Camera Deals

Nikon J1 prices drop by $50 on Sunday (starting price is now $500)

Starting Sunday June 3rd, 2012, the prices of various Nikon J1 mirrorless kits are dropping by $50 at authorized Nikon dealers. Since different retailers have different websites that get updated in different ways, it may take a few hours before the new prices are synced on Sunday.

The new prices will be:
+ $500 for the Nikon J1 with the 10-30mm VR lens
+ $650 for the Nikon J1 with 10-30 and 30-110 VR lenses
+ $680 for the above kit in a pink gift set (with extras)

UPDATE (6/3/12 at 2:24am ET)
The prices have already dropped by $50 at Amazon and Adorama (page down for bundled with free accessories)... Check later for price drops at B&H Photo and Vanns.

For a refresher on the camera, you can check its list of completed reviews.

A reminder for the speed-readers, the prices started dropping on Sunday June 3, 2012.

But Wait, There's More - Free Accessories
If you purchase these on Amazon, you can get two free accessories as well: a 32GB Class 10 SDHC memory card and a camcorder/camera case with shoulder strap, both AmazonBasics brand. There is no coupon code to enter, simply add to cart and proceed to checkout and the free items will be automatically discounted at the top right corner of the Amazon Checkout page if all is well.

The free accessories promotion is good for either the J1 or the V1 kits. As usual, all items must be sold and shipped by Amazon itself, not 3rd-party sellers. The free accessories promotion ends June-30-2012.

(ENDED) 64GB Transcend JetFlash 500 retractable USB stick for $37 (Sat only)

This 24-hour special ended! The main Amazon Gold Box deal of the day for Saturday is the 64GB Transcend JetFlash 500 retractable USB stick offered for $37 with free shipping in frustration free packaging! Limit three per customer at this price. The special ends on Sunday at 3am ET (or earlier if sold-out).

Samsung NX100 w/20-50 and SEF15A flash for $340

If you are looking for the Samsung NX100, Adorama has bundles in black or white with the NX100, the 20-50mm lens and the SEF-15A flash going for $340 with free shipping. These are brand new, not refurbished! Here is the black NX200 bundle and here is the white NX200 bundle [corrected link!].

The IN (D700, D3200, 5DMk3) and OUT (D4, D800, D800E, E-M5) Report

We are updated some of the in-play Stock Status pages. This post is a summary of our findings. Please note that the updates are as of the time of writing or the time of the latest update. The blog-post-texts cannot be updated automagically when something changes!

IN-STOCK
+ Nikon D700: multiple retailers have it in-stock for $2200
+ Nikon D3200: black kit in-stock at multiple retailers for $700 and eligible for Nikon Instant Rebates
+ Canon 5D Mark III: both kits in-stock

OUT-of-STOCK
+ Olympus E-M5: pre-orders only
+ Nikon D4: pre-orders only
+ Nikon D800E (second block): pre-orders only
+ Nikon D800: sold-out... 3rd-party seller Electronic Express at Buy.com shows it as in-stock for $3000 plus $30 S&H. If not familiar with this seller, make sure you research them to your satisfaction before purchasing! A $3000 purchase requires more scrutiny than a $10 DVD purchase [google search results for Nikon authorized dealers]

Nikon Coolpix L810 black superzoom down to $216~

The black Nikon Coolpix L810 AA powered superzoom has dropped to $216~ at Amazon by Amazon. Only the black body color is discounted thusly. This is not part of a lightning deal, so the price may (or may not) change at any time and for any reason... For a refresher on the camera, check its short list of reviews.

Free app of the week: Snapseed on iTunes

You can get the Snapseed photography app for FREE at iTunes.com (link to iTunes USA). This is the free app of the week. Weekly promotions change every Tuesday on iTunes, so don't sleep on it! This works with recent iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch models (see iTunes for compatibility details). Even if you don't currently have a compatible device, you can still get it for free and install/use it at a later time when you have a compatible device. [rephrased original post because it was a bit confusing]

Fuji HS25-EXR superzoom for $250 (June 1-7)

The new weekly ad is out at Fry's Electronics, and among their other specials is the Fuji HS25-EXR offered for $250 (final price shown if you go through the checkout process). This is good online and in-store, your choice. Thanks to one of our readers for the alert!

You can check all their weekly specials (June 1-7, 2012) at their weekly ads page. They also offer a 32GB Polaroid Class 10 SDHC card for $20 (online or in-store).

If you are not afraid of mail-in rebate (MIR) armageddon (a regular mail-in rebate and an upgrader mail-in rebate), you can get Avid's Studio HD for free after two $30 MIRs. Online or in-store. This is for mail-in rebate gurus only, as double MIRs with upgrader requirements are filled with traps if you are not a battle-tested MIRer.

Introductory price: Introduction to Nikon software ebook for $10

Thom Hogan is offering his new Introduction to Nikon software eBook (PDF) at an introductory price of $10. This is a digital download, with 242 pages. The introductory price ends June-30-2012. This is an ebook, not a printed book delivered by mail!

(SOLD OUT) GE DV1 waterproof camcorder stick (red) for $50

As of a 6/2/12 at 3:20pm ET recheck, this has sold-out! The red body color of the GE DV1 waterproof/shockproof camcorder stick has dropped to $50 with free shipping at Amazon by Amazon. Only the red color is discounted. This is not part of a lightning deal, so the price may (or may not) change at any time and for any reason.

(SOLD OUT) Canon 75-300mm returns in-stock (IR activated again)

That didn't last long. As of a 10:48pm ET recheck, the 75-300 non-IS non-USM lens sold-out and cannot be ordered, thus putting the Canon Digital Rebel Instant Rebates into hibernation again... The Instant Rebate lenses go in and out of stock like crazy, so YMMV depending on when you check... Original post after the jump...

(SOLD OUT) Canon 70-300mm returns in-stock (Instant Rebates activated again)

As of a 12:12pm ET recheck, the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM sold-out at Amazon by Amazon, thus putting the Digital Rebels and the 60D and 7D in hibernation again. We will monitor the situation but you can also do a DIY check at these two aforelinked pages. Sometimes the Instant Rebate lenses go in and out of stock every few hours, sometimes they stay out of stock for days. YMMV... Original post after the jump for the deal historians...

(ENDED) Camera & Photo Lightning Deals: Panasonic FX75

Today's round of Camera & Photo Lightning Deals at Amazon has officially ended as the last item sold-out before its closing time... Previous updates are after the jump for the deal historians only - the specials expired!

Open-box Sony NEX-5 w/18-55 black drops to $446 (was $476~)

If of all the Sony NEX cameras, the NEX-5 black with 18-55 is the one you want, and if you are cool with open-box camera gear, authorized Sony retailer Vanns is offering an open-box Sony NEX-5 w/18-55 (black) kit for $446~ $476~ with free shipping. The conditions describe it as: "Display Model. You save big when purchasing from our Clearance center. Full warranty.".

Even if you are not interested in it at the current price, you can play a game of "Open Box Price Chicken". The longer you wait, the lower the price will likely be, but the lower the price gets, the chances increase that someone else may buy it. Thus, a game of open-box price chicken :) This game is more beneficial if you don't need a specific camera by a specific date, but you would be interested in owning it if the price was right for you.

You can find all the Vanns Open-Box camera specials linked to in the Right Sidebar of this blog, under the "Deals & Specials" section, towards the middle of the Sidebar (right below the "Daily Deals" and "Freebies" sections)

PRICE UPDATED in blog-post: May-31-2012 at 10pm ET...

In-stock again: Nikon D700 body only for $2200

If you are chasing the Nikon D700 body only, good news! It is, as of the time of writing, in-stock and shipping for $2200 by J&R World and Amazon (via 3rd parties) and B&H Photo... For the big picture, check the just-updated D700 stock status page. Updated: 6/1/12 at 10pm ET.

Nikon D3200 now eligible for the Nikon Instant Rebates

The Nikon D3200 with the 18-55 kit is now eligible for the Nikon lens instant rebates (55-300 and/or 55-200 DX VR). We added it to the Nikon Instant Rebates permalink page where you can find more details on how these work.

Both the black and red D3200 kits are eligible, but as of the time of writing, only the black kit is in-stock by Amazon itself.

We tested (as of the time of writing of this blog-post) and the D3200 kits are not eligible for the three free accessories promotion (currently the D7000 and D5100 kits are eligible).

For the big picture on the D3200 stock situation, check the just-updated D3200 stock status page.

Nikon 35mm f1.8G DX returned to $200~

Another sign perhaps that Nikon production is catching up is that the bellwhether Nikon 35mm f1.8G DX lens has returned to the price of $200. I don't know exactly when this happened, but the last time I looked at prices for this they were over $200. As of the time of writing, you can get it for $200 with free shipping at many places, including Amazon itself and Target and B&H Photo and Adorama.

J&R World: $5 off $75+ coupon code (ends 6/3/12) [corrected]

J&R World has a new coupon code, JRJUNE, that gets you $5 off an order of $75+. The coupon expires at the end of day on June-3-2012. The coupon has the usual exceptions (eg some brands will not allow their products to be discounted by coupons, etc, etc, etc). Get started at their website. [the Weekend Sale link was broken and replaced with a link to their homepage. All apologies for the confusions.]. They are also offering free S&H on orders of $49+.

4pk of Duracell AA StayCharged rechargeables for $7.50 w/coupon

If you want to put your Amazon Prime membership to work, or if you are planning an Amazon order of $25+ if you are not a Prime member, you can get a 4-pack of Duracell AA Stay Charged rechargeables for $7.50 after you clip the $1.50 off coupon you see in the middle of the aforelinked product page. First click on "Clip this coupon" and then add the item to cart. The $1.50 off discount is only good for one 4-pack of batteries.

The Stay Charged is a new name Duracell uses for their low-self-discharge batteries. See customer reviews at the aforelinked page for more details along with comparison pictures between various Duracells and Eneloops.

Speaking of rechargable batteries, the Eneloop Super Power Pack remains at $40 at Amazon. For more on that, check this long-winded and seemingly never-ending main blog post.

Lightroom 4 with bonus Kelby Training DVD for $76 (upgrade) or $145 (full)

Adobe's Lightroom 4 came out at the more reasonable price of $150, but now we starting to see some discounts! B&H Photo is offering Lightroom 4 (full version) for $145 $135 with free shipping. This includes a free Kelby Training DVD, the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Crash Course. The free item is included automatically, there is no coupon code to enter.

The free Kelby Training DVD is also included with the Lightroom 4 Upgrade for $76 with free shipping. Upgrade terms are set forth by Adobe.

The free Kelby Training DVD is also included with the LR4 Student and Teacher edition which goes for $78 with free shipping. You must qualify per Adobe's requirements in order to use the Student & Teacher edition.

All Lightrooms mentioned in this post are software boxes delivered by mail.

Price updated June 1st, 2012 at 11:45am ET.

Panasonic M43rds discounts: GH2 w/14-42 for $800 (GX1 w/14-42 for $620)

In addition to the various Panasonic lens discounts (M43rds, 43rds, etc) we mentioned yesterday, B&H Photo also has discounts on Panasonic M43rds camera kits, including the GH2 w/14-42mm for $800 and the GX1 w/14-42 for $620 or with the 14-42 X PowerZoom for $740~. The GH2 and GX1 kits are towards the bottom of the B&H page.

These discounts are partially fueled by Panasonic Instant Rebates that expire on June 2, 2012.