forum threadrosish posted Jul 24, 2025 04:34 PM
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forum threadrosish posted Jul 24, 2025 04:34 PM
Refurbish Nikon Sales back on Nikon Z30 $399 with 16/50mm lens $399.95
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42% offNikon
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Now those competitor models I listed are rather new, so I'm sure they are better comparatively. The Nikon is rather cheaper. And if you're using it casually, it'll probably be just as good. If you have clearly articulated needs, then you know already what you're shopping for -- or should be having that conversation with a camera shop employee, not some bozo on Slickdeals comments.
Check slickdeals' history for other sales on the Z30 model. This isn't the best price, but it's not a terrible price...especially if you need something.
My 2 cents -- be careful with Nikon. Their achilles heel is their lenses aren't very compatible across models. You almost need a secret-decoder-ring to figure out if a particular lens is compatible with a particular camera. This is less the case with Canon's entire lineup (most things can be adapted) and even less the case with Sony (super generous compatibility range, no adapters really needed).
If you're not needing mirrorless or modern video features (like you're doing photos only), then I'd say check out the massive amounts of DSLRs that can be found at a bargain. Anything 12mp or greater will be perfectly fine for prints up to 8x10 and for web use. Quality of glass will be more important than the sensor/body in most cases.
If you need something with a bit more spunk than the Z30, check out the Olympus/OM System E-M1 and O-M1 line....or the Canon R7/R8.
(My personal combo is the Canon R8 w/ RF 24-240 IS lens.)
(I've also strongly considered the R8 + RF 28-80 f/2.8 IS lens or the R7 + RF-S 18-150 lens. I've also considered the Olympus EM-1 mk II or III/OM System OM-1 mk 1 -- all of which with the Olympus 12-100 f/4 lens.)
(I also own a "vintage" Nikon D300 and Canon 5D classic -- both with an assortment of older glass -- of this can be found today at around 70-90% off their the original retail prices).
First and foremost -- I am no Nikon expert. All I can speak to are the challenges I had with my D300 since 2007.
There's at least two different kinds of AF motor drives -- one built into the lens and one that's in the camera supplied via a linkage in the mount. Not all bodies have that linkage. Luckily my D300 had options for both. So I'm good to go, right? Not so much.
I wanted a wide angle APS-C lens for Nikon, something like a 10-18mm (I forget the exact one, it's been over a decade since I looked at it). Found out the hard way that the electronics in the lens weren't compatible with my relatively good mid-range body. Nope, I needed a "newer" APS-C body...or else I couldn't even manual focus the lens. Zero communication whatsoever.
Now with their mirrorless line of bodies, there are some models that CAN take adapted lenses from the DSLR-era...and some that flat out won't. And from my quick research a year or two ago, even those adapted lenses came with restrictions.
I was like "nope, not for me". I gave up because it was just too much to keep track of. Plus in my research to replace the D300 with a 2023-era mirrorless, I found better options like the Canon R8. The Nikon options were good....the R8 was excellent, for my needs. Others needs will vary.
Sure, I typically buy one body every 10 years and use it until something radically better comes out....but I like the idea of buying a couple of GOOD lenses and being able to reuse them. You can do that with most Canon EF-mount and Sony E-mount glass, either via adapter or natively (respectively). There are exceptions, but those are edge-cases...not the norm.
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Sony's claim to fame is "you don't even need to adapt anything. E-mount simply just works." -- from their DSLR to their current gen mirrorless.
Sure, you're talking about current Z-mount Nikon lenses for their mirrorless platform -- what about their large library of older DSLR lenses? "Well, it depends." And out comes the cracker jack decoder ring and compatibility charts. Having to do research seeing if X lens is compatibly on Y body.
Your analogy is akin to saying "Canon RF-mount lenses" are compatible on Canon RF-mount bodies! Well...yes. That's not what I was referring to -- and you know it. If you continue to argue this, you're being intentionally disingenuous.
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