Have you checked eBay?

Go to Costco and check out what they have.

I use mine all the time. I have two camera bodies and each one has a "L" bracket. On every camera body I ever owned had a "L" bracket on it. You may not switch form H to V very often, but when needed, it is a simple switch.

To start off, I ma a professional photographer and a Nikon user for over 40 years, I do not believer in "Refurb" cameras or lens because I know a number of people who had problems with refurb equipment. With that out of the way. Have you compared Nikon and Canon. Here is what I found at B&H.

Canon 6D II 26.2MP Body only - $1500.
W/24-105 f3.5-5.6 - $1900.
W/24-105 f4L II - $2400.

Nikon D750 24.3MP Body only - $1500
W/24-120 f4G - $2000.

If you been with Canon, you may want to stay with them just because you are more familiar with their camera systems. Nikon systems are much different, and my confuse you.

Good luck on what every you purchase.

Send the lens to Nikon repair.

You do not need a camera housing, just purchase a underwater camera, they are not that expensive. Go to Adorama and B&H and do a search for underwater cameras. You will find Olympus, Sealife, Fujifilm, Ricoh and Nikon cameras in the price range of $200 - $800.

I turn the VR off when camera and lens are mounted on a tripod. Except when it is very windy, VR on in this condition is a blessing.

I have owned Tokina lenses years ago, they are awesome lenses. I now use a Nikon 105mm f2.8 and also a 200mm f4 macro lens (this one is my favorite). Keep this in mind, at some point when sell the Tokina lens, you will only get pennies on the dollar for it. This is the reason why stick with Nikon lenses.

Now that you know your camera does not have a DOF button, you can download one of two APP's, Field Tools or Photo Pills. You enter the "F" stop you want to use and the app will give you the DOF. Both of these APP's are easy to use. The Photo Pill app is more versatile, you can do more then DOF. Check them out on YouTube.

Good Luck

The D600 is a good camera, hope the one you want was sent back to Nikon to replace the sensor. If you want a FX camera, why such an old model? You would be better off getting a D800 or D810 because of their dynamic range, plus you will need to purchase some FX lenses.

Good luck

Always keep a CP with you.

So you are going to Costa Rica next year. Will you be on a workshop with Steve Perry? I am also going the week of Aug. 4th-11th.

I have the 200-500mm Nikon lens and I enjoy using it with my D810 and/or D500 body. There are times I will attach my Nikon 1.4III Tele-Conv. I do a lot of bird photography and I have a lot of success using the lens. Most of my camera settings will be F8 with ISO around 1600, making adjustment +or- to stop movement.

I have come across a number of photographers using the 200-500mm lens and their D850.

You can rent the lens from a number of camera stores or online.

For those of you who like having books. I have some technical books like how to use LR, I have taken the books to a FedEx store and had them spiral bound the books. It only cost $6 or $7 dollars.

I have been light painting for a number of years. I use an adjustable flashlight, using a light like this you can change the power of the beam. You do not have to pay much for a good flashlight. Go to this link to help you select what type of light you want.

https://www.amazon.com/Flashlight-UltraFire-Aluminum-Adjustable-Activities/dp/B07G45YJHX/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=adjustable+flashlight&qid=1555007295&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

There are a lot of YouTube links to watch on night photography. It is a lot of fun, good luck.

Here are the Spec's listed from B&H photo. Your Nikon 28-300mm weights 1.8 lbs. (800g). The Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 G lens weights 3.3 lbs. (1.5kg). I have both lenses and I enjoy both lens.