Author Topic: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?  (Read 2680 times)

BruceSD

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What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« on: December 22, 2023, 04:35:40 »
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I like older Nikon DSLR cameras.  I've owned many over the years, and currently own five of them.

I was just checking the Ebay prices for used D700 and D600 bodies.  To my surprise I found that, in similar condition, both of these bodies cost about the same.

I would have expected the 4 year newer D600 having better features (e.g. twice the resolution, live view, auto ISO, video, 2 card slots, better low light and dynamic range, etc.) to be more expensive than the older D700.  BUT, then I remembered that the D600 had a well publicized "oil on sensor" problem that resulted in a recall and lots of bad publicity for the D600.  I suppose that the D600 is such a raging bargain today because the oil on sensor defect/recall hurt the reputation of that body.

So, I'd like to nominate the full frame D600 as a Nikon DSLR bargain.

What Nikon DSLR body have you found to be a terrific bargain on the used gear market these days?
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Erik Lund

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2023, 10:56:46 »
I would tend to say that the high end DSLR are all a pretty good deal these days, D3s perfect for beginner as well as D4s and all the way up to D850
Erik Lund

Geert

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2023, 12:40:04 »
I saw a second hand D810 being sold here in Belgium on a 2nd hand site, as new with only 6000-something shutter actuations, for 520 Euro. Although most of them go a few hundred Euro more, i would call that a screaming bargain.

John Geerts

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2023, 17:15:28 »
I would tend to say that the high end DSLR are all a pretty good deal these days, D3s perfect for beginner as well as D4s and all the way up to D850
True, except for the prices of the Df which seem to increase. This is also valid for the D3x

Snoogly

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2023, 21:19:59 »
Gordon fancies the D80 at the budget end.

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golunvolo

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2023, 23:20:12 »
True, except for the prices of the Df which seem to increase. This is also valid for the D3x
The d3x is in my bucket list. It is very tempting right now...

Gil Aegerter

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2023, 08:32:53 »
I'm going to buck the orthodoxy and say a used D5500. I think that body is a just fantastic blend of small size and big capability. I'm continually impressed by what it can do. And I like being able to shoot for 3-4 days without changing the battery!


Birna Rørslett

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #7 on: December 28, 2023, 08:40:39 »
I still use my D40X on occasion. Now converted to IR. The camera is small, unpretentious, and far more robust in actual use than most people would think. They are found at throw-away prices ... and battery lasts "forever".

Such cameras just invite to experimentation :)

Matthew Currie

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #8 on: December 28, 2023, 22:59:22 »
When traveling light without explicit photographic goals or when I want to leve a camera in the car, I still use my D3200, and that gets pretty decent pictures for a camera that is basically worthless.  I'd follow Birna's lead and convert it to IR except it no longer works in manual mode without squeezing the case just right. As noted above the battery on those little cameras lasts and lasts. But I found the limited controls and the high ISO noise a factor, so my current candidate would be the D7100, old enough that many have been worn down to bargain grade, but still ready for years of use. Plenty of features, decent AF, and just enough better on ISO to make a difference


Gil Aegerter

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #9 on: December 29, 2023, 03:41:14 »
D40X, D3200, D7100 ... I wonder how long our old DSLRs can keep going? My previous D5500 got splashed with saltwater in Alaska a couple years ago but kept going for a couple of months. The D3200 that I had years ago still chugs on at my daughter's house, despite this 2016 drenching (18-35mm G lens):

golunvolo

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #10 on: December 29, 2023, 22:18:14 »
I have seen today: D2X 200 euros, d3 340 euros, d4 690 euros. I think any will be a bargain.
                   

Dogman

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #11 on: December 30, 2023, 19:34:14 »
D3.  Overbuilt, tough, excellent handling but heavy.  Twelve megapixels really are enough.  They sell for less than the D700 at some shops these days.  And, of course, the D700 is also available.  There's a lot of value in both these cameras, both of them being my favorite Nikon bodies.
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Fons Baerken

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #12 on: December 30, 2023, 20:23:37 »
D3.  Overbuilt, tough, excellent handling but heavy.  Twelve megapixels really are enough.  They sell for less than the D700 at some shops these days.  And, of course, the D700 is also available.  There's a lot of value in both these cameras, both of them being my favorite Nikon bodies.

i must say if you pixelpeep at images from a 12mp or a 45mp camera at full size the devil is in the details (by way of speech)! Need to mention i still
have a D3S and Df for a reason!

shiiizo

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #13 on: December 31, 2023, 16:06:32 »
Hey guys, this is my first post here btw.

Recently acquired a D3 with an amazingly low shutter count of 17,210.
Feels and looks brand new. 1 year warranty with the shop. Was prized at 360€/USD398/AUD583.

I feel that's were the bargains are really at. I have huge hands and I prefer the old sensors rendering too.
12mp is even huge for social media by todays standards. Here ends my advertisement for the D3.

Plus I: The huge single digit body is an amazing conversation starter at parties or with people "in the know".
Plus II: People don't even look at me in germany when shooting in the street. They seem to notice the camera and instantly register me as a pro or on a job so they don't even bother to look again or move out of the frame. As a former Fujifilm user I remember people ducking away or holding their hand in front of their face to not get photographed.


John Geerts

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Re: What's the BEST Bargain in a Nikon DSLR these days?
« Reply #14 on: December 31, 2023, 18:49:18 »
The rendering of the older Nikon D's  are unique, like the D2x, the D3s and the D3x for example.  I am also fond of the D200, D700 and Df  in this regard. (And also the Fujifilm S5 Pro which takes the Nikkor glass)