Has anyone seen any legit price drops or secret deals on Nikon Z series bodies in the last week or two? I feel like I am refreshing the same four tabs every single morning and nothing is moving. I am trying to finally ditch my old D7500 and go full frame mirrorless before a big wedding I am shooting for a cousin in late September. I am really leaning towards the Z6ii because it fits my $1,500 budget better but I saw a few people on some Gearspace threads mentioning they found the Z7ii for way under MSRP recently, though they didnt say where exactly.
I did some digging online and saw that Nikon had those Yellow Tag sales or whatever they call them recently, but when I check B&H or Adorama, the prices look identical to what they were three months ago. Maybe I am just looking at the wrong time? I also read on a blog that the Z6iii release was supposed to tank the price of the older gen 2 models but if anything they seem harder to find in stock for a good price lately. Some people say to just buy used from MPB or KEH but I have had a bad experience with a sensor scratch before so I am really gunning for a new body with a warranty if I can swing it.
I am based in Portland so at least I dont have to worry about sales tax eating into my lens fund but still... these prices are stubborn. Is there some specific retailer I am missing or maybe a code? I heard some people get targeted coupons through email but I never seem to get the good ones. Just wondering if anyone has the inside scoop on when the next real sale cycle starts or if this is just what we are stuck with now. I really need to pull the trigger soon so I have a few weeks to get used to the autofocus system because it is totally different from my DSLR...
^ This. Also, Iād be super careful buying used for a wedding. I once had a shutter fail on a second-hand body and it was basically a nightmare. Stressful stuff.
- Look into the EDU program for the Nikon Z6 II 24.5MP Mirrorless Camera Body.
- If thats still tight, the Nikon Z5 24.3MP Mirrorless Camera Body is a solid budget choice. Its way cheaper... just make sure you get fast cards too.
> I am really leaning towards the Z6ii because it fits my $1,500 budget better Late to the party but check the official Nikon USA Refurbished section. I grabbed my Nikon Z7 II 45.7MP Mirrorless Camera Body there and it looked brand new. It has a factory warranty which is way safer than buying used. If you gotta have a fresh box, check the Nikon Z6 II with NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S Lens Kit since the combo discounts are usually deeper than body-only prices lately.
Honestly, I have seen this cycle happen every time a new body drops. The Nikon Z6 II 24.5MP Mirrorless Camera Body isnt seeing a massive crash because everyone wants it as a B-cam now. In my experience, the best way to get a new-ish body with a warranty without paying MSRP is hitting the Nikon refurbished site directly. I've bought three bodies there over the years and they were indistinguishable from retail units and come with a Nikon warranty. If you are stuck on brand new, here is what I would do:
- Watch Focus Camera or Beach Camera, they often bundle the Nikon Z7 II 45.7MP Mirrorless Camera Body with extras that basically drop the effective price.
- Check smaller authorized dealers like Service Photo or Grays of Westminster if you are looking globally, sometimes they have different inventory levels.
- Sign up for the Nikon store email alerts specifically for refurbished restocks which usually happen on Thursdays. Ngl, finding a brand new Z7ii for way under MSRP is tough right now. If you need it for a September wedding, just grab the Z6ii soon. You definitely need those weeks to map your buttons and get the eye-af figured out because it is a different beast from your D7500.
