Buying a new Nikon Df

I am trying to find a new Df, maybe from Japan. There are a few Df options that claim to be new but the prices vary wildly. Is eBay a safe bet from Japan? Am I under the illusion that the Japanese are a bit more honest in dealing this way? The two things I bought from eBay years ago (from the US) were both sub-par from promised.

 

The other week there was a screaming deal on a near-new Df in my locale and I hesitated just a tad too long. It only had 4500 exposures and looked brand new.

 

Or maybe you have a near-new Df on the shelf collecting dust?

B&H

Nikon Df DSLR Camera with 50mm f/1.8 Lens (Silver)

I admit to never having bought camera equipment from Japanese sellers on Ebay, but my experience buying other items has been nothing short of outstanding.

 

With that said, my Df came from KEH, and I've been happy with it.

I've always been very happy with my dealings with Japanese eBay sellers, mostly for cameras and video games.

 

However, you must keep in mind the import duty that you will likely have to pay (very likely on a high value item such as a camera). This will depend on where you live, but can easily be 20% or more of the combined sale and shipping value.

If you buy new why buy Ebay?

I've had nothing but good experiences buying from Japanese sellers.

 

Now, the "but". For older digital cameras and film equipment, the market in Japan is starting to get a bit thin. The best of film, whether 35mm or medium or large formats, has been sold. The Japanese sellers, for the most part, are scrupulously honest. Their "good" condition equipment would be nearly "mint". They illustrate their products very well, so there are few, if any surprises.

 

As to import duties, the floor on used camera equipment is $800 value on U.S. imports. However, I've never had to pay anything, and I've bought a great deal of equipment for amounts over $800. It's up to U.S. Customs to assess the import duties, and the import documents are always in a plastic envelope attached to the package.

 

As far as servicing, though, you're likely to be out of luck if the equipment wasn't sold in the U.S. originally. Nikon will not touch anything not sold by Nikon, USA.

I have bought from Japan several times - never a problem and the equipment 1s always very clean. Look for Free Shipping and Top Rated Plus Vendor. No indication DF prices are coming down, and they aren't making more! I have not had to pay duty either, but I haven't spent anything near $800 on a foreign purchase. An excellent camera and a pleasure to use.

I have bought from Japan several times - never a problem and the equipment 1s always very clean. Look for Free Shipping and Top Rated Plus Vendor. No indication DF prices are coming down, and they aren't making more! I have not had to pay duty either, but I haven't spent anything near $800 on a foreign purchase. An excellent camera and a pleasure to use.

Before I bought the Df in December 2013 I made a prediction if the new price for the Df is ever going to go down. The prediction was that the new price of the Df never goes down up to the time when it's not available any more. So I bought it then. If it were like the D850 or Z7 I would wait until I can get a new one for a lower price regardless how long I have to wait.

B&H

Nikon Df DSLR Camera with 50mm f/1.8 Lens (Silver)

Indeed, but no shipping to Canada.. I may have to get creative and have one of my friends ship it

I have bought a number of 'collector and usable' cameras from Japan. In the past (pre COVID-19, that is), mailing was quick and I encountered fewer problems than with most international purchases.

My experience, with an admittedly smaller sample, is that the ones I've got from Japan have been in exceptionally fine condition.

 

I've also bought new lenses directly from Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.) fully aware of the lack of US Warranty (it's called 'self-insurance'). No problems at all.

 

In cases like my Canon equipment, when I buy new, not 'pre-owned', I do pay the nowadays slight premium for US warranty, as opposed to gray-market.

Edited January 23, 2021 by JDMvW

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I may yet pull the trigger on a new one.. I need to figure out how I get it from the US to Canada as I can't access my mailbox in WA these days since the border is closed.

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I may yet pull the trigger on a new one.. I need to figure out how I get it from the US to Canada as I can't access my mailbox in WA these days since the border is closed.

You don't say what kind of mailbox - if not USPS, many will forward a package if you are a box holder, formally request it and pay shipping. You can probably arrange a box rental at such a business by mail. Just a thought.

Did you try Aden Camera in Toronto?

There can’t be all that many new Df left. If you want one, I would have a friend buy one from B&H and then figure out how to get that into Canada. It’ll be too late when stock runs out, for good.

Well, the problem is solved. I could have sworn someone from this forum pinged me with the idea to check Aden Camera in Toronto (but I don't see the post anymore?). A quick check on their website showed they still had black and silver ones. A phone call however had it down to one silver kit (with the 50 mm lens). So the kit is on its way to me. Cheaper by a good chunk than B&H and no shipping or border issues. Awaiting new toys ... :)

That kit 50 1.8 is quite good, and cosmetically designed to match the style of the DF. Quite often, it is my evening out lens.

That kit 50 1.8 is quite good, and cosmetically designed to match the style of the DF. Quite often, it is my evening out lens.

Good to know. For all the lenses I own, I don't have an AF 50 mm of any kind anymore. So it's a handy addition. For the rest, it's the 40 mm f2 Voigtlander and the 50 Zeiss in that range. I'm quite looking forward to this camera. If only I could attach the Di-GPS somehow but I've resolved to have to work without it on that machine. The low light capabilities and the smaller file sizes will be nice as well. My D700 had quite a different flair to the pictures versus the D850 and the few pics I took with a Df many moons ago were very much to my liking.

Great there is still some new Df left. Since production has stopped, I can't imagine that supply would last much longer, although most of those who want one (and can afford it) should have gotten it by now. The Df generated incredible hype back in 2013. We had a thread that lasted some 800 or so posts. Must be a record for this forum. Edited January 24, 2021 by Sandy Vongries

C$3,295 black or silver from Aden Camera if you’re serious. Special order but possibly in stock knowing Aden.

C$3,295 black or silver from Aden Camera if you’re serious. Special order but possibly in stock knowing Aden.

See earlier. I bought one from Aden. Not what is listed on their site because the site is not up to date. They had a silver kit left which is what I bought.

There can’t be all that many new Df left. If you want one, I would have a friend buy one from B&H and then figure out how to get that into Canada. It’ll be too late when stock runs out, for good.

The problem with having a friend buys it for you is with the warranty. I think Nikon only honor the warranty to the original purchaser.

The problem with having a friend buys it for you is with the warranty. I think Nikon only honor the warranty to the original purchaser.

Surely your friend buys it with cash and gives your name for the receipt?

Surely your friend buys it with cash and gives your name for the receipt?

:) In this case, the problem is solved. The place I bought it from is in Canada so it's in my name and my Visa card is going to get a scare ... Should be processed on Monday as per my phone call with them so now I'm awaiting a new toy. Looking forward to it ... still debating how I can use a 10-pin device with it, but it may not be possible. I have a Dawn di-GPS which is a 10-pin very small GPS unit which now lives on the D850 but I was hoping to use it with a cable or some such on the Df as well. No luck yet in finding a cable that goes from the Df to a 10-pin female connector. I may have to buy the Dawn GPS that fits the Df but I'm a tad concerned about where it sits on the camera and whether it will interfere with handling. And I'd like to avoid having to spend another whack of money of course...

See earlier. I bought one from Aden. Not what is listed on their site because the site is not up to date. They had a silver kit left which is what I bought.

 

Never a problem with them. They often shave a few bucks off to keep the sale out of Vistek's or Henry's till. Happy you're happy!

Never a problem with them. They often shave a few bucks off to keep the sale out of Vistek's or Henry's till. Happy you're happy!

It's coming this week, hopefully. Will keep people appraised...