Nikon D3000 body only for $260? Worth it?

Friend is selling me his Mint condition Nikon D3000 body only for $260 cash. Is it worth it for the price or am I being overpriced?

Down here they are $499 with the starter lens. Go for it.

If it's working, it isn't bad.

Find out how much a lens will cost you (18-55mm at least) before you commit, though. $260 is a good price for a working camera, but rather high for a paperweight.

Not a deal at all.

You need to know what the pricing is for new and refurbished (new - but factory reconditioned) cameras go for.

The problem you are going to have is that there are not a lot of used 18-55mm lenses on the market because that lens is usually offered as a kit (as it was with the D3000), and consequently, there are not many used lenses around by themselves.

For the D3000, in the used market, the lens usually goes with the camera, so you will not find many used lenses without the camera. This means you will likely have to buy a new lens if you want a 18-55mm lens.

While you don't need to go with that lens, it is a good starter lens for the D3000. If you want the VR (vibration reduction) version of that lens, they are around $200.So now you are at $460 for a new lens and used camera - which is way too much.

If you are lucky enough to find a lens on eBay or Craig's List, now you have a used lens of unknown condition, and a used camera of unknown condition, and will only know if it will work when you have both items - seems like a lot of hassle to me.

You can get a refurbished D3000 WITH VR LENS from B&H for $359, considerably less than you will have to pay for a used D3000 and new lens.

Refurbished cameras are new; but can be a demo, return, or other reason - but they are checked out by Nikon factory techs (at least the ones from Adorama, B&H, and reputable camera stores are). They just can't be sold as new, but they are better than used, and have a 90 day warranty.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...amera.html

This is a better deal.

Your friend is probably wanting to keep the lens for a new camera (unless it was damaged), but show where you can get a new-refurbished camera and lens for $359, and they might want to rethink selling you the lens too.

I would offer your friend no more than $300 for the camera AND VR lens. Otherwise, I would spend the $359 at B&H and get a new-but-refurbished camera and VR lens, which would have a 90 day warranty.

This is a fair price and if your friend is reasonable, he will see that it is. He can't go by what he paid for the camera, he can only go with what it is worth now as it is two models old - and has been replaced by the D3100 and now the D3200.

Also, B&H has a refurbished D3000 body only without a lens, and with 90 day warranty for $279.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...amera.html

Since you are buying a used camera, even if you check it out and it works fine (and you will need a lens to do that), without the lens, it would be worth less than $200 in my view.