marsbreslow

Would you trust buying a camera from a reseller at a much cheaper price instead of an authorized dealer? Last week when I saw the ad I questioned whether this reseller, Closeout Digital in San Jose, Ca is offering a new Nikkor F2.8 EDIF 28-70mm lens for only $1259 (today it lists for $1999) is the real product or a knockoff? Anyone have similar experiences?

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Welcome to UHH. It is probably is a gray market item. It mostly means that it isn't under Nikon's warranty and Nikon probably won't service it, nor will an authorized dealer. Ask them to give you the serial number and then contact Nikon and run it by them. Gray market doesn't mean it's not a Nikon product. Search gray market above and you will have to make your own decision. Personally, I won't buy gray market. Good luck.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

Another consideration, call them, quiz them, and ask what ELSE they will insist you to purchase. I explored this only once, it was for an upper end camera body, and their price was about 40% lower than anyone. I called this "discount" dealer, and the story began with "oh, we don't have them in stock at this time", and it went downhill from there, to include that I must buy their camera batteries and more. Call them, quiz them.

marsbreslow

My fear is that its not a real Nikkor lens but merely a knockoff just like you see with designer brands.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

M, I've never heard of a knock-off in a lens or DSLR. Mostly they are grey market.
I bought my first Canon L lens(24-105), from a discount place. They had the typical pitch with the steel mounts and plastic mounts. I told them I didn't mind the plastic mount. They finally sold it to me, I was probably just lucky, but I didnt get ripped off and paid $150 less. They tried really hard to sell me the steel mount. There is of course only one lens made.
I'm not trying to inspire you to buy from them, as I consider myself lucky. I'm sure there are plenty of horror stories out there. Good luck. ;-)
SS

marsbreslow

When you look at the mount on the Nikkor AFS 28-70 F2.8 D or G EDIF you'll find a steel mount with a poly carbon ring where the pins are located. This is the only mount made for these lenses and is considered a steel mount. If I buy it I'll spend the full price with an authorized dealer.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

If you check the well established reputable dealers such as B&H and Adorama and a good number of others throughout the country you will find that their prices are quite similar. Even their special deals and sales are. I won't try to tell you that you can't get lucky and stumble onto a real low price with some other dealer, but prices like that are a warning to proceed with a lot of caution.

marsbreslow

Yes, I realized that. Human nature has us looking for bargains but there is so much fraud out there why take a chance. It best to see and inspect the product live in a store unless you're dealing online with a reputable and authorized dealer.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

I have another thought to offer. In my world of photography, be it ever so small, I function on three Canon L-series lenses and one Canon non-L series (for macro). Only one of the three L-series lenses were brand new, my 24-105. I also wanted a 100-400 and also a 17-40, and I wanted them in the Canon L-series. But I'm a teacher and you know us teachers don't have deep pockets. So I talked to my favorite salesman at a local camera shop, one that has been in business for many years. I asked if he would keep an eye out for either and call me when one came in. Their store policy is (a) "no questions asked" if returned in 7 days, (b) full store credit if returned in 30 days.

My salesman told me that in his 97 years of business, far fewer problems show up in lenses when compared to camera bodies. So when I got the call about the 100-400, I bought it and then shot many many shots with it, to be sure it was good, It was. When I get his call about the 11-40, the lens was still in the box, and looked like it hadn't even be touched. Again I used it a great deal in the first 7 and 30 days. They are perfect.

I love buying online, and don't forget Amazon offers a lot too. But when it comes to a major purchase, I like my local brick-and-mortar, especially for buying a used lens.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

You do realize that is a discontinued lens, right?
Nikon quit production of it way back in 2007.

marsbreslow

I know that the F.28 D 28-70 is discontinued. The AFS G EDIF without the aperture ring is the replacement lens. Its much lighter in weight.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Nikon never made a G version of the 28-70mm F 2.8 lens. They were all D lenses with aperture rings.

marsbreslow

Checkout B&H Camera and you'll find the Nikkor AF-S F2.8G ED.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Maybe YOU should check it out. If its G then its a 24-70mm f2.8, thats the lens that replaced the 28-70mm f2.8. Both are AF-S lenses.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

An "L" lens with a plastic mount????? Are you sure?
Or am I misreading what you are trying to say?
Are you saying that he was trying to pretend that the one advertised had a plastic mount, so that he could bump you up to a higher price, and then give you exactly the same lens?