Nikon 600 VR II

I have been trying to purchase this lens for nearly a year. I am finding that even if you know somebody in the business, it is still very difficult to find. I am aware that Nikon does not make very many and that they are in high demand. One reputable dealer in the SW told me:"we get 18 every month but we sold out this month to the sports photogs covering the superbowl. We'll call you next month..."
Well, next month it was the World Cup. So I'm dealing with 3 vendors including B&H where I have done a lot of business for 40 years and I can't get anywhere. I'm getting frustrated. And I am sure there are others who feel the same way. Nikon can easily sell a whole lot more $1000 lenses than $10,000 lenses so why should they care? Any suggestions?

David,

Whenever I am looking for a specific, hard to find lens, I often have luck dealing with Gary Farber at Hunt's. They do waiting lists and he and his assistant (Catherine, I think?) have always taken care of me with personal phone calls. Let him know I sent you. Good luck!

Drew

I checked Hunt's web site and as with the 3 other vendors I already deal with and as with many others in major cities in the USA that I have checked online, it is the same story:" this item is out of stock""this item is back ordered" etc... I have read the gossip on the net, Thom and others, Nikon simply doesn't want to produce these items because of the cost in this economy... So I am getting the impression, that unless you have real good connections, meaning you are a pro sports or wildlife photographer working for someone who will get their images published somewhere, one has very little chance of getting one of these lenses.

I won't jump on your bandwagon. In the 35 years we've been shooting Nikon, certain items are always hard to get, at least for the first year or two after release. I heard it explained once that they only produce some things for a short period each year based on forecasts of demand. I tend to believe that, because following a period without the product, the market is suddenly flooded with it and all backorders are filled.

We've been shooting professionally for almost 30 years now, and our studio business will celebrate it's 20th anniversary in 2011. We buy lots of Nikon gear, owning as many as 6 of some bodies and 4 of some lenses we use a lot. But that doesn't give us any inside track on the scarce items. We stand in the same line as everyone else.

It doesn't do you any good today, but I'm betting the next production run of 600's isn't too far down the pike since you've been looking for one almost a year.

Hey David

Try Allen's Camera in Eastern Pennsylvania. Excellent folks and highly recommended.

Allen's Camera.

Cheers

Carl