Need Some Photog Detective Work: I was trying to learn as much as I could about my Nikon D850, which I bought from the widow of a departed friend. I tried to connect via Bluetooth to...

JeffL Loc: New Jersey

I was trying to learn as much as I could about my Nikon D850, which I bought from the widow of a departed friend. I tried to connect via Bluetooth to Snapbridge on my iPhone, but the app kept showing a serial number different from that on the camera body. Upon closer inspection i found that a model/serial number plate had been pasted over the original plate. The pasted plate has a different serial number, and the original plate has the same as depicted in Snapbridge. First of all, I can't figure out whether this is a US or grey market camera, or why the change in the serial number. The camera only has 2262 shutter actuations and comes with several lenses and accessories. I'm confused! See the images:

This is the overlaid plate
This is the overlaid plate...

(Download)

This is the permanent plate with the? real? serial number.

(Download)

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

JeffL wrote:

I was trying to learn as much as I could about my ... (show quote)

I hope you got a good deal on it .
Looks like you're stuck with it no matter what. Did your friend buy it New ? if so maybe you can find out where he bought it.

JeffL Loc: New Jersey

I bought the camera, speedlight, AF NIKKOR 28-200 3.5-5.6 ED, AF NIKKOR 24-85 2.8-4 D, AF NIKKOR 35-70, AF NIKKOR 50 1.8D, AF NIKKOR 24-120 3.5-5.6D, and a Tamron, motor drive, a bunch of accessories, and a Lowenpro backpack for $2,000. The camera works perfectly. I guess I got a good deal.

walkurie Loc: East Stroudsburg, PA

JeffL wrote:

I bought the camera, speedlight, AF NIKKOR 28-200 3.5-5.6 ED, AF NIKKOR 24-85 2.8-4 D, AF NIKKOR 35-70, AF NIKKOR 50 1.8D, AF NIKKOR 24-120 3.5-5.6D, and a Tamron, motor drive, a bunch of accessories, and a Lowenpro backpack for $2,000. The camera works perfectly. I guess I got a good deal.

It is a UK camera according to Tom Hogan's website

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

JeffL wrote:

I bought the camera, speedlight, AF NIKKOR 28-200 3.5-5.6 ED, AF NIKKOR 24-85 2.8-4 D, AF NIKKOR 35-70, AF NIKKOR 50 1.8D, AF NIKKOR 24-120 3.5-5.6D, and a Tamron, motor drive, a bunch of accessories, and a Lowenpro backpack for $2,000. The camera works perfectly. I guess I got a good deal.

Did you look up used prices before you purchased?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

JeffL wrote:

I bought the camera, speedlight, AF NIKKOR 28-200 3.5-5.6 ED, AF NIKKOR 24-85 2.8-4 D, AF NIKKOR 35-70, AF NIKKOR 50 1.8D, AF NIKKOR 24-120 3.5-5.6D, and a Tamron, motor drive, a bunch of accessories, and a Lowenpro backpack for $2,000. The camera works perfectly. I guess I got a good deal.

The 'D' lenses all work great on the D850. They do not retain AF for if / when you select a mirrorless digital camera someday in the future, as they need an internal focus motor for the AF. The D850 has this feature. The FTZ adapter (literally F-mount To Z-mount) does not have this motor for use of these older lenses on mirrorless Z-mount cameras.

But, mirrorless isn't the issue. Regarding your perfectly fine D850, this bundled price is good to great when we consider the lenses too. Don't worry about if the camera should ever have a problem as most do not ever.

User ID

CHG_CANON wrote:

The 'D' lenses all work great on the D850. They do... (show quote)

It seems that the Right to Repair federal legislation is enroute to success, which would mean that altho Nikon USA could still refuse to service your camera, major independent shops will have access to all parts and diagnostic tools.

The force behind the R2R legislation is, acoarst, not Nikon users. Its large scale agricultural operations. John Deere is as "unfriendly" (greedy ?) as Nikon.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

One possible explanation is that the camera was stolen before your friend purchased it.

The 'real' serial number will be in every picture taken by the camera, part of the EXIF.

Open the file in your editor, seek file info…

User ID

Rongnongno wrote:

One possible explanation is that the camera was stolen before your friend purchased it.

The 'real' serial number will be in every picture taken by the camera, part of the EXIF.

Open the file in your editor, seek file info…

This is using PS CC sample…

The OP had already obtained a computer generated authentic S/N, per the opening post, using SnapBridge. Just read it there and-or view his attached photos.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

User ID wrote:

The OP had already obtained a computer generated authentic S/N, per the opening post, using SnapBridge. Just read it there and-or view his attached photos.

Right.

I went to the Nikon site and the numbers do not exist.

The 'last' step it to check the camera number as seen by Snapbrige, since he already got it.

Bill_de Loc: US

Rongnongno wrote:

Right.

I went to the Nikon site and the numbers do not exist.

The 'last' step it to check the camera number as seen by Snapbrige, since he already got it.

Would that only give you NIKON USA info?

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kmielen Loc: Eastern NC

Can the widow shed any light in the sourcing mystery? Does she remember about when it was purchased and from whom? Did they live in Europe or travel there to buy? The 88XXXXXX is reported by Roland's pages to be for the Middle East market. The overlay sticker s/n is not in his listing at all.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Bill_de wrote:

Would that only give you NIKON USA info?

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Nikon, they have a page where you can check your camera number.

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/About-Nikon/Search.page?q=9107156&currentPage=1&facet=Overview

MDI Mainer

User ID wrote:

It seems that the Right to Repair federal legislation is enroute to success, which would mean that altho Nikon USA could still refuse to service your camera, major independent shops will have access to all parts and diagnostic tools.

The force behind the R2R legislation is, acoarst, not Nikon users. Its large scale agricultural operations. John Deere is as "unfriendly" (greedy ?) as Nikon.

Independent automobile repair shops too. The car manufacturers have been trying to steer service on contemporary models exclusively to their authorized (and pricey) dealerships, by restricting access to diagnostic information generated by on-board computers. Maine voters will soon vote on an initiative to outlaw that practice.

Capn_Dave

Any bets he got it from Abe's