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05-14-2022, 08:00 PM #11Senior Member
Re: Looking at the 105mm micro
Looking harder at the new lens from B&H, I see that it's actually a grey market lens. With the difference in cost between a factory refurb and a used being only about $50, I think I may opt for the refurb. I talked with the Pup today since this is a larger purchase, and she thinks this is likely the next lens she would like to add to the bag, so I will likely go ahead and order one soon.
As a bonus, this lens should work well using the FTZ adapter on my Z5. I've already warned her I'll be borrowing it on occasion. If I find I really like it, I may pick up the Z mount sister of this lens for me. I've always wanted a true macro lens.
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- 05-14-2022, 08:00 PM
05-14-2022, 08:48 PM #12Re: Looking at the 105mm micro
Look at the one graded Excellent at Robert's... Robert's warranty is twice as long as Nikon's Refurb warranty... and it's about $150 less... Lenses are like cars, drive'm off Nikon's lot and they depreciate a lot... with no functional loss of performance...
05-14-2022, 10:18 PM #13Senior MemberRe: Looking at the 105mm micro
You're right. I looked a number of different places yesterday and remembered the wrong price on the refurb. I guess I feel somewhat better about the factory refurb because I think of them as ones that have been bought and returned, and not really used much. I know this is not always the case, but I can't imagine someone using a lens a lot and then returning it, although I suppose it could happen.
And, yes, Nikon does offer a short warranty on their refurbs. I bought a telephoto zoom from them last fall when they were running a sale. Lens was perfect, but the warranty was short.
05-14-2022, 11:43 PM #14Re: Looking at the 105mm micro
If you decide to go with a refurbished lens, be sure to put it through its paces. A few years back, one of our members purchased a refurbished lens via one of the big stores. If I remember correctly, the barrel was stiff to turn - or something along those lines. Not all refurbished items are simply returns. Some are damaged and repaired.
Cindy - D750, D500, D7200
My 2022 Thread
Where the Spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art -- Leonardo da Vinci
05-16-2022, 03:48 PM #15Senior MemberRe: Looking at the 105mm micro
I wonder if that was a factory refurb or the store's refurb. The one I'm looking at is directly from Nikon. And, yes, I realize that some may have had issues and were repaired. Although I would think the majority of those would then be returned to the customer. My biggest issue with a refurb is that now that these are no longer in production, the refurbs will be a higher percentage of lenses that have been used for a decent while and then returned for problems.
Last edited by Clovishound; 05-16-2022 at 03:52 PM.
05-16-2022, 04:29 PM #16Re: Looking at the 105mm micro
@Clovishound... I wouldn't let Nikon be your guide. I bought a refurb'd 28-300mm from Nikon... Unfortunately, I never tested the VR within the warranty period...until it was out of warranty, and it didn't work... cost me $175 to get Nikon to fix the VR...
05-20-2022, 05:03 PM #17Senior MemberRe: Looking at the 105mm micro
OK, I've been looking and (over)thinking on this. I notice that some of these 105 lenses are made in Japan and some are made in China. I assume that the newer ones are Chinese. Should I be looking for a used lens that is made in Japan instead of a likely newer lens (either new, or refurb), that was more likely to have been made in China? Or is there really no difference? One of the used lenses I looked at had a set of photos of that individual lens, and I could clearly see the "made in Japan" on the lens. Another was clearly marked "made in China".
I didn't realize that my Z5 and 28-70 f4 lens were made in Thailand when I bought them a few months ago. Not that it would have stopped me from buying them. I do realize that a good company can maintain good manufacturing in factories regardless of location, if they choose to enforce the proper QC measures.
05-20-2022, 06:07 PM #18Re: Looking at the 105mm micro
@Clovishound IIRC as of December 2021 all camera and lens manufacturing was move to Thailand. I have lenses made in Japan, China and Thailand all seem to do the job. No experience to compare a 105mm from China to one from Japan.
Last edited by Needa; 05-20-2022 at 06:15 PM.
05-20-2022, 06:16 PM #19Re: Looking at the 105mm micro
I don't think there's any significant differences in Nikon's manufacturing processes between countries. The old days of manufacturing being "better" in Japan versus China have been long gone. I'm sure the Japanese would like you to think otherwise...but that isn't the case anymore... Otherwise, Nikon wouldn't have moved their manufacturing around to different countries to capitalize on the different labor costs...
05-20-2022, 07:11 PM #20Senior MemberRe: Looking at the 105mm micro
That's pretty much the consensus I've seen in my online searches. I also see that Nikon has dropped the price on this to $600. I believe that is the price I originally saw on their website, and it went up for a while. That brings me back to a used, made in Japan, for $555, or a factory refurb, likely made in China, for $600. I'm leaning toward the refurb. All the new ones I've seen are grey market and $900.
05-20-2022, 07:11 PM
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