Desmo2007
First off, the camera itself is a fantastic camera. If you are looking for an entry level DSLR, you cant go wrong with this one, especially since it has the same "important" features as its newer version for less money. The D5600 seems to be about the same, but adds things like bluetooth, snapbridge, and I believe a slightly improved battery. I ended up going with the D5500/D5600 over the less expensive D3300/D3400 because of the additional focusing points, which I felt might be more forgiving to a new user. All in all, this is a 5-star camera. But why the 3-stars? There are other versions of this camera on Amazon that are certified refurbished ( Nikon D5500 24.2 MP DSLR Camera With 3.2-Inch LCD 18-55 mm VR DX Lens (Black)(Certified Refurbished) ) for a little bit less money. The higher price and description of this one gave off the impression that it was new, and since my wife felt a little bit better about getting new over refurbished, we went with it. HOWEVER, the camera that I received was NOT new, but was in fact a refurbished unit, and was not certified (I.E. no warranty). You can tell a refurbished model by the serial number. Refurbished units have two little imprints on either side of the number, and new ones do not. See the attached photo (I blurred out the serial number, but you can see the imprints I mention). The same goes for lenses BTW. The camera itself was in impeccable condition. There was really no way of telling it wasnt new, apart from the serial number marks and the box looked to be repackaged. Also there was no user manual, just a bad quality scan of the Nikon website to obtain an electronic copy of one. However, I was irked considering I had paid a premium for a new camera and received one that was refurbished and not certified. Had the seller been able to provide proof of certification AND a refund on the difference between it and the certified version, I would have had no issue with keeping it, but the certification was not available, and I returned it. SO, MY SUGGESTION IS: Since this a discontinued model, contact whatever seller you would be getting the camera from and ask them to verify if it is new or refurbished. That way you can make an informed decision about what route to take here. PLEASE NOTE: I know these reviews are not supposed to be about the seller and it drives me nuts when people use them for that. I just felt in this circumstance it was important to note, since I thought it could help someone avoid some hassle in the future. Hence not mentioning the specific seller here, as they were very reasonable and understanding during the returns process (I.E. they didnt charge a restocking fee as they normally would).
