Nikon instant rebates return for D700, D300s, D90, D5000 and D3000

These camera manufacturers are driving us crazy. Nikon has now relaunched their instant rebates, just like Canon did. This set of Nikon instant rebates are good until December 12, 2009.

If you are not familiar with these, all items must be sold by Amazon.com (not third-party sellers), and you must see the instant rebate discount in your "Amazon Checkout" page, otherwise you won't get the discount. See an example at the bottom.

Latest Update: Monday December 7 at 10:01pm EST time

IMPORTANT: The Nikon 70-300mm lens is BACK from Amazon.com, so the instant rebate promotions mentioned below that utilize the 70-300mm VR lens are ALIVE again!

DOUBLE DIP ALERT: The Nikon D5000 is actually eligible for both the $200 off and $100 instant rebates. See the breakdown in this D5000 double instant rebates breakdown.

Advanced Nikon DSLRs
+ Nikon D700 body-only + 70-300mm VR = $2400 + $512 - $200 instant rebate = $2712

+ Avoid the D700 + 24-120mm bundle! The 24-120mm lens on its own goes for $529, while the D700 + 24-120mm kit goes for $3000. Thus, $2400 + $529 = $2929 vs $3000

+ Nikon D300s body-only + 70-300mm VR = $1533 + $512 - $200 instant rebate = $1845

+ Again, avoid the D300s + 18-200mm VR II bundle, since it costs more! That kit costs $2428, while the Nikon 18-200mm DX VR II goes for $812. Math majors are badly needed in the retail world! If you buy individually, $1533 + $812 = $2345 vs $2428. Amazon, you sell calculators - use them!

+ Nikon D90 body only + 70-300mm VR = $810 + $512 - $200 instant rebate = $1122

+ Nikon D90 + 18-105mm DX VR + 70-300mm VR = $1032 + $512 - $200 instant rebate = $1344. In this case, LOVE the kit, the 18-105mm lens on its own goes for $360. $805 + $360 = $1165 versus $1032 for the KIT. It's like getting the 18-105mm DX VR for $227 in the bundle.

Affordable Nikon DSLRs
+ D5000 body only + 70-300mm VR = $552 + $512 - $200 instant rebate = $864

+ D5000 w/18-55 DX VR + 70-300mm VR = $642 + $512 - $200 instant rebate = $954

+ The D5000 also qualifies for the $100 off instant rebates below with the 55-200 DX VR and non-VR lenses below, so you have four different combinations to chose from.

+ D3000 w/18-55mm DX VR + 55-200mm DX non-VR = $465 + $157 - $100 instant rebate = $522

+ D3000 w/18-55mm DX VR + 55-200mm DX VR = $465 + $224 - $100 instant rebate = $589

Example of how the Amazon Checkout page should look
If you are not familiar with the Amazon instant rebates, below we have a screenshot of how your Amazon Checkout page should look like. If you don't see the discount there, it means there is something wrong, and DO NOT proceed. We are using the D90 body-only + 70-300mm instant rebate as an example.

$795 for the body only + $552 for the 70-300mm VR makes it $1347. The -$200 is the instant rebate discount. Current prices may be slightly different as the example is an older price-snapshot.