Some sites are reporting that NikonUSA rebates will be extended another month, but that's not quite right. While there's another month of rebating in store (pardon the pun), the rebates are changing, mostly for the worse at the DSLR end.
Here's the basic 411 for DSLRs:
- 16-35mm, US$300 rebate with D300s or D700 body.
- 18-200mm, US$250 rebate with D300s body.
- 24-120mm, US$200 rebate with D300s or D700 body.
- 24-70mm, US$300 rebate with D300s or D700 body.
- 55-200mm, US$50 rebate with D3000 or D5000 body.
- 70-200mm, US$400 rebate with D300s or D700 body.
- 70-300mm, US$100 rebate with D90, D300s, or D700 body.
- SB-900, US$100 rebate with D300s or D700 body.
The D3000+18-55mm gets a US$50 rebate most, but not all, of the month. The D5000+18-55mm gets a US$50 rebate every other week. The D90 or D90+18-105mm gets a US$50 rebate the week of July 4th. Overall, slim pickens, and you have to watch carefully on the dates for these last few. So even the D90 body, which is near end of life, isn't seeing much discount love. Summary: fewer rebates overall, tighter body purchase requirements, and lower rebates on a few items.
It appears that Nikon is mostly "happy" with their current sales levels. Just a note to Nikon: "happy with" and "optimal profit" are not the same thing. Just a thought...