations and comes with box and in mint condition.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>That IS a good price. <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/915770-REF/nikon_25480b_d800_digital_slr_camera.html">Refurbished by Nikon USA</a> they're $2349.00.</p>

<p>Henry Posner<br /><strong>B&H Photo-Video</strong></p>

 

Henry Posner

B&H Photo-Video

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<p>I think $2,000 is a good price for only 6k actuations.<br>

As per the D800 markdowns it could be due to the fact that many people went overboard last year when it was released and are not using them or underestimated the cost (moving to FX lenses, size and weight, file size), or that they are upgrading to the D800E. Is the D800E also markdown?<br>

I am plenty satisfied with my D800.</p>

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<p>Michael, may I suggest you sample more used/referb prices? I am very familiar with the D700 and D800 since I own both. I see no reason why their used prices are close. The D800 has been a very popular camera and there was major shortage of it during the first 3, 4 months since its introduction in March, 2012.</p>
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<p>There aren't many D800Es on the CL NY/NJ market from what I've seen so I'm not sure. <br>

<br />How do I check for the left focusing issue? I want to make sure it doesn't have a focus issue before I buy it but it really doesn't bother me at all because I always use center spot focusing. I guess it would just hurt my resale value. </p>

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<p>In these days we have eBay, Craig's List and all sorts of web forums, most people are well informed about used prices, so I don't really believe in "good deals" with low prices. There may be an occasional uninformed seller here and there; if you happen to run into one of those, you are lucky, but most likely, there is a catch.</p>
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<p>My gut feeling is that Nikon have caused this at least to some extent themselves. I am new to Nikon, as some of you will know, and when I started looking for a new D800 in Australia the price range was ridiculous with as much $1500 between top and bottom price from "Australian" sellers. What I've learned since is that the Co's selling the cheapest new D800s or any Nikon product, aren't really Australian at all and are often located in Hong Kong. The price of a used D800 has to be less than the cheapest new price.</p>

<p>It all gets a little messy for newbies with Nikon's warranty rules, coming from Leica where anyone could get their camera repaired at any Leica endorsed repairer, you suddenly realise that Nikon (Australia) will only look at Nikon products bought from authorised Aus sellers, the rest of us have to send our cameras back to Hong Kong or wherever. The crazy thing here is that Nikon is saying that a Hong Kong Nikon and an Australian one both made in the same Nikon factory are different - and this effects the used market a great deal.</p>

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<p>I think you got a good price for your D700. I wouldn't have paid that much to an individual when Keh sells them for $1600 in EX+ with a 6 month guarantee. Then if I look at eBay, recent sales of used D800's are in the $2200-$2600 range (and Keh sells them for $2300). So you're getting good deals on both sides.</p>

<p>I think there are some inefficiencies still there in the used market. For example, a lot of people go to eBay without checking real dealers - I regularly get a better deal from Adorama, Keh or B&H than I find on eBay and have even on occasion bought something from a dealer because I knew I could resell it at a profit - and a lot of people have a bias for used equipment, even from an individual they never met, over refurbished. That makes no sense to me at all - I'd definitely take a refurb camera body from an authorized dealer over a used one from an individual.</p>

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<p>If you check sold auctions on eBay, you will find many recent sales of D800s for under $2100, with many in the $1600 to $1900 range. I am a bargain hunter on eBay, and have bought several very expensive lenses that I could not afford at 'normal' used prices at bargain basement prices.</p>

<p>With patience, you can generally always find legitimate bargains on eBay.</p>

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<p>To Clive...</p>

<p>Nikon Aus tries that one just the way Nikon USA does.<br>

Nikon have an international warranty so don't listen to Nikon's nonsense. I buy all my gear from B&H/KEH/Adorama anyway, and they warrant their goods worldwide. You will also be aware that the Australian govt changed the statutory warranty on all electronic goods and mandated a two year warranty from everyone. So cop that Nikon!</p>

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<p>Thanks Francisco - I learn something everyday, I wasn't aware of Aus Gov rules.</p>

<p>I've found that Australian 'Bay can often throw up some outrageously cheap bargains for used items that are well below US or UK prices.</p>

<p>For us the buying from the US isn't much of an option because US international postal rates are so high.</p>

<p>While we're moaning about Aus v World prices buying Adobe download products here is just infuriating because even though they come from exactly the same place as US buyers we get hit as much as 1/3 more!</p>

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<p>I just checked KEH's web site. A used D800 is around $2300, maybe a little more or less, depending on the exact condition. I think that is in line with the current new price at $2800 and the referb price of $2349 Henry mentioned above.</p>

<p>I am not sure about those eBay prices that are $2000 and below. Maybe they are gray market, maybe they have issues .... Otherwise, B&H, KEH and Nikon USA would hardly be selling any D800 at those much higher prices, new or used.</p>

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<p>Here in Canada I see D800s coming on the market virtually everyday for anywhere between $2150 and $2600 (but $2450 is about the median). I don't remember a model from Nikon turning over so quickly. Considering all the excitement and speculation and then the tortuous wait for product, people seem to be reconsidering their purchase or second guessing their needs. A few I have talked to have upgraded to the 'E' but many more are switching to Canon ( I confess to not remembering the Canon model's handle). There are always ads on kijiji asking for trades. The others seem to realize the D800 is a specialized beast beyond their skill level and just want to recoup some of their money.<br>

I'm still waiting for a D700 replacement ;)</p>

 

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<p>Take the prices of a new D800 less the occasional rebates that come along. A used D800 has to sell for less than a new one, and the demand is lower now because bodies are in stock most of the time and the people who really wanted one already have one. The D600 and D7100 fill the needs of many photographers. Price is contingent on demand.</p>
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<p>There are people who always want more that they can afford. There are people who believe that the camera makes the photographer. There are people who have not consider that D800 is not an everyday camera. There are people who believe that the megapixels make the difference. There are people who discovered, after the purchase of a D800, that their whole PC system is not meeting their demands anymore and they have to buy a new, more expensive one. There are people who found out that their technique is not sufficient to really exploit such a beast and, bottom line, they take "worse" pictures than before. There are people who figured out that a D800 with a 50mm f/1.8 it's not the ultimate solution and now they have to invest a fortune to get lenses comparable to the value of their camera. There are people who realized that enthusiasm is not always the best ally in taking a decision. There are people who selling their cameras because, probably, they bought a camera that simply can not afford, money and photo wise. Some thoughts of mine...nothing more or less.</p>
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<blockquote>

<p>^^^ or the person offering his D800 to you at a bargain price is having the known left focus issues and decided it's not worth keeping it.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I would imagine that under such circumstances, most people would pressure Nikon to fix that problem and if Nikon is unable to do so on a particular camera, make them replace the camera. Why would you take a personal financial loss with a fairly well known issue that Nikon should be responsible for? And cameras with known issues will be tough to sell.</p>

<p>Based on estimates from folks such as Bjorn Rorslett, Thom Hogan, etc., at most maybe 20% or so of D800 cameras have the left focus issue. Clearly a majority of them is still fine and it shouldn't be all that difficult to get a replacement that is error free.</p>

<p>Given that the yen has lost about 25% of its value against the US$ in the last 8, 9 months, maybe some people have a way to get D800 in Asia and can still sell them in the US for a profit at lower prices due to a stronger dollar. Or maybe some people are dumping stolen D800 cameras ....</p>

<p>Concerning the exchange rate, other than some rebates a few month ago, Nikon USA hasn't adjust prices downward in the last few months, reversing the great price hike between 2009 to 2011 when the yen appreciates significantly. If there are people who manage to provide alternative imports, eventually it'll put pressure on the official importer.</p>

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<p>@Shun, I bought a used D800 from a very reputable dealer down south but took me at least 4 copies to get one without the left focus issue. I'm assuming there are several frustrated owner ended up selling them and dealer where I purchased it from just purchase the bodies without thoroughly inspecting them pre and post sale.</p>
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<p>Well, anybody who buys a D800 and doesn't test it deserves to be stuck with a defective one. You can probably substitute "D800" with anything else and it is probably still true.</p>

<p>My philosophy is that there are always reasons when something is cheap (or cheaper than usual).</p>

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<p>There are a lot of these things selling on eBay with problems. $1600 for one that's been dropped and has cracked parts or malfunctions, or is "as-is because I haven't tested it" is not a good deal. If you want one in good condition you pay for it.</p>
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<p>@Richard Thomas "@Shun, I bought a used D800 from a very reputable dealer down south but took me at least 4 copies to get one without the left focus issue." how could you consider a dealer reputable after having to exchange a purchase (4) times? Just sayin......</p>
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<p>A used camera store could sell an item for a customer on consignment; i.e. the owner still owns the items if it doesn't sell or he/she changes her mind. If it sells, the store gets a cut of the deal and may provide some sort of warranty or return policy.</p>

<p>Or a store can buy the used item outright from the owner, typically at about 50% of what they think they can sell it for. In that case it would be very foolish for the store not to test the item first, especially for a well known issue such as the left AF problem on the D800.</p>

<p>There is also a lot of gray area about whether a particular D800 has that left AF problem or not. I have only used two D800 and both are fine, but I see some experienced photographers on this forum are confused. They have flip flopped a few times about whether their camera was fine or not.</p>

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