so im basically obsessing over the z8 right now because im planning this huge wildlife trip to costa rica in early 2027 and i really wanna have the gear sorted way before then but honestly prices are just all over the place. i was looking at some old threads on dpreview and people were saying the z8 might see a massive drop once a z9ii or something comes out but i havent seen anything concrete for the 2026 holiday season specifically. im trying to stay under like $3400 for a bundle with maybe the 24-120mm lens because i dont want to carry a million things through the rainforest tbh and that lens seems like the sweet spot. i saw some refurbished deals on the nikon site recently but they sell out so fast it makes my head spin and i kinda missed the boat on the last spring sale. im based in oregon so i dont have sales tax which helps the budget a bit but im just worried that by late 2026 the bundles might actually be worse if they start pushing a newer body instead or if stock just gets low. do you guys think the big retailers like bh or adorama usually do better bundles for black friday or should i be looking at more niche shops to find a real steal? has anyone heard any early whispers about what nikon is planning for their 2026 promos?
So funny you ask — last summer I was obsessing (a bit too much) over the Nikon Z8 Body and found these:
Wait — that’s how I snagged my Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S!
To add to the point above: I disagree that waiting for Black Friday 2026 is the best strategy. Nikon flagship prices stay high even after newer models launch. $3400 for that specific bundle is lowkey a stretch even without sales tax. I have been watching videos on gear protection for tropical climates lately. Last time I traveled to a humid area my backpack grew mold within three days. I spent hours scrubbing it with vinegar. I ended up buying a dry cabinet because the humidity stayed at 90% and I was paranoid about my sensor glass. It is crazy how fast gear can fail in those conditions if you are not careful. Anyway lol sorry I went off on a tangent there.