I made a thread similar to this over a year ago... what is the best deal you've gotten with a NIkon product? It could be buying, selling, pretty much anything =)
I'll start it off...
I got a used Nikon D40 (just body) with arca swiss plate, and extra battery right here on these FM buy/sell boards for $200 paypal shipped. The D300 was actually my first DSLR and I loved it - but you know how NAS is... the more Nikon gear you can have, the better! I was happy to jump on this deal because the D40 is a great camera. Add a good AF-S lens, and some good flash techniques and I've had many great prints. I still prefer my D300, and when I use that, the girlfriend gets to use the D40
Another deal I still really am proud of is actually from Ebay. Yea, Ebay is risky but the seller was a camera store. I got a 80-200mm AFS lens, used with some external nicks, for $800 shipped! I haven't tried a new one before, but I imagine the IQ on my used one was as good as it got (I have shot with the old 80-200 push/pull and the 70-200vr lens and prefer my 80-200afs). Months later I say this lens go for $1200+. It's still one of my most used lenses... it just feels great in my hand and is super solid.
Got both a 55 Micro AI-S and 135 f2.8 AI-S, for 50 euros. Both needed servicing however at a tune of 40 euros each. So total was around 200 dollars I guess.
When buying it seems my timing was always off so I paid more than I could have a few months earlier or later. Bought D700 £1650 in August this year, around last christmas almost all retailers were selling D700's for around £1450. Similarly got 24-70 for £1199 about a month ago and 24-85 for £350 both these lenses were cheaper about a year ago. Had I bought all these at the lowest price point I could have saved enough for a very decent walk around PnS like Panasonic LX3.
But increasing prices also help me sell my older equipment for better prices like D80 went for £325 on ebay, and it had had a fall when my tripod toppled over in strong wind and was scratched on one side, fact that was clearly illustrated in the pictures. Also my 5-6 years old 18-35 went for £250.
My best deal was the purchase of my 28-105 f3.5/4.5 bought new with my N70 circa 1998. Paid about $325, I think. It was my first lens purchase, and after a spending a few years in retirement, is once again my standard zoom on my D700.
also paid $2149 for my D700 from BH right before the price spike )
Wow mine isn't as great as some these others. However a few months ago I picked up a mint used 70-200 VR. After Bing cashback and ebay bucks it came out to $1475 total. That not too bad for one those this year as the prices have been climbing over the past year or two.
I got a 24-70 for $1100 last year. And a 60 micro for $150. Oh, and I got a 80-200 AFS for $700, but it needed a new hood (got an aftermarket on fleabay for like $25). Oh, prolly the killer deal of last year was the D40 w/ 18-55 kit for $175. Gave that to my neice... she was stoked!
I have been very fortunate with many of my purchases and some of them have enabled me to own the equipment I own today.
In June I purchased 8 Nikon D200's New in box for $315 each, a Nikon 28-70mm 2.8 for $600 and a 17-35mm 2.8 for $200. I sold all the bodies but one and upgraded my D300 to a D700.
