First, props to the OP for this excellent deal!

I've been contemplating a DSLR for some time but never really made up my mind. I own both of some older Nikon lenses and some newer Minolta lenses so I was split between a Nikon or the new Sony A100 when it's released. I'd been pondering this deal for a few days and decided to make the purchase today (since it was good through 7/3). Much to my chagrin, I returned home from a July 4th party to find that they ended the coupon at 11:59AM! As I look to see what the next deal is, it's now reduced to 10% off so I'm a bit disappointed. I then search madly for a possibly stackable coupon with no luck but manage to find a linky that was up for the 15% which basically just took you to a page with the banner for 15% off (coupon was dead though). To my delight, the banner said, "offer expires 7/3/2006 11:59PM MST" and it was about 15 minutes from that time. Using a wild whim (thrown in with lots of hope) I tried their Live Chat feature knowing that there was probably no chance at all that it was going to be open on July 4th at 12AM. Overstock CS guy answers my chat request about 15 seconds later and asks how can he help. I explain the banner situation and that I intended to take advantage of this offer. He then checks and sees that the coupon ended at 11:59AM actually. I show him the link where it says 11:59PM, and he tells me to give him a few minutes and then he credits my cart the 15% for the D50, no questions asked. I was very pleased, especially considering the offer was about to go down to 10%. Should also get the FatCash on this offer too. This D50 is going to make an awesome entry DSLR for me!

Thanks OP and FatWallet!

Did anyone see the Nikon 18-200 VR lens on Bestbuy this weekend for $809? 10% off I got home from my weekend trip too late and it was sold out. I wish I was home to get the deal.

Also, from what I heard, Nikon went back to the drawing board w/ the lens because of lens creep. So many stores are awaiting for the 2nd Gen of the VR lens. Not sure which gen BB sold.

Mine is from 212

Received the camera today. Initial checkup looks good. Shutter couter is at '0'. Wonder if the camera is never used or the counter was set to '0'.

I received it the day before yesterday. The shutter count was just over 200. I shot perhaps 200 more in the past two days.

First impression, too small for my hand. Maybe it's a result of my using Fujifilm S2 Pro and S1 Pro. I'll try to use it for a while, see if I can get used to it. If not, I guess I'll have to switch to a used Nikon D100 or D70 as a backup for my Fuji S2.

Camera is in perfect condition, though. I haven't found any defect.

daydaydvd said:To those who worried about refurbished item, especially how much the shutter had been used. there is a free software to check the times that shutter has been used.

http://www.opanda.com/en/download/index.html

get the free Opanda IExif & IExifPro -- Professional EXIF / GPS / IPTC Info Viewer.

Just take a jepg picture and use this software to open that picture, then you can see the shutter times in this software.

So, you will be sure of your toy.

Great link! Deserves a thread of it's own.

Now to the D50 - This base price is within 10% of what Ritz and I think Dell sell them new on occasion.

Lenses - If you need a PAS camera don't spend $500 on a DSLR - If you know photography almost any 35MM Nikkor lens will work. I've a D70 and bought my son a D50 for HS grad present. I've a 500MM cadiotropic lens I like to use to take pictures of birds FAR away. He prefers to use my manual 50mm for interior shots, and we both enjoy Nikon's inexpensive digital lenses.

We both are waiting for a price drop on the Nikon VR lens

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0607/06070701nikoncapturenxtrial.asp

Nikon just release its newest software to edit its raw image. Pretty strong, and it intergrets many functions only availble in photoshop before. It has 30 days trial.

If you use raw format. Nikon software is must. Nikon software can give a better quality even than photoshop in changing raw to jpg. Nikon has its copyright in his own raw format--nef. file.

By the way, nikon software has great batch processing function. thinking about you have 100 raw pictures after a day. Nikon can open and change them all to jpg in two clicks.

If you use jpg file only, then any software is right.

But why buy dslr, if only using jpg format.

ottawa1113 said:Received the camera today. Initial checkup looks good. Shutter couter is at '0'. Wonder if the camera is never used or the counter was set to '0'.

Not sure how you got either. Mine showed 24 shutter releases. Great price for a new refurb.

I've got a 18-200 VR lens coming this week too. Can't wait.

Is the shut counter called:"Total Number of Shutter Releases for Camera"?. Mine is one. If that is the case, how can it be? That is to say it has never been used. Strange.

Where is the best place to get a 18-200 VR lens?