Nikon is running their 10% off refurbished items sale

Lots of cameras, lenses and other items to choose from...

It seems like folks have very good luck purchasing refurbed stuff from Nikon, so I bit the bullet and ordered an AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G. I have the f/1.8G version and I'm happy with it. The f/1.4G gets mixed reviews and though some of the negative ones are discouraging, some of the positive ones really got my attention.

I was thinking of a used one, but my recent experience with a used 24mm f/1.8G made me consider a refurb to save money. I'm guessing that these lenses are tested before sale and that I won't get a lens that has issues. And with refurbs on sale... well, I'll give it a shot so I can do some comparing.

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I've been spending far too much money on photo gear lately, also. Back when I was a drunken sailor, I didn't have any money to spend!

I guess I'm stocking up as I'm starting to wonder if photo gear will be the next thing that becomes impossible to get (I have a new Ford Maverick on order to replace my 13-year-old Subaru Forester. I ordered it in January and it's now looking like it won't get built until the 2023 model year!).

The normal price on f/1.4G is $450. The refurb price is $350. The current refurb sale price is $315. That's almost one third off the normal, new price to get the refurb. Seems fair...

As for the 70-300, I have the older AF ED Zoom Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6D. I bought it years ago before later buying a used AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8 and kept if for a walk-around lens as the 80-200 f/2.8 is pretty heavy. I keep thinking I'd like to upgrade the 70-300 to one of the new ones, but my copy is pretty nice -- I think I was lucky and got a really good one.

I also have an old, like-new AF 70-210mm f/4-5.6D that I picked up for practically nothing and I recently did a thorough comparison test. I think my 70-300mm was the winner. No need to spend more money to replace it.

I have to say that the lenses I bought this year have been fantastic and have quickly become big favorites of mine: the AF-S 24mm f/1.8G and AF-S 35mm f/1.8G are just wonderful and continue to impress me. I'm tempted to upgrade my AF 85mm f/1.8D for the new G model but the D is a great lens and I just don't use it enough to justify the upgrade.

Originally Posted by desmobob

Lots of cameras, lenses and other items to choose from...

It seems like folks have very good luck purchasing refurbed stuff from Nikon, so I bit the bullet and ordered an AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G. I have the f/1.8G version and I'm happy with it. The f/1.4G gets mixed reviews and though some of the negative ones are discouraging, some of the positive ones really got my attention.

I was thinking of a used one, but my recent experience with a used 24mm f/1.8G made me consider a refurb to save money. I'm guessing that these lenses are tested before sale and that I won't get a lens that has issues. And with refurbs on sale... well, I'll give it a shot so I can do some comparing.

I've purchased quite a bit from these folks. All has been excellent...

https://www.mpb.com/en-us/used-equip...g/sku-1432542/

Last day and I have to say somebody needs to jump on the Zfc + 26-50mm kit. $850 for that.

My experience with my first Nikon USA refurbished lens purchase is so-so... so far.

I received my refurb AF-S 50mm f/1.4G this morning. It was indistinguishable from new other than the plain cardboard packaging. I was anxious to compare it to my accumulation of other Nikkor 50mm lenses (Nikkor H-C 50mm f/2, 50mm f/1.4 Ai, 50mm f.1.8E, 50mm f/1.8D and 50mm f/1.8G). I grabbed the f/1.8G and f/1.4 Ai and headed out the back door with the new f/1.4G and a tripod.

Initial testing showed the f/1.4G was even worse than the negative reviews claimed when shot below f/4. Very soft. Bummer! It caught up to the other lenses' image quality at about f/5.6, but the images did have a different and pleasing look. Oh well...

A little while ago, I had it out messing around with it and happened to take a shot at a desktop with some papers on it. It was focusing well short of my selected focus point! I set up a test and started using my D750's AF Fine Tune. The lens was finally focusing properly at the +15 setting!

I'm sort of disappointed it's that far off, but it is focusing properly now. I'm eager to do a complete comparison with all my 50's tomorrow if the weather permits -- we're forecasted to get over an inch of rain. The lens' focusing was so far off initially that a retest should give me some drastically different results. One thing I can say now is that the inexpensive, humble and often-overlooked AF-S f/1.8G is just plain wonderful. I'm hoping the now-correctly-focusing f/1.4G will be able to impress me as much.

(And before anyone says it; yes, I have been looking for a good deal on a 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S to add to my 50mm Nikkor collection!)

Update:

I submitted a lackluster (but not negative) review for the lens on the Nikon USA webpages last night and was contacted by Nikon service this morning. After an exchange of e-mails and submission of some test images as directed by support, they advised me to send the lens in for warranty repair. The other lens I had that was sent in for repair (AF-S 24mm f/1.8G) was returned promptly with the issue corrected. It is now one of my favorite Nikkors. I hope they do as nice a job with the 50mm f/1.4G.

The 50mm f/1.4G returned from Nikon/CAMTECH in Plainview, NY today after "repair of the focusing mechanism" and "adjustment of the autofocus system" done under warranty. I gave it a quick test with the little DSLRKIT focus tool and it was perfect. It focuses dead-on with no AF Fine Tune needed.

Hooray! I'm ready to dream up some kind of comparison test for all the 50mm Nikkors I've accumulated over the years (f/2 H-C, f/1.2 Ai-S, f/1.4 Ai, f/1.4G, f/1.8E, f/1.8D, and f/1.8G.)