jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's strange because several members have said they contacted Nikon Service asking about gray market serial numbers. They were told that they had to examine the camera, and they could not tell by the serial number alone, which seems odd.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

It can help but lately Nikon is changing numbers, but generally you will find the following. Look at the first number in the serial number for the clue.
1- not used
2- Japan
3- USA
4- Europe
5- Canada
6- Australia
7- Asia
8- UK
9- not used

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

So does Adorama. Look carefully for warranty information. If it says warranty by dealer. It’s most likely gray or if offers a Square Deal (I think that’s the name?), another clue.

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Thanks for the information, Jerry.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

pacman Loc: Toowoomba, Qld, Australia.

My wife bought me a Nikon D600 in 2013. Purchased through a Brisbane Australia outlet, but shipped from Hong Kong, with the serial number 9327094.

What have I got? A counterfeit grey market job? If it is counterfeit, it is one hell of a job. All the bells and whistles I have tried work as they should.

After a little research, I played back an image in Overview mode, and this indicated "D600", so apparently not a counterfeit. So what have I got?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

The only sure-fire way to not end up with a gray market item is to ask the question of the seller - so it is on the record that it is not gray. You may or may not get an answer from Nikon, but you will likely have better luck with one of their independent authorized service centers. If it turns out the seller made a misrepresentation, let the seller deal with it. You should get a complete refund, including the original shipping to you. If that doesn't happen, then PayPal will ALWAYS intervene on your behalf.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

As I said in my original post, Nikon has been changing their number systems. Nothing it seems is really carved in stone anymore. My list is meant as another means of identification but not to be used as gospel. The list is the latest I had from Nikon.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

You have a perfectly functional Nikon D600 with a s/n starting with #9. On the numbers: Old information; Nikon has been using 2 and 3 for 1st. US digit location/market identifier (and 2 digit combos) for a little while now due to so many mfg. and sold (or intended to be) here. Obviously 9 was used and is relevant now, 25xxxx became a US designation with the D7100 models (so now 2 is not exclusive to Japan), and other numeric location identifiers started to evolve with the 1st and 2nd digit in the last few years. The "location" soup appears to be growing. Putting a letter region identifier helps (I see this on some of my lenses), simply starting the S/N with US, EU, JA, SA, AU, would be much more helpful.

Other once unique to region numbers have started showing up in other places, Nikon keeps shifting to a very problematic (for customers) method of uniquely identifying region, especially in Europe, where they’re using previously Canadian and Australian numbers (e.g. 51xxxxx and 61xxxxx), and in Asia/Pacific, where they now use 6xxxxxx, 7xxxxxx, and 8xxxxxx numbers. It is becoming much harder for the consumer to ascertain target market/US versus Grey as these changes continue. As you have shown, they also use "9" now, but I don't know what region that is supposed to represent.

Technically, there is no difference in the product regardless of starting numbers, they all come off the same assembly line, and have the same parts, it is just "protectionism" for the retailers in a specific area (like USA), although the camera may come setup for another language, "wrench" menu change should cover language on most cameras.
Hope that helps.

relie Loc: Western Massachusetts

The star before and after the serial number show that it's a refurb. Don't be afraid of these as, Ive bot many of them and they all worked just fine.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

If Nikon would just carry the two or three letter "Market Region" designator to the front of the S/N on camera and lenses, it would be so much easier for all.

pacman Loc: Toowoomba, Qld, Australia.

Thanks Mike and, yes, it does help. photsynthesis.co.nz lists D610 models numbered from 9000001 through to 9133369 as possibly pertaining to China. When I read that, the penny dropped - China & Hong Kong, why wouldn't they now share the same identifiers?

Thanks.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Sounds likely, that is a huge growing market, there is new money in the region, they could suck up a ton of cameras (and think of the phones, wow). Anyway, enjoy your rig, should provide plenty of good hunting!