Bobnewnan

What has been your experience with refurbished cameras from Nikon vs used from Adorama? Specifically a d750.

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Refurb. Better than new.

Used. Often almost new.

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mas24 Loc: Southern CA

A used camera is a camera previously owned. A refurbished camera could be a return to store camera. Someone returned to store, and decided they didn't want it. It cannot be sold as new. But sold as refurbished. Or, a camera that may have had a minor issue of non perfection. And Nikon or Canon fixed that issue, and retested before it is resold. Some have low shutter clicks, making them virtually new cameras. A used camera may operate with no issues. But, is suggested that you know the shutter count before purchasing. A camera usually has a lifespan of 100.000-150,000+ shutter clicks. Buy at your own discretion. If, you buy a used camera from a photo shop, a shutter count may not be provided for you. Nikon gives a 90 day warranty. But some photo stores offer an extended warranty up to one year. Some D750s had a recall for a shutter issue, and the shutters were replaced. You are lucky if you get one of those. But, even with the replacement, the shutter count is not rolled back. Unfortunately. Good luck.

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

I purchased one from B&H a few years ago and have been happy with it.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Used. Would be the category for anything not new. It's like buying a used car vs a certified car. A used car(camera) not certified doesn't get the same level of inspection hence a lower price a certified car get an extensive inspection with that comes a higher price and extended warranty.

david vt Loc: Vermont

I am going to extend the comments of @mas24 a bit, as I like the description of refurbish as certified used.

Using the analogy of autos, used is just that, and the shutter count is the equivalent of an odometer reading, with 100,000 being considered a “full life” of this major component. That said, just like a car, that does not mean it will fail at that point, and you may get many more miles (clicks) out of it. So, when buying used or refurb, most people look for relatively low shutter counts (low miles). Higher does not mean bad, but it does indicate the camera has been “driven” more by the previous owner, and your expected “life” will be a little shorter. Not nessarily bad, but you should account for it in assessing the discount you want to pay vs new.

Refurb, as Mas24 indicated, is like a certified used car, with normally VERY low click count. As stated, it might have been a return for some reason, or a store demo model that was returned. Usually like new, with shutter counts often lower than 1000 (some on UGG have bragged about getting down to double digits!). As noted, they come with a 90 day mfg warranty, and some dealers will extend that to a year. IMO, if you are not stuck on buying new, these offer really good value. My camera body and kit lens came from Cameta, and I am quite happy with them.

With Refurb, look for “FACTORY refurb”, which means checked and certified by the OEM mfg at one of their service locations. Without the word factory, it could have been the store doing the refurb, and that could mean “used and minimally checked” by ???? In the back of the store. YMMV

For Refurb, stick to the mfg sites or one of the main online “ABC” dealers. They will often not be able to tell you the shutter count, but you can buy, click, and figure it out, and if higher than you are comfortable, exchange and check the next one.

For used, means not refurb, and may have higher shutter count. Stick to one of the main dealers, this site (lots of good equipment here from careful hobbyists or pros), or ebay, in that order. As you move in that direction, the risk level goes up, but you can score some incredible deals. My best and favorite lens was purchased on UHH, and my 3rd lens from KEH.

When buying used or refurb, check carefully what is included. The KEH used lens did not come with lens caps, something that I would not have thought to even ask a dealer.

Hope this helps

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

The issue who did the refurbishment..the store, a vendor or the manufacturer. I would go Nikon refurbished.I have and had nothing but great experiences.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

A previously owned camera, used IMO, can be more than one previous owner. Im not fully knowledgeable, about the analogy of a used car vs a used camera. Each State has its rules on a used car, from a used car dealership. Warranty is usually 90 days. If I sell my used car to another buyer. I'm only required to make certain it passes a smog test before I sell it. The expected buyer, if permitted by the owner, can take the car to a mechanic of his choice, for an inspection before buying it. That's common in my State.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Hey! I get to say: "All the above" again.
A certified used car is much better than a curbstoner find.
A used camera from KEH is probably better than most refurbs from small shops. I used to go to a largish camera swapmeet here- many were "checked out", non were "refurbs". Yeah you made sure all the parts clicked and the buttons pushed, and it was wiped with a rag that passed over a can of Mothers- did you take any pictures? Who did the refurbish, and what exactly did they do? I do computers- how do you refurb a hard drive, a motherboard, or a memory stick? How does the kid at the counter "refurb" a 5 year old Canon in his spare time? Did he check out the camera's computer, check the flange to sensor parallelism, the edge to edge and corner to corner sharpness? NO body yet has been disappointed in a Nikon refurb.
Yeah yeah people get tired of hearing the same names: KEH, B&H, Adorama, Nikon, etc. But these guys got there by doing great work, consistent quality, and they stand behind their products. There's been a few other names bandied about who are consistent in selling equipment, then stating either "That serial number is not in our records", or "Please contact your carrier; we're not responsible for shipping damages". Umm. UPS didn't throw a Canon lens in a Nikon box! I had found a few great deals on inherited folder cameras CLA'd by a name, and turned down many because sometimes "used" means "has problems" and "vintage" sometimes means "rebuildable". We can trust the names I mentioned, and many more. Ebay and Amazon will cover crap some vendors might pull. YMMV.
Got a question about a vendor? Ask here.

Bobnewnan

To all the above, thank you very much for your input. I looked at most of the places mentioned and keep going back to Nikon. A couple of hundred bucks more but based on the repair they did on my 500, I'll probably go there. Life is great, go take a picture of it!

Bipod

The question of new vs. used vs. refurbished depends on:
1. State law (which varies from state to state)
2. Seller policy (which varies from store to store)
3. What the seller thinks he can get away with
4. How competent the seller is

It is impractical to extensively test digital cameras. Even the factory
only does burn-in and cursory testing of every unit. All manufacturers
use statistical process control: they pick a random sample of units off
the line for more thorough testing or destructive testing.

So no matter how you buy you are taking a risk. Guarantees and warranties
are supposed to offset this risk, but they also are subject to 1-4 above.
Often, you have no feasible recourse if the seller or manufacturer refuses
to honor a warranty--or simply screws it up.

When you buy something on-line, usually you are "click signing"
a 30-page agreement that waives all your rights (even if some of
these waivers are void in your State). For example, you waive the
implied warranty of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
It probably also limits your recovery to the purchase price, or even
to the purchase price minus some fee and shipping charges.

Often you are agreeing to binding arbitration (by a member of an association
hired by the seller and paid by seller fees). If the arbiter makes the decision
by flipping a coin, you have no appeal.

So the price needs to be reduced to reflect the risk you are taking. Unfortunately,
it's difficult to estimate the extent of that risk.

If you bought a Brand X camera from a Brand X dealer, who actually
: Brand X USA? Brand X Japan? Happy Panda
Brands Holding Company? Unspecified persons?

Under the legal definition, which (if any) of those companies are doing
business in your state? Where, legally, did the sale take place?
(usually it's the point where you started paying the shipping charge).

Who do you sue in small claims court and how do you serve notice
to the company? Will the judge decide that the court has jurisdiction?
If you get a judgement against Brand X Japan, how do you propose to
collect it? Fly to Tokyo and file in Japanese court?

A retailer can sell your debt to a collection agency, but you don't have
that option for money a retailer owes you.

The system is rigged against the buyer. The seller has your money, you have
at piece of defective gear and perhaps his promise made by somebody on the
other side of the earth.

Suddenly, buying a piece of used gear at a garage sale doesn't sound so bad...

Bobnewnan

Yes but when did you last see a Nikon d750 at a garage sale? You pays your money and takes your chances. And the big companies are just as bad as the back alley fellow, I had a medical cancellation of a trip that was covered by the card benefits. After 4 months and lots of calls and document emails, they paid me $100.00 on a $1600 claim. After another month they say they made a mistake and will get back with me. That was two weeks ago and now "Next Tuesday". Oh well.

User ID

Thaz why I actually prefer refurbs. All new cameras are
just members of a statistical batch. So, statistically, any
single member of the group is unlikely to get inspected.

With a refurb, you can expect that the actual item you
are buying has been individually checked out.

.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Refurbished from Nikon come with a 30 day warranty. If you get refurbished from Nikon my advice is to shoot the living crap out of it for the first week you own it. Go through all the settings and make sure you are satisfied with the settings that you will use the most often. Generally these bodies are a great bargain and have a great service record. Usually they have a low shutter count but their is not gaurentee that your camera has a low shutter count. You can check shutter count quickly as soon as you get refurbished from Nikon. Generally you do not get the original box with refurbished from Nikon.
Used from Adorama is just that, USED. Personally I would not buy used UNLESS they can provide a shutter count, also make sure you get the box, strap, manual, etc. and all accessories that come with the camera. Also make sure you get at least a one year warranty from Adorama. Be aware that if the camera needs repair under their warranty it will NOT be done by Nikon but by their repair folks.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

When I'm buying, I look for refurbished first. I've gotten them with between five and 942 clicks. Cameta is also a good place to look for refurbs. Unlike new cameras, prices can vary. Don't expect a dealer to tell you how many actuations are on the camera, though.