Need Some Photog Detective Work
Feb 22, 2023 19:08:49 #
MDI Mainer wrote:
For some UHH members it would seem that even holding a gray market camera in hand leaves an indelible stain on one's character. 
But there is a listing of stolen camera serial numbers:
https://www.lenstag.com/stolen/
But there is a listing of stolen camera serial numbers:
https://www.lenstag.com/stolen/
Where can I buy these cameras ?
Feb 22, 2023 23:54:59 #
Feb 23, 2023 06:33:28 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
jerryc41 wrote:
Is there a way to look up the origin or history of a serial number?
Yes
Feb 23, 2023 10:02:41 #
MDI Mainer wrote:
Any shady pawn shops near you?
And maybe Abe's of Maine.
Feb 23, 2023 11:06:38 #
Imagine the look on the actual owners face if you tracked them down and returned their property.
You'd be their hero...
You'd be their hero...
Feb 23, 2023 15:15:52 #
Sidwalkastronomy
Loc: New Jersey Shore
Capn_Dave wrote:
Any bets he got it from Abe's
I heard you get good prices from ABES
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Feb 23, 2023 15:16:42 #
Feb 23, 2023 15:20:01 #
Sidwalkastronomy
Loc: New Jersey Shore
I would check the stole sn on line but then are you returning the camera to the rightful owner even if it passed through a few hands and your friend might not have known history. You might open a can of worms you can't close
Feb 23, 2023 20:46:55 #
This is not the first instance of this situation with this particular camera model.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60267041
These seem to me the most plausible explanations:
In [this DP Review poster's] opinion, It's more likely your D850 is from a stolen shipment, but it could be counterfeit...
Sometimes employees at manufacturers will make extra units of a product at the end of the day's run to keep for themselves or sell cheap. If your D850 is a counterfeit, it would explain the number on the poor quality serial number sticker not matching the internal serial number. The product is the same as legitimate product with all the same parts,but the official company that ordered the production doesn't know about the extra units that were made and have no record of the serial numbers of the extra units.
In manufacturing there are always parts that don't meet quality control and are destroyed, if a few employees want to make a few extra units, they just mark off additional parts as destroyed.
This has been a problem for decades with smaller, valuable items.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60326381
Or that it [was] one of a bulk sale from Nikon to a major customer, such as an agency, which has been sold on in contravention of the terms of sale, and that the S/N switch has been done to cover the tracks.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60327353
Or that the production factory itself conspired to manufacture and sell unauthorized but otherwise authentic units.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60329873
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60267041
These seem to me the most plausible explanations:
In [this DP Review poster's] opinion, It's more likely your D850 is from a stolen shipment, but it could be counterfeit...
Sometimes employees at manufacturers will make extra units of a product at the end of the day's run to keep for themselves or sell cheap. If your D850 is a counterfeit, it would explain the number on the poor quality serial number sticker not matching the internal serial number. The product is the same as legitimate product with all the same parts,but the official company that ordered the production doesn't know about the extra units that were made and have no record of the serial numbers of the extra units.
In manufacturing there are always parts that don't meet quality control and are destroyed, if a few employees want to make a few extra units, they just mark off additional parts as destroyed.
This has been a problem for decades with smaller, valuable items.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60326381
Or that it [was] one of a bulk sale from Nikon to a major customer, such as an agency, which has been sold on in contravention of the terms of sale, and that the S/N switch has been done to cover the tracks.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60327353
Or that the production factory itself conspired to manufacture and sell unauthorized but otherwise authentic units.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60329873
Feb 23, 2023 21:49:01 #
JeffL
Loc: New Jersey
MDI Mainer wrote:
This is not the first instance of this situation w... (show quote)
Brilliant answer! Thanks.
Feb 24, 2023 00:27:22 #
JeffL wrote:
Brilliant answer! Thanks.
You're most welcome. It's an interesting case. In any event you have the camera (which by all accounts is a great model), you have the memory of your friend and you should enjoy them both.
Feb 24, 2023 08:56:21 #
MDI Mainer wrote:
This is not the first instance of this situation w... (show quote)
That I call genuine counterfeit. Since Nikon owns the factory I don't think it would happen often but a lot of companies that don't own their factories and contract all their production out to a contract manufacturer. These manufacturers may make a lot of extras and sell them cheap. These products are of exactly same quality but outright illegal.
Feb 24, 2023 09:58:23 #
BebuLamar wrote:
That I call genuine counterfeit. Since Nikon owns the factory I don't think it would happen often but a lot of companies that don't own their factories and contract all their production out to a contract manufacturer. These manufacturers may make a lot of extras and sell them cheap. These products are of exactly same quality but outright illegal.
In my prior life I had some dealings with a US company that was acquired by a Japanese conglomerate. I'm sorry to say that the attitude of the Japanese managers could best be described as that of a bunch of overlords -- haughty, condescending and dismissive of the locals.
This Nikon plant is located in Thailand. I have no idea about Nikon's management approach, but it would not surprise me if there was some local resentment against the corporate structure, especially since I'm sure the locals were not paid as well as their Japanese counterparts.
Feb 24, 2023 12:16:46 #
MDI Mainer wrote:
In my prior life I had some dealings with a US com... (show quote)
Sure any company would have some resentment from the employees as well as some bad employees to begin with. But with contract manufacturing that would happen more often.
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