Nikon USA has just announced significant price reductions on many of its DSLR cameras and lenses, as well as huge price drops on both Z6 and Z7 mirrorless cameras. Most Nikon DSLRs are seeing permanent MSRP price drops, while the instant rebate program for lenses has been extended to a big list this time, with some lenses getting up to $650 off. And although none of the Z-series lenses are being discounted at this time, the price of the Nikon Z6 has been reduced by $200, while the Z7 is now a whopping $600 off. We went through the whole rebate list and decided to share our top picks with our readers.
Nikon DSLR Deals
While most of the DSLR instant rebates are for buying camera + lens combos, some of the Nikon cameras have gone through permanent price drops. Below is the list of the best deals for cameras with the most significant price reductions:
- Nikon D3400 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm ($350 Off)
- Nikon D3500 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm ($300 Off)
- Nikon D5600 ($150 Off) / Nikon D5600 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm ($550 Off)
- Nikon D7200 ($400 Off) / Nikon D7200 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm ($650 Off)
- Nikon D7500 ($200 Off) / Nikon D7500 with 16-80mm ($670 Off)
- Nikon D500 ($200 Off) / Nikon D500 with 16-80mm ($670 Off)
- Nikon D750 ($400 Off) / Nikon D750 with 24-120mm ($1000 Off)
- Nikon D850 ($300 Off)
Nikon F Mount Lenses
The list of Nikon F mount lenses that are on sale is pretty extensive this time. Below are the best deals for the lenses that we recommend, but if you want to see the full list of lenses with rebates, see this link.
- Nikon 24mm f/1.4G ED – $200 Off
- Nikon 28mm f/1.4E ED – $200 Off
- Nikon 35mm f/1.8G ED – $50 Off
- Nikon 58mm f/1.4G – $150 Off
- Nikon 105mm f/1.4E ED – $300 Off
- Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED – $300 Off
- Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED – $350 Off
- Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR – $500 Off
- Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR – $650 Off
- Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR – $200 Off
- Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR – $140 Off
Some of the big highlights from the above list are the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR that is getting a massive $500 discount (20% off), as well as the new Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR that has been discounted by $650 – a huge 23% discount that we have never seen on high-end lenses.
Nikon Z Cameras
As I have already pointed out, both Nikon Z6 and Z7 are getting discounted. However, the big discount is on the Nikon Z7, which is getting $600 shaved off its MSRP, bringing the price of the camera down to $2796.95 and making it $200 cheaper than the Nikon D850.
Taking into account your past experience – do you think there is an End Date for these discounts and at some time the price would return back or these discounts are likely permanent?
Today (2019-05-16) Nikon dropped the prices for a wide range of cameras (from D850 down) and lenses (no pro lenses though) in Switzerland. Z6 goes down about 200 CHF which at the time is exactly the same in $. The range of the rebate is between 100 to 400 CHF ($) depending on the camera or lens you buy. e.g. D850 -> 200 off you can get it for about 2600$. The Z7 is about 2800 $.
Z6 with FTZ-Adapter and 24-70 costs (only) about 2150 to 2250 $. That is a real bargain. The FTZ alone is 300$ here and the 24-70 is 1000$ (-200 rebate).
More info at: www.mynikon.ch/de/promotions/
Edit: 24-120, I meant.
Well, this moved me to upgrade my D7000 16-85mm I’ve had for 9 years. Some pretty good stacking possibilities out there; got a new US D750 for a net $1,040 which is pretty crazy. With a used $450ish 24-200mm that moves me to full frame for $1,500 all in.
Comments from Jan Holler are right on the money! Thank you Jan.
I also love new gear (I have an 850, plus some pretty good late-model Nikon lenses – thanks also to Photolife), but I sometimes wonder whether modern technology represents all that much of an improvement over the old. I love my B&W 801’s. As Jan says, experience and expertise ultimately is far more important in photography, so if we spent more time improving those aspects and less drooling over new gear, then our work would be so much better.
That’s not to say I won’t continue to drool, and to read all the good stuff about the latest. I know I’m a sucker, but I also know the that I already have all the gear that I need to take great pictures. Maybe getting the balance right between being a drooler and a practitioner is the answer.
I have Nikon D5600 body only can you give me advice what kind of lens to buy first I’m new in photography but I have experience in using a Sony Mirrorless Nex 5N camera ( I have 55-210 mm and lens kit and wide angle ) I love landscape and architecture and portrait
Thank you Abby
I see the Coolpix P900 is also discounted $100. I have some gift cards for Amazon as well so now might be a good time to buy the P900 to have as a fun camera. I always wanted to take a photo of Saturn from my backyard!
For Nikon to compete with Sony in FF mirrorless sales there must be a selection of aftermarket lenses from multiple manufacturers. Those lens makers must see enough Nikon Z sales to justify development. Discounting Z cameras to accelerate sales primes the market.
Nikon doesn’t see any benefit to having third party manufacturers sell lenses for the Nikon Z cameras. They aren’t making the specifications for the Z mount available. I expect that eventually other manufacturers will reverse engineer the Z mount and start building lenses for it, but without any help from Nikon.
What it comes down to is that Nikon is willing to sacrifice some sales of Nikon Z cameras in the hope that avoiding (at least temporarily) any competition in the market for Z mount lenses will more than make up for the lost camera sales.
Excellent article and comments. Thank you Nasim.
I have been at serious photography for less than 3 years. Just like throwing money at a business problem, buying better cameras and lens will not fix your photography if you have not learned the basics.
I have a D810. I know how to use it. I make good photos with it. I thought about buying a D850. But, how will this camera help me. The base ISO is the same = 64. I take a lot of night shots. Where is the betterment for me?
I own a collection of the highest rated Nikon lens – all bought used except for one. I have almost stopped using zoom lenses. For me, fixed focus lens are sharper and make better color. And, it is making less and less difference to me if the lens is manual focus.
My 20mm F/1.8 lens is taped for focus at infinity and used only on manual and almost only at night. My go-to lens for landscape is the manual 28mm F/2.8.
It is clear to me why the camera companies have everything on sale – they have lost their market to 90% of the consumers. Cell phone cameras take stills and video which are good enough for most people. I watched a man, using the best Samsung cell phone, at an indoor sports competition. The phone was attached to a hand-held device, which allowed him to pan the cell phone camera and operate it with a trigger. He showed me a series of still photos, which he processed in-phone into a panorama. That composite looked good to me.
While I love still photography, the future seems pretty clear: Super high quality single frames from a video camera. You will be able to process that frame as well as you can today using an image made with a high quality DSLR or mirrorless camera. We are living in a transition period. However, no matter what kind of device is used, the superior photographer will always manage to make the best images.
Peter, I agree with most of what you have said – we are indeed in a transition period and smaller cameras are getting better and better every day, forcing most consumers to just use a smartphone. The smartphone industry exploded, but it also devastated the camera industry’s growth. At the same time, camera manufacturers are now beginning to understand that they should not be cranking out a new camera every year – it just does not make financial sense to do so. I would rather see more serious advancements to cameras every 3-4 years, which previously used to be a standard camera cycle. And even then, my principle is to skip at least one generation before upgrading. The Nikon D810 is a wonderful camera and I never upgraded to the D850 (didn’t intend to either), although I did make the choice to go light and get the Z7. I won’t be buying the second generation Z7 and will consider upgrading on the third iteration, if the camera is going to be truly worth it…
I second everything what you said here. Me personally I’m gonna get myself the Z6 and trade in my old D750. I’ll continue to use my D850 as well as my D810 as a second body for photo workshops. I love my DSLRs but there are times I wish I could just travel around with a smaller camera body and I think the Z6 will fit that bill. Gonna skip a generation or two before fully committing to mirrorless bodies. I still have some reservations with the EVF despite all the improvements made and the battery lives still have much to be desired, but give it another five years or so and the mirrorless will overtake DSLRs.
Nasim-
You’re not recommending the 20 f1.8?
Of course I do, but there is no significant savings on that lens – only $80 off. I wish Nikon discounted it by $100 or more!