Nikon USA serial number?

jdee · Oct 16, 2008

Hi,

I just bought a d700 off of ebay. The price was very good especially with the live.com cashback deal. Because it's not through an authorized dealer I'm guessing the warranty is void. That being said I wanted to make sure it was a US model so I could at least get it repaired if needed down the road.

All signs point to it being a US model except maybe the serial number:

it's got an oval Nikon USA sticker inside the battery area

All manuals are in english and spanish

has US warranty slip (no registration card though, did they stop doing this?)

Has oval Nikon USA sticker on side of box

Sticker serial number on box matches camera.

That being said, my serial number starts with a 2 which from what I read is usually a Japanese model. Can anyway with a US model confirm that their serial number starts in 2 as well?

Thanks!

ahsan · Oct 16, 2008

I bought my D700 from amazon.com and my Serial number starts with "2".. USA version..

Michael60866 · Oct 16, 2008

My D3 starts with a 2 as well.
--
Mike in Minneapolis
http://www.pbase.com/mmingo
http://www.twincitiesphotography.com

jdee · Oct 16, 2008

Thanks Guys!

jaxe · Oct 16, 2008

Belgium D3... starts with a 2...

Thom Hogan · Oct 16, 2008

jdee said:
That being said, my serial number starts with a 2 which from what I

All the Sendai-made cameras have serial numbers starting with 20.

--
Thom Hogan
author, Complete Guides to Nikon bodies (19 and counting)
http://www.bythom.com

Thom Hogan · Oct 17, 2008

Thom Hogan said:
jdee said:

That being said, my serial number starts with a 2 which from what I

Click to expand...

All the Sendai-made cameras have serial numbers starting with 20.

Just a clarification since someone asked me privately: yes, Sendai has used numbers other than 20 in the past. Right now they're using 20xxxxx for everything. What happens when they reach 99999 units I don't know. In the past they've done different things.

More to the point, on the pro equipment Nikon doesn't usually regionalize the serial numbers. For example, on US DSLRs the serial numbering system usually starts with 30xxxxx. Other regions of the world get different leading numbers. But right now, only the Thailand plant is producing regionalized serial number cameras, the Sendai Japan plant is not.

--
Thom Hogan
author, Complete Guides to Nikon bodies (19 and counting)
http://www.bythom.com

shuncheung · Oct 17, 2008

Thom Hogan said:
Thom Hogan said:

All the Sendai-made cameras have serial numbers starting with 20.

Click to expand...

Thom Hogan said:
Just a clarification since someone asked me privately: yes, Sendai
has used numbers other than 20 in the past. Right now they're using
20xxxxx for everything. What happens when they reach 99999 units I
don't know. In the past they've done different things.

I was the one who asked Thom via e-mail to clarify this, as my D2X has a serial number 503xxxx.

martint_1976 · Oct 17, 2008

My D3 has a 20xxxx number, bought in the UK
--
http://www.occurphotography.co.uk

Jeff Morris · Oct 17, 2008

Regardsing lenses, Nikon USA told me if they start with a "2" they are Nikon USA lenses. But this was a kid and I had to explain to him that many USA lenses do not say US on them.
--
Regards,

Jeff Morris / Homecinemaman

Adams, Gutmann, Steichen, Snoopy, Stigletz, Weston. they lead by example.

I hunt, I peck, I squint, all on a Dell M1210 12.1' laptop. So don't laugh, I'm happy there aren't more typo's!

Irwin · Oct 17, 2008

jdee said:
Hi,

I just bought a d700 off of ebay. The price was very good especially
with the live.com cashback deal. Because it's not through an
authorized dealer I'm guessing the warranty is void. That being said
I wanted to make sure it was a US model so I could at least get it
repaired if needed down the road.

All signs point to it being a US model except maybe the serial number:

it's got an oval Nikon USA sticker inside the battery area

All manuals are in english and spanish

has US warranty slip (no registration card though, did they stop

doing this?)

Has oval Nikon USA sticker on side of box

Sticker serial number on box matches camera.

That being said, my serial number starts with a 2 which from what I
read is usually a Japanese model. Can anyway with a US model confirm
that their serial number starts in 2 as well?

Thanks!

Just because you didn't buy it from an authorized dealer doesn't mean the warranty is void. As long its a US model, the warranty is fine. Register it online and if it takes, it's fine. All signs point to it being a US model.
--
http://imageevent.com/isewake

lofling · Oct 31, 2008

Sorry for bumping the thread, but I wondered if what happened?

Was it a US model? If so, I would think that the warranty is ok. Nikon states that the key is that you need a receipt from a US dealer. They don't say authorized dealer.

I am wondering this myself, since I might buy off e-bay if the warranty is valid.

http://fling.zenfolio.com

camerashy · Nov 1, 2008

how can you tell from the serial number when it was manufactured.
Dave
http://www.pbase.com/dav4184
for equipment see profile

flyingdutchie · Jan 6, 2009

Thom Hogan said:
Thom Hogan said:

jdee said:

That being said, my serial number starts with a 2 which from what I

Click to expand...

All the Sendai-made cameras have serial numbers starting with 20.

Click to expand...

Just a clarification since someone asked me privately: yes, Sendai
has used numbers other than 20 in the past. Right now they're using
20xxxxx for everything. What happens when they reach 99999 units I
don't know. In the past they've done different things.

I had my D700 sent in for repairs 3 times for the same issue. Now Nikon has sent me a replacement camera. It's serial number starts with '21'.

--
Happy Snapping!
Anton Spaans,
http://www.streetsofboston.com
http://blog.antonspaans.com

AML13212 · Jan 6, 2009

to ensure that it was a US model.

They answered right away and told me that there is no way to tell from the serial number whether it was US or not. The support person looked it up on the computer and was even able to tell me who the dealer was.

IF you buy it on EBAY, suggest you get the serial number and call Nikon.
--
Equipment in Profile

Bob GB · Jan 6, 2009

You can always have the equipment repaired if you pay.

hmac · Jan 6, 2009

Bob GB said:
You can always have the equipment repaired if you pay.

Unless it's grey market. In that case, it's Nikon USA's policy to not repair it under any circumstances.

No, Nikon Authorized Repair centers have only limited access to parts and manuals for Nikon's digital imaging products, specifically dSLRs, therefore it's unlikely you'd be able to get a grey-market dSLR repaired in the USA at all.

Dan Desjardins · Jan 6, 2009

Nikon USA will not, by policy, repair gray market cameras/lenses. I've heard reports that some people have successfully gotten their equipment repaired, but I've also heard many nightmare tales of people who were forced to send their camera back to the country of origin to secure a repair.

Take a look at this link from Thom Hogan:

http://www.bythom.com/warranty.htm

Bottom line, anyone who tells you Nikon will repair Gray Market cameras based on their personal experience is one voice in 100-thousand. Yes - some people have gotten their cameras fixed, others weren't so lucky. With new digital cameras you really need Nikon to fix it, not some third party. You have to decide, is it worth the risk. Do not assume Nikon USA will fix your camera.

Bob GB · Jan 6, 2009

Yes, I know, in undeveloped countries everything can happen.
But, just think for a while, if someone travels and need repair.

Petruska · Jan 7, 2009

Grey market and USA models are identical regarding parts and manuals to repair them.

Nikon USA serial number?

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