I used to shoot Canon when I was a film user. I had some gripes so when I decided to go digital, I switched to Nikon. When I can get product, I'm a happy camper but of late, and long before the floods and other natural disasters, I have not had the chance to be very happy. Nikon does a really poor job of keeping the shelves stocked. Do they think it adds some sort of mystique to the brand to always be back ordered and out of stock?

I truly prefer Nikon to Canon. I like most of the glass better, prefer Nikon controls and Nikon's bodies. I like the exposure and metering results better from Nikon. I think overall auto focus is better and even with the advent of a $900 radio flash system, I'm still a fan of CLS.

But today I started to tally up my "stuff", do some pricing research and I'm <this close> to putting it all up for sale, to calling B&H to get on the 5D MkIII list and be happy with my m4/3's system until some boxes show up. It's gotten that serious. I'm tired of excuses, tired of Nikon not being able to gauge demand, tired of trying to figure out who they are building product for with their sensor antics.....but man, I just can't see me shooting with a Canon and a bunch of white lenses. I think I'd rather draw on a cave wall than shoot with that.

I guess this is called venting....anyone else this frustrated?

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Wally

The shortage is quite noticeable; I've been looking for a few lenses myself and they're in short supply.

A couple of options:

A)Check in at the Berger Bros. forum here at Nikonians. The gang there can certainly set you up or put you on a list. They have excellent availability when others are out of stock.

B) Have you considered Nikon refurbished direct from Nikon USA? If you're not absolutely trying to get the latest and greatest like the D4 or the D800, you might find what you're looking for there.

"Toodle-loo from Covey22!"

-Armando
Nikonians Team
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My Plan:

Get out of the car.
Get closer to the subject.
Pick the right mid-tone this time.

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Wally,
Looked at your equipment list, and it looks like you have a nice stable of lenses. If you don't mind me asking, what are you looking for? I might have a tip.

James

In Nikon's defence, I doubt anyone could forsee all the issues after the double disaster they encountered. Any other company would be much the same in the aftermath.

____________________________________________________________________
When no one is looking, Pigs can walk on they're hind legs

It's an interesting thought. I've never waited more than a day for any Nikon product I've wanted. Some I've bought new, some I've bought used. I guess the major exception to that now is my D800 grip, but that is what it is.

I didn't grow up in the instant gratification generation. But as a pro shooter, I need what I need, when I need it. And if I can't get it from my preferred vendors, I seek it out from elsewhere.

Best of luck with your frustrations. I've been thinking of buying another Canon myself, just can't seem to pull the trigger on anything. The new 5DMk3 has some appeal, the 1Dx has no appeal at all for me. Odd that I am not at all interested in the flagship models from either company. I think that's the first time in history I can say that.

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Webpage: http://www.ptfphoto.com

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

But you have the most recent Nikon flagship, in multiple! If you had a pair of 7-year-old D2x's you would likely be singing a different tune

_____
Brian... a bicoastal Nikonian and Team Member

My gallery is online. Comments and critique welcomed any time!

>But you have the most recent Nikon flagship, in multiple! If
>you had a pair of 7-year-old D2x's you would likely be singing
>a different tune

The D4 is the current flagship. And I don't have one, nor do I want one. The 1Dx is the current Canon flagship. I don't have one, and I don't want one.

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Webpage: http://www.ptfphoto.com

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Hi, I have a question. First, loved your work. I don't like sports much but looked at every picture of yours. Super. Honestly, super. Here's what I wondered. Why wouldn't you want a D4? That seems interesting to me. How come?

>Odd that I am not at all
>interested in the flagship models from either company. I
>think that's the first time in history I can say that.

You have to do what you have to do, but if you like your Nikon stuff so much, and you don't list yourself as a pro, or even a semi-pro, and you have a D7000 and a nice bunch of lenses, here's what I would do: Order as soon as possible, and use what I have until it comes. If it's a D800, D700, D300s or D4, it's worth the wait.

I know, being only a semi-pro myself, for me, it would be a matter of wanting, not needing a new piece of gear right away.

It would definitely not be worth changing out a whole system for another brand.

James

Just an observation, having bought a few Nikon refurbished products and being very happy with them, if there is something you cannot find in stock, consider a Nikon refurbished one. What led me to try this route was something I read somewhere, perhaps even here on Nikonians, I can't remember, to the effect that on the assembly line at Nikon, there are certain quality control checks, but that if you buy refurbished, a live human has actually tested all the systems in the product and given them a closer look-over and tweak where necessary.

I bought a refurbished d5100 a couple of months ago because they were hard to get early in the year - since it only came out around April 2011, I figured the refurbished one I bought could not have had all that much use and perhaps somebody got frustrated with one of the 'issues' which could have been simply resolved with an update of the firmware.

Just a thought . . . might want to look into it as the poster above suggested as well.

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

On getting refurbished Nikon equipment, if they are really carefully checked out (and repaired if necessary), why does Nikon only give you only a 90 day warranty? Why not warrant the gear for the same length of time as new? I seems that Nikon has some reason to mistrust refurbished gear. I got a refurb 70-200 F2.8 VR lens that came with a non Nikon front lens cap of all things, and had noticeable sharpness issues on one side of the frame (possibly why it was returned in the first place, and the refurb didn't fix it). I returned it and bought a new one, which was fine. On the other hand I got a refurb D90 body and a 40mm F2.8 DX macro lens, and both have worked just fine. I was looking at a D7000 body, and currently all you can get are refurbished ones. I got a very good price break on my D90, but the D7000 price break is only $70, and you only get a 90 day warranty. I don't think that is a good deal unless you are desperate for a D7000 body. I guess I will wait till they are back in stock, pay full price, and get a one year warranty.

Matthew

I think the issue posted by OP is not where to find refurbished products, etc, but the fact that Nikon does not seem to be able to deliver, period. Nikon is not what they use to be. I totally understand they are going through some rough times, but the ordinary customer does really not take that in consideration when they are looking to buy Nikon products. Some may suggest that other brands were doing the same thing sometime in their history; again, it’s not about what others do but what Nikon does today.

I don’t think they are going to lose a lot of old clients but for sure there will be a lot of new potential clients that will go in other directions. Most of the amateurs don’t know anything about the stores we are talking in here (B&H, Berger Bros, Adorama), they want to find it on Best Buy, Amazon or to the local stores. Now, not after being on the waiting list for 4-5 months.

And to answer to the question, yes I will be frustrated if I was looking for something that is not available. Fortunately, my NAS has cool down a bit, maybe by the time it will strike again the shelves will be full again.

________________
IOAN
"... stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God" - Elihu
eikonao.com

I don't blame you. Nikon (insert your favorite family friendly expletive here).
I don't accept any excuses made on their behalf. It's been an issue with them prior to the natural disasters. However I don't know if its them not being able to "gauge demand." They know the deal, but I would guess they made a decision NOT to expand manufacturing. They are small potatoes compared to a giant like Canon. They just are... One of the most anticipated cameras ever in the history of imaging-the 5d mark III is out, and guess what it's in stock.

Like you, I think Nikon makes things better than the big C, in many but certainly not all ways.
But NIKON, your stuff has to be easier to get! NIKON you (insert your favorite family friendly expletive here). Now that's what I call venting...

Hey thanks for reading!

Now that's a hearty, mug-clinking opinion with some gusto.
Fun to read.


"Close Your Eyes and See With Your Heart." a quote by Canadian writer Kerri MacDonald.