ProperFrame
Active member
No prior issues with refurbs. My latest was a backup Z9 I bought refurbed from Nikon. It had a shutter count of 2. Has worked flawlessly.
is refurbished worth it?
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Roy
Well-known member
I've had only one refurbished camera body with a problem.
I seem to have more trouble with lenses.
You can check all the functions of a camera body but it's often hard to judge how much AG coating has been scrubbed from a front element...
I bought a D750 refurbished in 2018. It looked new and worked great - until late last year, when it stopped working. It doesn’t power up with battery in camera but does with it in a battery grip. But then it has an ERR. Is this because it was refurbished? No idea.
John, Did you change any settings? Sometimes the error msg pops up when you make a change or the settings are not compatible….Great camera by the way…
Also….I don’t recall if the 750 had a “restore factory settings” choice….hmmmm
A novice (or even newer) at IR. I bounce back and forth between full spectrum and 720nm. FOr those who have more experience I would appreciate comments
I didn't change anything. I sent it in to MPG to trade for something. It was working when I sent it, but didn't work when they received it. They shipped it back. With a battery in the camera it showed an almost dead battery (it was fully charged) in the top LED, but wouldn't turn on. I decided to try with a battery grip, and it does power on, with the ERR. The shutter is not firing. I don't think there is a reset to factory settings, but there is a reset that clears out all of your settings. I did that, but no chnage. It is a bummer, because it is a great camera. But with current used prices it probably isn't worth getting fixed. I'm still deciding.
…see if this comes up….
unfortunately does not but did eventually find it. thanks.
Erasmus667
Member
I bought a refurbished z7ii body with z mount 24-120 from Nikon UK. Absolutely delighted with the kit. I showed my purchase to some friends and they couldn't believe that it wasn't brand-new. I often now buy refurbished items but only from a reputable dealer. So far I've had no problems with anything bought that way.
I'm thinking refurbished is worth it. I picked up one of the 180-600s that came up for sale last Friday and arrived today. I was testing it for sharpness and the security tape on the shipping box looked a little soft at 100 feet until I realized the type was Screened. The rivets on the bench it was sitting on were sharp right down to the pixels, I'm impressed! Fit and Finish are perfect. Thank You whoever had it before me for taking such good care!
I had to scour the refurbished section for 5 months to get it but Nikon Customer Service gave me the original sale price, Thank You!
I had to scour the refurbished section for 5 months to get it but Nikon Customer Service gave me the original sale price, Thank You!
Enjoy your lens. I’ve gotten outstanding images with mine!
groob
Active member
Almost every piece of gear I’ve owned has been used or refurbished. I’m a fan of buying non-new.
I got the refurbished Z7 ii today. The shutter count was around 100. Looks like new.
The price last Friday was $1,499.95 for the 180-600. I got a bit better deal than that as I had a sale fail to complete last October. Nikon Customer Service said they would honor that price and they did. It took 5 months of constant looking to actually get one through checkout though. Had I to do again I would have returned the 200-500 that was just shipping from B&H and grabbed the $1700 180-600 that just that day came into stock not quite a year ago.
The 180-600 doesn't come up refurbished often and you have to jump on it. I've had Cookies in Safari block my ability to buy this lens. There was one in November for just over $1200 I could not add to my cart no matter what I did, when I called it was gone. I've used Firefox for my last 2 successful Refurbished purchases. I have bought refurbished since my DSLR days so I'm not a new customer.
I bought a refurbished Z8 before Christmas with a little over 1400. Looked new and no issues so far. I don't brag lest Murphy hears.
Thanks for this information. I have not seen any appear when I looked in the past, but it is good to know a few are there, and the savings are not too bad (especially if they have any additional promos like an additional 10% off).
--Ken
OwlBeBack
Member
Based on my 1 experience, I wouldn't recommend refurbished. 
I bought a refurbished 100-400 from the sale last week and am not happy at all with the performance of the lens. I'm getting much sharper images with my 200-500. While the AF on the 100-400 is silent and seems a bit quicker, it is much harder to get sharp images that get anywhere near the results from the 200-500. I know the 200-500 is supposedly its sharpest at 400mm, but I didn't expect it to be sharper, let alone this much sharper than the 100-400. I don't know if that is generally expected or if it has to do with this copy of the 100-400 and that it comes from the refurbished stockpile. I have a note back to Nikon support but I doubt there is much chance for a return at this point.
I bought a refurbished 100-400 from the sale last week and am not happy at all with the performance of the lens. I'm getting much sharper images with my 200-500. While the AF on the 100-400 is silent and seems a bit quicker, it is much harder to get sharp images that get anywhere near the results from the 200-500. I know the 200-500 is supposedly its sharpest at 400mm, but I didn't expect it to be sharper, let alone this much sharper than the 100-400. I don't know if that is generally expected or if it has to do with this copy of the 100-400 and that it comes from the refurbished stockpile. I have a note back to Nikon support but I doubt there is much chance for a return at this point.
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I don't remember what the return policy is for refurbished gear, but if you bought the lens from Nikon or an authorized retailer, you have a 90 day warranty. Also, don't discount that there may be a bit of a learning curve with a lens which is new to you.Based on my 1 experience, I wouldn't recommend refurbished.
OwlBeBack
Member
"Unopened or defective items can be returned to Nikon for a full refund within 14 days of delivery." Not sure what qualifies as defective. I considered the learning curve aspect, but I am not sure where that would come into play unless I've just been shooting with the 200-500 for so long that I've essentially become "one" with that lens.
And long as you're in the refund window, I don't think you'll have a problem.
It's surprising how we develop muscle memory to adapt to things we use often. I got the 180-600 in October 2023 and nearly returned it because I thought it was overly soft, especially on the long end. A friend advised me to keep it anyway. Over time, I've gotten quite a few beautiful images with it. I had to adjust my sighting and handholding technique, but I'm very happy with it now. I have another acquaintance who had a 500 PF he used with his D850. He subsequently bought a Z9 and and a 180-600. He just couldn't adjust to using a zoom, so he sold the 180-600 and bought a 600 PF. He's a very happy guy now.I considered the learning curve aspect, but I am not sure where that would come into play unless I've just been shooting with the 200-500 for so long that I've essentially become "one" with that lens.
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Jbear
Well-known member
I decided on MPB (with Used Photo Pro or KEH as a backup). A LN- camera from any of these comes with a 6 month warranty, which you can extend up to 3 years for a few hundred more if you feel more comfortable. Even with the extra cost for the extended warr...still less expensive than a Nikon refurb, with double the warranty (Nikon is 90 days). I wouldn't be hesitant to get a refurb...it's just not as good/secure of a deal IMO.
My only issue with mpb is I'm not sure who they use to do warranty repairs and I've never gotten a clear answer from them. I have good repair experience with KEH and I know Roberts Camera (UsedPhotoPro) has a strong relationship with Nikon.
Jbear
Well-known member
Fair point...hoping I won't have to let you know. I was going Roberts, but they didn't have any Z9s'.
Out of curiosity I asked them and the response was that they will do the warranty work in house or replace the item if they can't fix it. Again...hope not to have to litmus test that sucka.
Out of curiosity I asked them and the response was that they will do the warranty work in house or replace the item if they can't fix it. Again...hope not to have to litmus test that sucka.
I had my new/refurbished 180-600 out yesterday for the second time and found it very sharp but only if I got the focus perfect. The depth of field is so thin at f6.3 that it is easy to miss. I'm still working with Anti Vibration on/off at high shutter speeds. I am also coming from the 200-500.
OwlBeBack
Member
Does it seem like the dof at f6.3 is thinner than on the 200-500? In some of my sample shots with the 100-400 it sort of seems like that could the case, but in other shots it seems like nothing is really sharp and I'm skeptical I could've missed the target entirely.
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