foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

What is/are the difference(s) between a USA verses a Import model of Nikon DSLR camera body?

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

The non-USA or grey market model isn't intended for the U.S. and so it doesn't come with a warranty. In fact, Nikon won't even work on a grey market camera even if you pay for it. Otherwise, I don't believe that there is physically any difference. Just one was intended for the U.S. market and the other wasn't. They get around tariffs and other fees when imported, so they're cheaper. But--buyer beware, and be aware of what you're getting into should you need repairs.

BebuLamar

There may be some slight differences physically but not that one is better than the other just that more suited for the region they are supposed to be sold to.

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

Thank you. I remember back in the day when using film cameras I was told not to but anything that did not have the gold oval "Passed" sticker on it. I am going to upgrade to a D7200 and saw one advertised at a good price but it was a Import model.I will only be looking at USA models from here on out. It seems as if the old adage "You only get what you pay for" applies here too.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Interesting, in Los Angeles there are enough independant Nikon repair facility so it does not make a difference. I had a D810, that was sold in the U.K, rebuilt. I have a suspicion that they have parts bodies that they strip as needed.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Close, but not correct. Today a 'Direct Import', one imported into the USA by Nikon USA, and a "non-USA', 'Grey' or 'Imported' version are exactly the same. If Nikon USA is not the importer, then they do not warranty the product, nor will they work on it. If such a product fails during the warranty period. it must be shipped to the country of original import (if you can determine that) or Japan. These, most often called 'grey' units are not snuck into the country and they are not illegal in any way, they just don't carry a warrantee from Nikon USA. Many sellers of 'grey' market products will advertise a USA warrantee to make you believe you will get a warrantee from Nikon USA, but such a warrantee is, at best, from a third party. Since Nikon USA will not even supply repair parts, these items will, most likely, take much longer to get repaired. It's only fair that Nikon USA springs for the warrantee on those items it sells. It's like asking your Chevrolet dealer to work on your KIA while it's under warrantee and not charge you for the repair.

So? What's the deal? If you don't expect your camera to need repairs and/or if you're comfortable waiting extra time for any needed repairs, go ahead, save a few bucks. If it represents your income, or is important to you in some other way, stick with the ones imported by Nikon USA.

I hope that I did a decent job of explaining all this. You can also look on the B&H website for an even better and more detailed description. B&H, by the way, sells both versions. They also do a good job of marking 'grey' or 'imported' items, as does Adorama. Best of luck.

Joe Blow

Very close.

Nikon USA is an American company with the exclusive right to import and sell Nikon cameras in America. Under American law, Nikon USA can not stop anyone else from importing and selling the same product from another country. But, only Nikon USA can claim to be the authorized dealer and importer.

Nikon USA is separate from Nikon Inc, the manufacturer. Nikon Inc doesn't issue the warranties, the importer (Nikon USA) does. As you point out, Nikon USA has no warranty for non-Nikon USA imported products because they are not Nikon USA product.

The Nikon products all come off the same assembly line. The only differences in the box would be in the type of battery charger; 110V or 220V, and the manual. While Canon does change their names for different countries, Nikon doesn't.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

One of the best and most concise threads I have ever read here - answered the question, progressively with more information, without anyone telling the OP to only buy one or the other, or to spend more money, or telling their own personal horror story from decades ago, or getting off topic, or being snarly. Thanks from me too - I knew about 2/3s of the info but learned much more, thanks to UHH's great members.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Some times its worth the risk. I saved over $200 on a $498 USA lens. It looks great, works great and the only difference is a white box vs red.

As for warranty, in over fifty years of using nearly all the major brands of gear never once used the warranty. BTW it speaks the same language as my cameras...they get along flawlessly.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

Actually you get exactly the same thing except for a warranty tied to a serial number which is a marketing issue imposed by Nikon US. This means that if you buy a D850 either grey market or US it will be exactly the same camera with all its design faults/features etc. So your D850 came off the same product line but might have a serial number of 1234500. It might be a "grey market" product. The serial number before it, 1234499, goes to the US. Leaving aside things like power plugs and choice of kit lens etc the camera is exactly the SAME. To address another issue here have you been in a hardware store and been asked if you want to purchase an additional 3 years extended warranty ? You may decide no you will take your chances. Well you buy a US camera and you DID pay the extended warranty and you had no choice. And if you decide not to purchase the extended warranty you don't even have the option of staying with the standard manufacturers warranty that you would have with an appliance.
It's about time that Nikon, and others, had a worldwide warranty. Although if Trump takes the US into a bout of world isolation then it might be different. I presume that you haven't seen the prices increased yet due to tariffs on overseas sourced aluminium ?

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Outside of a warranty....nothing. If you need some sort of repair under a warranty period you would have to use a private repair service and pay for the repair. Other than that it's all the same.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

The import model was not licensed or intended for use in the USA. This means that no repair facility will be able to get Nikon parts to fix or repair that camera if it malfunctions. Not only that, most, if not all repair facilities will refuse to work on it... at any price. The cameras are identical but the difference is in support. The import model, had it been purchased in Europe, Asia or anywhere outside of the USA/Canada would only come with a 1 year parts and labor warranty and no "extended warranty". The same is also true of "import" Nikon Lenses. The additional issue is that if you purchase a Non-USA model, it would be extremely difficult for you to resell that camera/lens in the future.. unless you go outside of North America. You have to remember that there is only one "legal" workaround to this issue for residents of the USA and Canada... If you purchase the camera/lens while on a trip or stationed overseas, or if you are a Nikon user visiting from overseas, and you can provide NikonUSA with a copy of your travel tickets, hotel bill or other documentation covering the time of purchase, the camera equipment will be repaired at the USA facility under the provisions of the non-usa warranty... meaning that the camera warranty will be 1 year from date of purchase but you would be able to pay for the repairs … if you can't prove that the camera was purchased A: while you were living outside of the USA Canada area, on a trip.. with a copy of tickets, hotel bill or other documentation.. then the camera/lenses will NOT be repaired at any cost. This is because of the agreement that Nikon USA has with their vendors … also it is because USA cameras get a 3 year warranty and lenses a 5 year warranty and the non-usa equipment gets a 1 year warranty.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Actually... you are only partially correct and you are letting your politics and anti-Trumpness get in the way of facts. Yes, they are EXACTLY the same except for power plugs/chargers. And the USA version comes with the "extended warranty" included. Also, this is a way for Nikon to protect it's USA venders (which pay a premium for each camera over their non-USA competitors -not to mention exchange rate of currency) from outside competition. We are already complaining about cheap "Asian" steel putting American Steel workers out of jobs, cheap agricultural products from South America, Europe, and Asia hurting American farmers, Electronics manufactured in Asia with cheap labor putting American electronic workers out of jobs... and now you complain because NikonUSA is actually forcing you to buy "American"?... you can't have it both ways.

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

Here are the basics.
If you buy an import (gray market) DSLR camera, Nikonus.com (the official importer of Nikon to the US) will not do warranty work on your camera nor will be do repair work on your camera once your warranty is over. If you want warranty work done on your camera you will have to send it back to the country of import.
That is why gray market camera's are cheaper. YES, SOMETIMES YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Pony up big boy and be happy.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

Actually I don't have any politics (that would mean anything to you anyway) because I don't live in the US and I have absolutely nothing against Trump that I wouldn't have against anyone else taking the US down a wrong road. Perhaps I should add that this is my opinion only (free speech and all). Time will tell how long it takes the US to build back it's credibility.
And not being in the US Nikon USA is not forcing me to buy American - did you not read the bit about being forced to pay for extended warranties ? Here a lot of the larger hardware stores try and sell extended warranties but I guess the success rate for this would be about 1-2%. And yet in the US you seem happy to let US Nikon force about 99% of your camera buyers to do just that.
One of the down sides to capitalism is to charge what the market can bare.
I once tried to buy an update to my Nero software online from Germany because it was offered (update cost $100). I got forced to their Australian website and they tried to charge me $120 for the same update. So obviously I was being made to pay for the cost of their Australian office which was adding no value to the software. I don't use Nero anymore.
I do feel (to a degree) for your steel industry. You have to wait until the standard of living of your competitors rises and they no longer have access to cheap labour. It is not as far away as you might think.