Z6 III hits all-time low, X-H2 drops $220: 5 deals (May 29)

Nikon Z has been the cheapest full-frame mirrorless system on MPB for seven consecutive days. Today the Z6 III joined the Z5 in simultaneous decline — the first session where both the entry-level and enthusiast Nikon bodies sit at all-time lows at the same time. 12

The outside story is Fujifilm X-H2: floor dropped $220 overnight as inventory nearly doubled from 14 to 26 units — a batch-intake event on a body that has never appeared here before. 3 The X-T5 is rebounding (+$30 floor, second straight day), so the X-H2’s collapse stands out as the session’s surprise.

Canon RF holds steady: RF 24-105mm f/4 L at $984 on 96 units. 4 Canon EF 24-70/2.8L II page returning 404 — removed from today's list.

6-month range: New all-time low. Previous floor: $1,859 (May 28). Dropped $30 overnight to $1,829. 31 units (up 3). 1

Why it's low now: Z6 III (24.5MP partially stacked CMOS, 6K 60p raw-capable video, 9 fps mechanical, Z-mount) launched at $2,499 — 27% off at $1,829. The $30 drop is the first Z6 III price movement in this window; the Z5’s seven-day slide has pulled the enthusiast body down with it. The $1,829 floor unit is behind MPB pagination; all 8 visible units are $1,949 Like New (2,082–9,242 actuations, under 5% of the 200,000-actuation rated life). Confirm the floor unit’s grade and count before ordering.

Red flags: No model-level defects. "Partially stacked" (Nikon's own term) means not a fully stacked design like the A9 III — expect some rolling shutter in fast-pan video.

Pull trigger or wait: High confidence buy. First price break, inventory rising — continued downward pressure likely. Pull the floor unit’s SKU, confirm grade, move.

Pair it with: Z 50mm f/1.8 S at $369–$414 (59 units) 5 — $2,198 pro kit.

6-month range: $529–$769. Floor at $529 for three consecutive sessions (cumulative −$150 over six days from $679 on May 25). 29 units (down 2 from 31). 2

Why it's low now: Z5 (24.3MP full-frame, 5-axis IBIS, dual SD slots, $999 MSRP in 2020) is at 47% off. Floor broke to $529 on May 27 and has held three consecutive sessions — consolidation, not freefall.

Shutter count: The $529 unit is not visible in the default sort (cheapest visible: $729, SKU 3898139, Like New, 34,873 actuations — 17% of rated life). Pull the specific SKU page to confirm count; a comparable May 27 floor unit carried 3,273 actuations. 2

Red flags: No batch defects. Known spec limitations: no top LCD, no USB-C charging on original batches, 4K capped at 30fps.

Pull trigger or wait: High confidence buy. Three consecutive days at the same floor with sell-through — real demand absorption. Cheapest full-frame mirrorless at any credentialed US dealer today.

Pair it with: Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 at $169 (26 units) 6 = $698 kit, or Z 40mm f/2 at $179 (33 units) 7 = $708 prime kit.

6-month range: $1,509–$1,799. Floor dropped $220 overnight from $1,729 (May 28); inventory jumped from 14 to 26 units. First appearance in this column. 3

Why it's low now: Inventory doubling plus a $220 reset is a batch-intake signature, not gradual softening. The X-H2 (40MP X-Trans V, X-mount, 7-stop IBIS, 8K 30p, 4K 120p, 500K-actuation mechanical shutter) launched at $1,999; 25% off at $1,509. The X-T5 is simultaneously rebounding at $1,519 — the two bodies have crossed price points today for the first time.

Shutter count: Floor unit grade not confirmed — hidden behind pagination; cheapest visible is $1,699 Excellent. The $190 gap implies Good or Well Used at the floor. Verify the SKU page. 500K-rated shutter means even 100K actuations leaves 80% of life.

Red flags: No model-level defects. X-H2 is still-focused; X-H2S is the stacked-sensor speed body. Check the floor unit is not Spares & Repairs before ordering.

Pull trigger or wait: Buy — confirm grade first. Genuine first-time low on a batch-intake event. 40MP + 500K shutter makes this a compelling studio and landscape body at $1,509 even in Good grade. Confirmed Excellent? Best single buy on the board today.

Pair it with: X-T4 ($1,029 floor, 12 units) 8 is the lower-res alternative. For glass, XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 is widely available on MPB.

6-month range: S9 floor $1,019 holds for a second consecutive day (32% off $1,499 MSRP). S 20-60mm floor $159 holds for a second consecutive day (73% off $599 MSRP). Combined: $1,178 for a full-frame 24MP kit with 6K video and a weather-sealed standard zoom. 910

Why it's low now: Both floors have held 48 hours, confirming this is not a one-day event. The S9 (24.2MP, L-mount, compact body, Real-Time LUT, PDAF) is the entry point to L-mount full-frame. The 20-60mm's 73% discount is the deepest percentage drop of any full-frame lens on the board today. The S9 sold one unit overnight (17 to 16) — the floor is absorbing demand.

Shutter count: S9 is electronic-shutter only — no mechanical shutter, no actuation count. Zero wear to measure.

Grade note: Neither floor unit is visible in MPB's default sort. Inspect individual SKU pages — check the 20-60mm's front fluorine coating specifically.

Red flags: No model-level defects on either item. S9 rolling shutter in fast pans is a known electronic-shutter tradeoff.

Pull trigger or wait: High confidence buy for the kit. $1,178 is the lowest point to enter full-frame L-mount on MPB in the current monitoring window — body plus weather-sealed zoom for $321 below the body's retail price.

Pair it with: Lumix S 50mm f/1.8 at $249–$284 (35 units) 11 if you prefer a prime; S9 + 50mm f/1.8 = $1,268.

6-month range: $1,679–$1,899 on MPB. Floor holds for a third straight day (brief dip to $1,629 on May 26, recovered to $1,679). 187 units (up 2 from 185 — inflow slowing from +10 the prior day). 12

Why it's low now: The A7 IV (33MP BSI CMOS, E-mount, 5.5-stop IBIS, 4K 60p, 200K-rated shutter) is in a 187-unit glut with a stable floor — settled, not a fresh break.

Shutter count: MPB does not surface counts in the listing header at this inventory level. Request count for your SKU.

Red flags: No batch defects. MPB restructured Sony URLs overnight (old /sony-a7-iv is 404; this article uses /sony-alpha-a7-iv). IBIS horizon-tilt drift reported in some high-actuation units on community forums — not a confirmed service bulletin.

Pull trigger or wait: Buy — floor looks stable. Three consecutive days at $1,679 on 187 units means this is where demand and supply are meeting. The A7 IV is not going to drop significantly from here in the short term. If you need a 33MP E-mount body, this is the entry window.

Pair it with: FE 50mm f/1.8 (110 units, $142 floor) 13 for a $1,821 full-frame kit, or FE 85mm f/1.8 ($149, 53 units) 14 for portraits.