Deals

Updated: 2/7/12

This page lists current special pricing and deals on photographic gear, some from vendors with whom this blog has an affiliate relationship. (See the “Ads” page for more information.)

Your price will be the same when you go to the affiliate web sites via the links at my blog, but using these links to make your purchase helps support this blog as described on the “Ads” page… So please do use these links to make your purchase. (For information about purchasing prints of my photographs or concerning licensing, please see my Sales page.) Thanks!

February 7, 2012

Nikon announced two versions of a new D800 DSLR that up the ante in terms of increasing sensor resolution. The Nikon D800 and Nikon D800E both are 36+MP full frame DSLRs. (The “E” model has no anti-aliasing filter.) For Nikon shooters who want to maximize potential image resolution – such as landscape photographers and others who work from the tripod and print big – this sounds like a very interesting development. The pricing is also of interest – about $3000 for the “regular” model and about $300 more for the “E” model, which makes it directly competitive with Canon’s 5D2.

Canon has made a long-anticipated product announcement, too, by announcing an updated version of one of their most popular zooms, the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L EF II (USM) Lens. It is supposed to introduce some build and image-quality improvements.

Canon has also continued and expanded some price decreases by way of a ‘Double Instant Savings’ promotion which includes many of the lenses that were included in other offers that recently expired, and adds double rebates for those who purchase lenses and a 7D, 60D, or 5D2 camera body at the same time.

B&H also sent along announcements of new Canon Powershot cameras and new Nikon Point and Shoot cameras.

Links in this post go to site-sponsor B&H, and your orders through these links help support the blog. The Nikon cameras and the Canon lens are not yet available, but anyone who really wants to be first in line can place an order now. Thanks!

February 5, 2012 – ‘Instant Rebates’ Extended? Again?

I’m being to feel a bit like the “boy who cried ‘wolf!’” after twice announcing the impending conclusion of the Canon “instant rebate” promotion… and twice seeing it extended right after it “ended.” With this in mind, I’m going to try to be a bit more calm and rationale about the situation this time.

I don’t have full details quite yet, though I suspect that I’ll get something from B&H before long. As I understand it, Canon has extended the reduced pricing on many (but not quite all) of the lenses in the previous promotion and added a double rebate offer for those who also purchase a camera body – the 60D, 7D, and 5D2 are included.

So, in my best calm and rational voice, let me just point out that these are good prices and a good number of desirable lenses are included in the offer. If you are in the market for one of these cameras then you can save more by picking up the camera at the same time. (Some might even get a camera and an expensive lens or two… and sell the camera. Others might go in “halves” with another buyer who needs a camera…)

(I’m leaving this older “instant rebate” graphic here for now since you can click though to get to lenses eligible for current price reductions. Note that not all lenses on the linked page are eligible and that some of the price reductions have changed from what is listed there. You’ll see actual current prices when you get to the B&H site.)

January 31, 2012 – Canon ‘Instant Rebate’ Promotion on Speedlites and Lenses extended… but ending very soon.

You may have seen the tremendous price reductions from Canon as part of their “instant rebate” promotion at the end of 2011. I did, and I purchased a couple of lenses myself. The good news is that Canon extended this promotion into early February 2012. So you still have a few more days to take advantage of lower prices on Canon Speedlites and a wide range of excellent Canon lenses. However, the offer ends very soon, and if you want to purchase through site sponsor B&H Photo you’ll want to order by this Friday, February 3. (B&H typically has limited hours on Saturday, even for web purchases.)

12/29/2011 – $400 off on the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS telephoto zoom at B&H

Site sponsor B&H Photo has lowered the price of the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS telephoto zoom to $1974.00 - the first time I’ve seen it below $2000. This is a phenomenal price – $100 lower than I saw prior to this when it was it was reduced as part of Canon’s ‘Instant Rebate‘* promotion. (If I hadn’t purchased the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens a month ago, I’d be buying one myself right now!)

All four of the Canon 70-200mm L zooms are excellent lenses and among the best performers available. (I currently own both the IS and non-IS versions of the f/4 70-200 zooms.) The EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS is the most recently updated lens in this group, and the reviews are uniformly very positive.

* Speaking of the Canon “Instant Rebate” promotion… this sale covers a very large group of lenses and speedlites and includes substantial discounts. It also only lasts a few more days, ending on January 7, 2012.

12/23/2011 - Canon EOS 5D Mark II Body Under $2000 – Deal ends December 24!

B&H has been selling the Canon EOS 5D Mark II with some extras for only $1999.95 - but this deal expires very soon! (Note that B&H is not open for business all day on the final day of this promotion – so waiting until the last day might be too late.) The 5D2 is Canon’s 21 MP full frame DSLR that also can produce excellent HD video. This is the camera that I use for my own photography.

This price includes a “bundle” of other useful items, too:

SanDisk 16GB Extreme Pro CompactFlash Card
Lowepro Adventura 170 Shoulder Bag
Red Giant B&H Video Production Software Bundle

The body-only deal is a great opportunity for those who are looking to upgrade from another body and may already have a set of Canon lenses. If you don’t have lenses, two great ones to combine with this camera are the Canon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto EF 24-70mm f/2.8L or the Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. (I hace the latter, though I know others who love the 24-70, and it is eligible for the current Canon ‘Instant Rebate’ Promotion on lenses and Speedlites.

12/20/11 – B&H Deals for Procrastinators!

B&H Photo has added count-down timers to their pages showing what shipping options remain for those who are still looking for last minute photographic gifts. Believe it or not, there are still (as of 8:00 a.m. PST) several ways to ship items and get them on time. You’ll also see a ‘Holiday Specials’ link at their home page. There are also some free overnight shipping deals:

And here is a list of links to Canon and Nikon products eligible for FREE SHIPPING – notice some Nikon DSLRs are in the list:

12/15/11 – Large list of December 15 B&H Specials and other offers

Sony Lens Rebates up to $500 through December 31, 2011 - includes a large number of lenses

Canon DSLR Cameras

—-> Canon EOS 60D Digital SLR Camera with 18-135mm Lens & Basic Accessory Kit $1398.95 <—-
—-> Canon EOS 60D Digital SLR Camera with 18-200mm Lens & Deluxe Accessory Kit $1879.95 <—-
—-> Canon EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR Kit w/ EF-S/18-55 IS II $679 | Free Shipping <—- Excellent Starter DSLR
—-> Canon Eos Rebel T2i W/ef-S 18-135mm Lens Kit $879.95 | Free Shipping <—-

Nikon DSLR Cameras

—-> Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera With 18-55mm VR Lens $796.95 | Free Shipping <—- Excellent Starter DSLR
—-> Nikon D5100 DSLR Deluxe Kit with 18-55mm VR Lens $1124.95 <—-

Canon Printer

Canon Pixma iP100 Photo Printer $179 | Free Shipping

Canon Point and Shoot Cameras

Helmet Cam

Contour Contour GPS HD Helmet Camera $299 | Free Shipping

Photo Scanner

Epson Perfection V500 Flatbed Photo Scanner $139.95 | Free Shipping
Plustek OpticFilm 7600i SE Scanner $259.95 | Free Shipping

Panasonic Cameras

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FH7 Digital Camera (Black) $134 | Free Shipping
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 Digital Camera (Black) $99.95 | Free Shipping
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 Digital Camera (Orange) $249 | Free Shipping

Digital Photo Frame

Pandigital 7″ Digital Photo Frame $59.95 | Free Shipping

Polaroid

Polaroid 300 Instant Film Camera (Black) $64.95 | Free Shipping
Polaroid Grey Label GL10 Instant Mobile Printer $99.95 | Free Shipping

Sony Cameras

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 Digital Camera (Silver) $85.95 | Free Shipping

12/13/11 – Canon EOS 5D Mark II Body Under $2000

I just received a note from B&H saying that the Canon EOS 5D Mark II body is available right now for $1999.95. The 5D2 (as I prefer to call it – less typing!) is Canon’s 21 MP full frame DSLR that also can produce excellent HD video. This is the camera that I use for my own photography.

This price includes a “bundle” of other useful items, too:

SanDisk 16GB Extreme Pro CompactFlash Card
& Lowepro Adventura 170 Shoulder Bag
& Red Giant B&H Video Production Software Bundle

12/8/11 – Gitzo Tripod Rebate at B&H

I was just poking around on the B&H Photo site and I saw that there is a $40 rebate on one of the tripods I use: the Gitzo GT2542L Mountaineer 6X Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs. (There may be other Gitzo gear available under this deal as well – follow the link to this product and explore a bit when you get there.)

12/7/11 – Double Price Reduction on Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II at B&H

I just heard that site sponsor B&H has added its own additional “instant rebate” to Canon’s price reduction on the the 16-35mm f/2.8L II, a very fine lens for those who do low-light ultra-wide photography. When the $170 Canon “instant rebate” is combined with the $50 B&H “instant rebate,” the price of the lens is reduced by $220! If you have been saving up for this lens, this sounds like a great opportunity to me!

You may already be aware of a current Canon “instant rebate” promotion that has reduced prices on a very wide range of Canon lenses and Speedlites, including some very desirable equipment. The range of included products and the size of the discounts are both unusual.

11/28/11 – New Canon ‘Instant Rebate’ Prices at B&H and special offers from ThinkTank Photo

ThinkTank Photo Promotions – Site sponsor ThinkTank Photo makes gear for carrying and otherwise taking care of your camera equipment. I’m a fan of their Airport Acceleration Bag, my primary camera-carrying pack.

Buy any Think Tank Photo Retrospective shoulder bag and get money back! - “Between now and the end of December, whenever you order any of Think Tank Photo’s Retrospective shoulder bags, you will receive up to $20 back. The Retrospective bags are inconspicuous, soft-sided shoulder bags with a simple exterior that blends into the environment. They range in size from the Retrospective 5–which carries one standard size DSLR with one to three lenses or a complete Micro Four Thirds or rangefinder camera system—to the Retrospective 30, which holds two pro size DSLRs plus three to six lenses. Click on the “Support” tab on each Retrospective product page to download your rebate form. And don’t forget, in addition to receiving the rebate check from Think Tank, you also get to select gear to receive for free with your order when you order using my special code AP-534!”

BUY (or better yet) RECEIVE THINK TANK PHOTO GIFT CERTIFICATES - “Wondering what to give this holiday to your photographer friends? Or (hint-hint), wondering what to tell others to give you this holiday? Think Tank Gift Certificates are now available.”

Enter to win “A Gob of Free Gear”! – “With the help of several photo equipment vendors, as part of its In A Bag random drawing, every day from today through December 20Think Tank Photo will be dropping one or more free items into one of its huge Airport Security rollers. Over 40 photo equipment items and other fun stuff will overflow the roller. On December 21, one lucky person will win everything. You can enter once a day to win.”

New Canon ‘Instant Rebate’ Prices at B&H

I just saw another new Canon ‘Instant Rebate’ promotion at site sponsor B&H that features a lot of interesting gear at even lower prices than were available during the instant savings promotion that just ended. In fact, the selection of lenses and electronic flashes and the size of the discounts both seem unusually large. (It is a bit tough to see that I just bought a lens at $100 off under the previous offer… and it is now available at $150 off! I’ve heard a rumor that B&H may honor the more recent pricing if you call them, so I may give that a try.

Click the link to see the full list of eligible equipment and read more details. It runs from November 27 through January 7. (Making your purchase from B&H by clicking through these links helps support the blog and does not change your price. Thanks in advance!)

Here’s a quick summary – links go to site sponsor B&H:

Lenses (Note: This is an exceptional list of lenses and the discounts are larger than usual)

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Autofocus Lens (save $90)
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Autofocus Lens (save $170)
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens (save $60)

Canon Super Wide Angle EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM Autofocus Lens (save $240)
Canon Super Wide Angle EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Autofocus Lens (save $60)
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Autofocus Lens (save $180)
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Wide-Angle Autofocus Lens (save $150)

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens (save $100)
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Zoom Lens (save $120)
Canon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Autofocus Lens (save $120)

Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Autofocus Lens USM (save $180)
Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus Lens (save $40)
Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens (save $15)
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Autofocus Lens (save $230)
Canon 85mm f/1.8 EF USM Autofocus Lens (save $40)
Canon Telephoto EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Autofocus Lens (save $50)

Canon 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro Autofocus Lens (save $30)
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens (save $60)
Canon Macro Photo MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Manual Focus Lens (save $110)
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens (save $110)
Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Autofocus Lens (save $60)
Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens (save $170)

Canon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM Autofocus Lens (save $270)
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens (save $300) –> UPDATE: ADDITIONAL $100 SAVINGS <–
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens (save $150)
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens (save $150)
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Lens (save $75)
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM Lens (save $140)
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM Telephoto Lens (save $150)
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Autofocus Lens (save $170)

Canon Telephoto EF 135mm f/2.0L USM Autofocus Lens (save $110)
Canon Telephoto EF 300mm f/4.0L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens (save $140)

Canon 400mm f/5.6L USM Autofocus Lens (save $130)

Canon Wide Tilt/Shift TS-E 17mm f/4L Manual Focus Lens (save $260)
Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II Tilt-Shift Manual Focus Lens (save $230)
Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8 Normal Tilt Shift Manual Focus Lens (save $150)
Canon Telephoto Tilt Shift TS-E 90mm f/2.8 Manual Focus Lens (save $150)

Speedlites

Canon Speedlite 580EX II (save $50)
Canon 430EX II Speedlite (save $30)
Canon Speedlite 320EX (save $25)
Canon Speedlite 270EX II (save $15)
Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Ringlite Flash (save $60)
Canon MR-14EX TTL Macro Ring Lite Flash (save $45)

11/25/11 – BLACK FRIDAY DEALS

Craft & Vision is offering 50% off their whole photography eBook collection, including Michael Frye’s eBook Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom. Or you can get a $40 gift certificate for $20. All these discounts are today only. Michael also now also has iPhone and iPad versions of his Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite app.

More BLACK FRIDAY DEALS AT B&H

I just saw two really good prices at site sponsor B&H as part of their ‘Black Friday’ promotion – both on products that many serious photographs might want and both representing substantial discounts from usual pricing and even below typical sale prices.

The Canon G12 camera has been reduced to $379.00.

Adobe Lightroom for only $89.95 until 12:00 p.m. EST (?)

Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8 telephoto lens – $200 discount

NOTE: B&H is a site sponsor and the blog earns a small commission on sales made via links on this page. Also note that B&H is closed for a period this weekend. If it is your intention to buy though my links to help support this blog, please return to this page and click though these links to make your purchase rather than adding them to your “cart” at B&H. Thanks!

11/24/11 – BLACK FRIDAY CANON “DOUBLE REBATE” DEALS AT B&H.

Right on the heels of the previous “instant savings” promotion and as part of the seasonal Black Friday sales, site sponsor B&H has announced Canon Double Rebates on the EOS 60D, EOS 7D, and EOS 5D Mark II cameras and a wide range of lenses and electronic flashes when purchased as a package. Lenses include many L primes and zooms, speciality lenses such as macro and tilt/shift models, most of the better EFS lenses, and a few excellent non-L lenses. It looks like essentially all of the major Speedlite models are included. This extended Black Friday deal only lasts a short time – prices expire on Sunday, November 27 at 3:00 a.m. EST.

If you are considering a body and lens, these are some of the best prices you are likely to see. Some of the discounts are significant enough that you might even want to get that body/lens that you were just thinking about… To see the details of this promotion at B&H, follow this link.

11/11/11 –

Canon currently has an “instant savings” promotion on a number of lenses and speedlites through November 23, 2011. Here is a list of most of the qualifying products, with links to site sponsor B&H Photo. In many cases the “instant savings” price is considerably lower than the B&H “import” version of the product.

Lenses

Camera/Lens Kits

Speedlites

10/26/11 – B&H Photo has a couple of deals on Nikon equipment.

A limited quantity of the Nikon D700 is currently in stock,
Save up to $400 on Pro Nikon glass when purchased together including the 24-70,70-200,14-24 and more.
A limited amount of the Leica M9P is currently in stock. In Stock Limited Quantity

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