I'm shopping for a D3x, 24-70, and 200-400.

These three little items will cost around $15,000, so I'd appreciate any advice on getting the best possible prices. New USA gear only, with full Nikon warranty. If I proceed with the purchase (likely, but not absolutely certain), then I'll be able to pay cash, but extended financing (such as Bill Me Later) would still be a great goody which I'd love to take advantage of.

So what do you recommend? Where to get these, how to get better prices?

Thanks!

Great googly moogly.

It seems beyond obvious, but I'd go with B&H for something of this magnitude. Hell, I wouldn't be opposed to making a trip to NYC specifically to pick all that up personally. Of course, good luck being there when the 24-70mm is available.

Thom Hogan has an interesting article on his front page right now about Nikon's underestimation of demand for their camera bodies and lenses and general thoughts on what's to come later this year. Hopefully some ramped up production will be part of the plan.

Is your purchase something that needs to be made in the immediate future, or can it wait a few months? I wouldn't be surprised to see the D3x's price come down a bit in the fall.

According to camelcamelcamel.com the lowest new price for these items recently is
D3X: 6999
24-70: 1730
200-400: 5900

You can ask them to email you if the price ever falls below a certain level. It depends on whether you need to buy them immediately or not. That may. or may not, fit your needs.

luminosity wrote:
It seems beyond obvious, but I'd go with B&H for something of this magnitude. Hell, I wouldn't be opposed to making a trip to NYC specifically to pick all that up personally.

Love B&H, but there are plenty of other reputable sellers with solid-gold support in the country. Adorama is a family-owned business that's as good as they come, I've bought from Tempe Camera Repair in Phoenix before with great results, there's Cameta and Calumet and Roberts in California plus Competitive Cameras in Dallas, and so on. Sure I'd be happy buying from B&H, but they do have plenty of worthwhile competition.

luminosity wrote:
Is your purchase something that needs to be made in the immediate future, or can it wait a few months? I wouldn't be surprised to see the D3x's price come down a bit in the fall.

I need it on or before July 18th at the absolute outset, or I'll have to go with Plan B. The primary reason is EAA AirVenture, a.k.a. "Oshkosh", my sacred annual pilgrimage to general-aviation Mecca and a week of all-day shooting that usually results in 17,000 clicks. If I don't or can't get this stuff in time to play with it and be fully up-to-speed by July 25th, then I'll just take the D300 which served me so well last year and rent a 200-400 for the week.

Adarama and Amazon were selling the D3X for 7299. You might contact Roberts Camera and see if they can beat any prices. Mention you got their name from Sportsshooters,com, they may give you the discount they give pro sports shooters.

Anyway, I would contact a variety of main online stores and talk to sales personal. See who gives you the best price. I've received good prices and service from Roberts Camera, Canoga Camera, and B&H.

Enjoy the gear.

Where are you located? I'm in the Phoenix area, and Tempe Camera is what I'd consider my "home store." Good people, but the prices tend to be marked up significantly (several hundred dollars when it comes to the more expensive glass). Not sure how long that's been going on for. Oddly, they sell the 5D Mark II for the best price I've seen in most places, $2,699. I mainly go there to buy film, rent stuff and test stuff that I proceed to buy at better prices elsewhere (would have paid several hundred more than I did for my 17-55 if I'd gotten it there).

One place I saw good prices for was Roberts Imaging over in Indianapolis. Right alongside B&H's prices, and they had a lot in stock when I happened to look. http://www.robertsimaging.com/

If I don't or can't get this stuff in time to play with it and be fully up-to-speed by July 25th, then I'll just take the D300 which served me so well last year and rent a 200-400 for the week

I ask this with great fear and hesitation, but... if it isn't broke, why fix it? I'm sure there are reasons, but just from the sound of that, it seems like things went well for you with the stuff you had .

I missed identified Roberts Imaging as Roberts Camera. Thanks Luminosity for the correct name, good place to do business.

Rodolfo you lucky dog! Good luck with the purchase, I hope it works out for you.

luminosity wrote:
Where are you located? I'm in the Phoenix area, and Tempe Camera is what I'd consider my "home store." Good people, but the prices tend to be marked up significantly [...]

Hey, I didn't know you were here in Phoenix! I'm up in the NW corner, near 67th Ave and Happy Valley. Once we're past 8/15 and I'm back from these next trips, remind me to get together and buy you a coffee or a drink.

I definitely plan on giving TCR a call and giving them a chance to quote. I'll also call some of the others personally, as someone already suggested. Always a good thing to get a human involved... computers don't haggle very well.

luminosity wrote:
I ask this with great fear and hesitation, but... if it isn't broke, why fix it? I'm sure there are reasons, but just from the sound of that, it seems like things went well for you with the stuff you had .

Yes, I was very happy with the D300 results. But I know I want the D3x anyway. I'm starting to sell a few large prints on canvas (I only sell numbered and limited-edition prints), and I'm working to slowly grow my way into a fine-art photo business. And just because that's how I am, I really want to give people the best possible image quality, and I'm willing to invest in the D3x to do so. And, if I'm going to get it anyway, then making an extra effort to get it in time for Oshkosh is just poetic justice in my world, allowing me to mix aviation and photography in one of the best possible ways.

luminosity wrote:
[...] I'd go with B&H for something of this magnitude. Hell, I wouldn't be opposed to making a trip to NYC specifically to pick all that up personally.

Forgot to note: one of the good things about buying from B&H or Adorama is not having to pay NYC sales tax. Whatever I do, it will definitely not involve showing up there in person.

Andre Labonte wrote:
Rodolfo you lucky dog! Good luck with the purchase, I hope it works out for you.

I am lucky and blessed in life: wife, kids, health, happiness, peace, and a relative lack of hardships and problems. No woe here!

But I'm not counting my chickens on that D3x yet. I think I can do this, I'm going to bust my hump trying to do it... but it ain't "done" yet. I supppose I could always rent the 200-400 for the week in order to soften the blow ($15K becomes $9K), but that's a last resort: I want to buy the lens anyway (it'll be my third 200-400!), so I'd like to avoid renting (and wasting that money) unless I really have to do so.

Glad to hear you're in the area. How about our rising temperatures? Hadn't seemed like a real summer yet . Whenever you call Tempe Camera, I'd recommend talking with David Hunsaker, if you don't already know him. He's a longtime Nikon shooter and really sharp in general (helps that he's the sales manager). Of course, given the breadth of your knowledge, I bet you know him pretty well already.

You're way out there, at least based on where I am. I'm just a short distance from Tempe Camera, which isn't necessarily a good thing .

Since you're planning on making such a large purchase, I have to think that negotiation would be called for on the part of a smart sales person. I know pro gear is still moving decently (why else would so much stuff be on back order everywhere?), but it can't be every day that someone comes into the store or gets on the phone confident that they want a D3x, 24-70 and 200-400. That kind of sale could make anyone's day, or week.

I'm starting to sell a few large prints on canvas (I only sell numbered and limited-edition prints), and I'm working to slowly grow my way into a fine-art photo business.

I figured there must be some large-scale prints involved. Makes sense to me. Were you at the Tempe Arts Festival by any chance? I saw some great work there, and if you were there, I probably saw yours as well (though I don't remember any Nikon shooters among them; seemed to be mostly Medium Format and Canon, and someone from Tempe Camera that was there uses Sony).

And, if I'm going to get it anyway, then making an extra effort to get it in time for Oshkosh is just poetic justice in my world, allowing me to mix aviation and photography in one of the best possible ways.


Sounds like a plan . I undertook a little trip of my own at the beginning of June, and I used my new 17-55 heavily during it. Of course, it's unused right now, since my D300 is dead, but hopefully I'll get it back and I can get back to using my good glass. If I knew I had something really big coming up, I'd want to be prepared in the best way possible.

one of the good things about buying from B&H or Adorama is not having to pay NYC sales tax. Whatever I do, it will definitely not involve showing up there in person.

That's a "doh!" error. That's another reason I don't buy from Tempe Camera, except for various photo supplies and rental. Then again, our broke state needs every dollar it can get .

Ha! I'm a citizen of Guatemala, not the USA; and you should see the hoops I have to jump through to convince the USA to allow me to pay them income tax when I work with clients in this country! Sheesh... you'd think they'd make it easy for someone to pay them. I don't want a green card, don't want to be a citizen, don't want to live here forever... just wanna pay some taxes. Is that so wrong?

Rodolfo Paiz wrote:
Ha! I'm a citizen of Guatemala, not the USA; and you should see the hoops I have to jump through to convince the USA to allow me to pay them income tax when I work with clients in this country! Sheesh... you'd think they'd make it easy for someone to pay them. I don't want a green card, don't want to be a citizen, don't want to live here forever... just wanna pay some taxes. Is that so wrong?

Hey, if you want to pay some taxes, I have some that you can pay! PM me and I'll send my paypal address, !

Anyhow -

Congrats on the upcoming equipment purchase. I can tell you that you'll LOVE the D3x - I just printed out a 12x18 for someone and there was a 20x30 of it for me. It's amazing - the 20x30 looks every bit as sharp as the 12x18 and I didn't have to use ANY special software to "blow it up" larger!

Also, I was thinking about a second D3x down the road and was doing some pricing. Quickly looking around, seem like most legit deals are in the $7200-$7300 range.

Have whoever ship next day air for ya - in my real business we send out 2500+ orders a week, and next day air seems to handle them the nicest (the boxes always look less beat up).

Steve

Rodolfo Paiz wrote:
Andre Labonte wrote:
Rodolfo you lucky dog! Good luck with the purchase, I hope it works out for you.

I am lucky and blessed in life: wife, kids, health, happiness, peace, and a relative lack of hardships and problems. No woe here!

But I'm not counting my chickens on that D3x yet. I think I can do this, I'm going to bust my hump trying to do it... but it ain't "done" yet. I supppose I could always rent the 200-400 for the week in order to soften the blow ($15K becomes $9K), but that's a last resort: I want to buy the lens anyway (it'll be my third 200-400!), so I'd like to avoid renting (and wasting that money) unless I really have to do so.


You are a lucky man. I could use a little more peace in my house (4 kids ranging in age from 1 to 12 ) but it is also what makes it fun. Now if only I could swing your camera equipment budget.

So how is it you have owned the 200-400 two other times and not now? I think buying it once would mean keeping it.

Steve Perry wrote:
Congrats on the upcoming equipment purchase. I can tell you that you'll LOVE the D3x [...] seems like most legit deals are in the $7200-$7300 range.

Yeah, been drooling over it since we had that discussion a couple of months ago. Definitely the path I need to take... just need to beat the obstacles into submission.

Found a bunch of $7,299 prices... starting to work the phones this morning to see what I can get that might be better. I think I can make cash work, but I'd like extended financing even more: I'd be happy to pay even a 5% premium for something like the six-month Bill Me Later program. Will talk to them too... no stone unturned.

Steve Perry wrote:
Have whoever ship next day air for ya - in my real business we send out 2500+ orders a week, and next day air seems to handle them the nicest (the boxes always look less beat up).

What is your real business, by the way?

Andre Labonte wrote:
So how is it you have owned the 200-400 two other times and not now? I think buying it once would mean keeping it.

And I would agree with you... certainly I wanted to keep it as soon as I got comfortable using it. Back then, I still thought the 70-200 was long, heavy, and nearly impossible to carry around for any length of time... ha! How the innocence has gone, eh? But while money won't buy happiness, it does buy other things like food and shelter which is why I no longer have the lens.

My first 200-400 was a "rental", really: I was invited on a 3-week trip to Africa in 2007 and my D200/17-55/70-200 kit was a great start, but rather lacking in the reach department. So I bought a used-but-beautiful 200-400 here on FM and sold it after two months and 30K+ clicks in Africa and Oshkosh. The second one I bought six months later, fully intending to keep it forever and build it a shrine next to my bed... but then came the financial markets of 2008. 'Nuff said.

As you said... buying it once meant keeping it for me. Come hell or high water, I am g-o-i-n-g to have a 200-400; and hopefully, this time I can even keep it!

Rodolfo Paiz wrote:
Steve Perry wrote:
Congrats on the upcoming equipment purchase. I can tell you that you'll LOVE the D3x [...] seems like most legit deals are in the $7200-$7300 range.

Yeah, been drooling over it since we had that discussion a couple of months ago. Definitely the path I need to take... just need to beat the obstacles into submission.

Found a bunch of $7,299 prices... starting to work the phones this morning to see what I can get that might be better. I think I can make cash work, but I'd like extended financing even more: I'd be happy to pay even a 5% premium for something like the six-month Bill Me Later program. Will talk to them too... no stone unturned.

Steve Perry wrote:
Have whoever ship next day air for ya - in my real business we send out 2500+ orders a week, and next day air seems to handle them the nicest (the boxes always look less beat up).

What is your real business, by the way?


I have messed with Bill Me Later but found them kind of hard to work with - worth a shot though.

as for what I do - I sell computer parts and accessories and software online. Been doing it for 10 years. I actaully was doing photography professionally (weddings, portraits, teams, etc) but got burned out so bad I didn't touch a camera for a long time. A few years ago I started to get back into it, but sticking to nature and wildlife and have been loving it ever since. Now, if only I could make the same money doing nature and wildlife as I do selling computer stuff!

Rodolfo Paiz wrote:
Andre Labonte wrote:
So how is it you have owned the 200-400 two other times and not now? I think buying it once would mean keeping it.

And I would agree with you... certainly I wanted to keep it as soon as I got comfortable using it. Back then, I still thought the 70-200 was long, heavy, and nearly impossible to carry around for any length of time... ha! How the innocence has gone, eh? But while money won't buy happiness, it does buy other things like food and shelter which is why I no longer have the lens.

My first 200-400 was a "rental", really: I was invited on a 3-week trip to Africa in 2007 and my D200/17-55/70-200 kit was a great start, but rather lacking in the reach department. So I bought a used-but-beautiful 200-400 here on FM and sold it after two months and 30K+ clicks in Africa and Oshkosh. The second one I bought six months later, fully intending to keep it forever and build it a shrine next to my bed... but then came the financial markets of 2008. 'Nuff said.

As you said... buying it once meant keeping it for me. Come hell or high water, I am g-o-i-n-g to have a 200-400; and hopefully, this time I can even keep it!

Eating! Who needs food? All sarcasm aside, I understand what you mean. The financial crisis put the kabosh on some purchases I was planning as well. Did not help that one of my vehicles died and needed replaced. Such is life. But, I can't complain, I'm not wanting for anything other than more camera gear, and that is the least important of all things.

Steve Perry wrote:
Rodolfo Paiz wrote:
Steve Perry wrote:
Congrats on the upcoming equipment purchase. I can tell you that you'll LOVE the D3x [...] seems like most legit deals are in the $7200-$7300 range.

Yeah, been drooling over it since we had that discussion a couple of months ago. Definitely the path I need to take... just need to beat the obstacles into submission.

Found a bunch of $7,299 prices... starting to work the phones this morning to see what I can get that might be better. I think I can make cash work, but I'd like extended financing even more: I'd be happy to pay even a 5% premium for something like the six-month Bill Me Later program. Will talk to them too... no stone unturned.

Steve Perry wrote:
Have whoever ship next day air for ya - in my real business we send out 2500+ orders a week, and next day air seems to handle them the nicest (the boxes always look less beat up).

What is your real business, by the way?


I have messed with Bill Me Later but found them kind of hard to work with - worth a shot though.

as for what I do - I sell computer parts and accessories and software online. Been doing it for 10 years. I actaully was doing photography professionally (weddings, portraits, teams, etc) but got burned out so bad I didn't touch a camera for a long time. A few years ago I started to get back into it, but sticking to nature and wildlife and have been loving it ever since. Now, if only I could make the same money doing nature and wildlife as I do selling computer stuff!



I did a wedding ONCE. Ug! I understand why wedding photogs charge so much. It was a huge amount of work in planning and in post production. Not to mention the stress of the shoot itself. My hat is off to you for making a living that way. I thought about going pro photog but decided that as a hobby it is fun, as a job, it become like anything else, work.

Log:

* Called TCR: David Hunsaker (as usual) was competent, nice, and easy to deal with. He'll see what they can put together for a proposal and get back to me on Tue/Wed. Betcha they come up with something interesting.

* Called B&H: Was immediately reminded of why I buy from their website and don't talk to their people. Only managed to tell Marty what I wanted to buy, and didn't even get to finish the sentence before said "All our prices and whether we have things in stock is listed on the website, so there's nothing I can do for you." Why even answer the phone!? Not all New Yorkers are rude, but B&H does not disappoint. For the record, D3x $7,300 (in stock), 200-400 $6,300 (BO/NOETA), 24-70 $1,730 (BO/NOETA)

* Called Roberts: Spoke to Phil Gibson. $5,799 is a great price for the 200-400, but BO/NOETA. $7,299 for D3x (in stock), and $1,729 for the 24-70 (BO/NOETA). They offer 90-day same-as-cash financing via Wells Fargo.

* Called Adorama: Spoke to Sy (x2265). Friendly, knows his stuff. Willing to sell me a D3x for $7,200 (in stock), but both the 200-400 ($6,300) and 24-70 ($1,750) are BO/NOETA. They accept Bill Me Later for financing.

Wow, two other Nikon shooters in the Valley of the Sun! Imagine that

I'm at the south end of Tempe . . . almost Chandler.

Besides TCR, have you checked Photomark (on McDowell)? They have the D3x in stock.

Good luck on hunting down a deal Rodolfo.

Dang, looks like it is going to be hard to come by the lenses. Are there any in stock anywhere? Nikon has to fix its supply issues.

You can give Samys Camera a call. I talked to a rep who said their inventory is very low. He's not sure, but, will check their warehouses, if you are interested. He said the Nikon glass is harder to find because Nikon is importing 10-15% less into the US due to the economy.

Anyway, Samys is a great camera outlet in CA. I don't use them because I live in CA and must pay the tax. 800-321-8726.

Chris Noyes wrote:
Wow, two other Nikon shooters in the Valley of the Sun! Imagine that

No no no... two other friendly Nikon shooters from FM. Not the same thing at all!

I'm going to be traveling 7/6-7/16, then again 7/20-8/12, but I suggest we get together for a good lunch soon (meaning, in between those two trips or right after I come back in August).

Chris Noyes wrote:
Besides TCR, have you checked Photomark (on McDowell)?

Just did that now that I saw your post; thanks for the heads-up and reminder.