JR69 Loc: Wolverine Michigan

New member here. Been reading this forum for months, with many interesting topics. Here goes. I want to buy Nikon 300mm f2.8 g VR model # 2154 built between 2004-2009. Found a few on line in great shape, (90+%) one of which is in Japan. So grey market OK. No warranty. It is out of warranty anyway. But I find out that a Nikon or a Nikon repair facility wont even work on it & can't order parts if it is grey market.. KEH Camera has one but they wont tell me for sure it is american or grey. Called Nikon (Melville) with serial numbers and they won't tell me. They won't give me a telephone number or email address to Nikon Service. They tell me to send the lens in for service and they will let me know if it is a lens or a boat anchor. Called Midwest Camera downstate Michigan and they tell me the same thing. I don't want to spend 3K and find out a year from now no one will work on it. Now, that being said I have 7 Nikon lens mostly bought thru Adorama or B&H, and none of them have ever gone in for service. Body's yes but not a lens. So my photog friends, Grey market or not grey market, or does it make a difference.

BlackRipleyDog

B&H has the VR II version on their site right now for just about $2100 new and it is a USA model.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=644741&gclid=CjwKEAjw8OLGBRCklJalqKHzjQ0SJACP4BHrJxxd4IDWWEN7rW88tTv_8i-x6_BpbQBGS6trsP74ahoCYubw_wcB&Q=&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876%2C%7Bcreative%7D%2C%7Bkeyword%7D&is=USA&A=details

BlackRipleyDog

If you were considering an older AF-D lens, I would have no qualms about taking a chance on a grey market lens as there are minimal delicate components that can go wonky and any repairs could be made by someone who is handy. The newer stuff with AF-S motors and VR; not so much. A lot to go wrong and Nikon does control parts and service for those lens. It may hit the pocketbook a little more but I think the 5 years you get with a USA warranty is worth the extra 10 to 15 percent you might pay over a lens you acquired overseas.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Gray Market is risky. I wouldn't spend 3K on gear, not knowing if it was Gray Market or not. I read on this forum last year, that certain camera repair shops in the USA will repair select Nikon camera gear. If you buy a Gray Market camera, lenses, and it was well taken care of, it could go for many years without needing a repair. But, you are rolling the dice on that decision. Buying lenses or cameras on eBay, are likely to be Gray Market. Some are really good deals. Especially from Asia.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

So what does that 70-200mm F2.8 have to do with the 300mm F2.8 the OP is asking about?????

BebuLamar

The link is for the 70-200mm f/2.8 and this lens is much less expensive than the 300mm f/2.8

JR69 Loc: Wolverine Michigan

Yes I allready have the 70-200 f2.8 VRII

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

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brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

I believe at one time, Nikon prefaced all serial numbers with 'US' if it was a US lens. Seems they've abandoned that. But, if you use Google, I believe there are charts showing serial number assignments to specific countries. Good luck!! I understand that lens to be stellar.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Check this site out for Nikon Lens serial numbers http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

BlackRipleyDog

Sorry about that. My bad.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Short of actually sending a lens to Nikon for evaluation, there is only ONE sure way to tell if it is USA Warranty, and that is if the seller has its original warranty card that has the lenses matching serial number on it.

Nikon bodies are much easier as the first two digits of the bodies serial number will tell you what worldwide market they were imported to. SOME of Nikon's lenses actually use"US" preceding their serial number, but by no means does not saying "US" tell you the lens was grey market.

ALL Nikon USA Warranted bodies will have serial numbers starting with 25XXXXX through 39XXXXX. Any numbers starting with any other digits were never properly imported for sale in the USA and Nikon will not work on them directly. HOWEVER, Nikon does authorize Nikon APPROVED repair centers to work on many grey market items AND Nikon original parts are made available for those repair centers without penalty or limitations. Most of the products on that authorized gray market repair list are no longer in production by Nikon. Parts for items still in production are NOT provided by Nikon for gray market versions under any circumstances, so any parts for them need to be sourced from the open market with no assurance they are not counterfeit.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

JR69 Loc: Wolverine Michigan

MT Shooter, Yes I do think you are correct. Been googling trying to find info for 3 days and talking to Nikon to no avail. Seems Nikon is too busy working on there U.S. equipment. Perhaps I am using the wrong equipment??

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

There are a number of places that may fix that lens, try this one, Camera Repair 1-800-645-6687 M-F 8-5 EST.