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

One thing is to ask for a photo of the serial number, usually USA Nikon serial numbers start with a 3. It is also marked on sticker on the side panel of the box. Good luck.

OlinBost Loc: Marietta, Ga.

Nikon Camera Serial Numbers

Nikon has long used the first digit of the serial number to indicate region for many of their products (all the way back into the film SLR era). Traditionally, that first digit was used by Nikon like this:
1. Not used
2. Japan
3. USA
4. Europe (excluding UK)
5. Canada
6. Australia/New Zealand
7. Asia (excluding Japan)
8. United Kingdom
9. Not used
Don’t get locked into those values (read on for recent exceptions).
Initial production of a product was almost always a two-digit variant of that with the second digit being zero (e.g. 30xxxxx in the US). In a few cases, Nikon has used digits outside a region when production exceeds 999,999 units (see Note in next paragraph, though). That's why the second digit isn't just part of the serial number itself: it’s also reserved as a special region indicator, when needed. In other words, while US products normally would be 30, 31, 32…39 in initial numbers, Nikon has set things up so that they could make, say, a 25 region code that's US for a product (normally that would be Japan).
Note: it appears that Nikon hasn’t changed the number of digits in most serial numbers, which as product quantities increased in the digital age, caused Nikon to have to abandon the clear logic they formerly used and which the above table suggests.
It appears that Nikon has adjusted many of their previous serial numbers to give them plenty of room for US, Asian/Pacific, and European bodies. For example, with the D7100, Nikon started using the 25xxxxx code for the first US bodies. Since the US D7100 number comes after the initial number for the much smaller Japanese market, it makes some sense to "steal" some of the Japan numbers. But also oddly, we’re now seeing that a lot of other country serial numbers don't tend to have a 0 as a second digit, which is another departure for Nikon. As I keep updating this article, 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.
A few products, most notably the low volume top end pro cameras, use only the Japan-based serial numbers. Thus, you can have a D3 with a 20xxxxx serial number no matter where in the world you bought it (curiously, the D5 reverts back to the regional numbering system).
The same scheme often applies to lenses, though most US lenses are prefaced with the letters US these days and some recent lenses have longer serial numbers.
So where we stand is this: older gear clearly follows the original numbering practice in the table shown at the top of this page. The latest gear is much more complicated in how serial numbers are used. That said, a serial number with 0 as the second digit is almost always allocated according to the table, above.
As I noted two decades ago, Nikon really just needs to abandon this serialization practice. The primary reason it’s done is to enable Nikon to identify gray market cameras and deny warranty and repairs on them. In essence, Nikon’s trying to act like as series of local companies in a global environment.

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

actually 1 is for south american bodies

dean100 Loc: New-Biden did steal 500,000+ votes in OH

Great suggestion.

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

So, I called Nikon and the gal that I talked to said that a technician would have to tell me. That doesn't sound right but...

(Download)

IDguy Loc: Idaho

You can get a new USA Z50 for $60 more next month. Most think it has the same sensor. Plus other advantages such as pop up flash and silent operation.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

Interesting and FWIW, I checked my 4 Nikon bodies and 3 of them (2 bought used) start with 30, but bought a D7200 kit from a reputable camera store and the body serial number starts with 26, but the lens with 30. My Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 starts with US60, 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 US66, 60mm f/2.8 US61, nifty 50 US62, 600mm f/2.8 20.

haze63 Loc: Tiffin Ohio

1 Not used
2 Japan
3 USA
4 Europe (excluding UK)
5 Canada
6 Australia/New Zealand
7 Asia (excluding Japan)
8 United Kingdom
9 Not used
First # of the serial number

haze63 Loc: Tiffin Ohio

Sorry I see someone already listed.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

$800 is a great price for a D500. While I am not a great supporter of NikonUSA's militant efforts to manage the trade in used equipment, it is nevertheless true that modern cameras are very complex. The multi-piece design of the latest bodies means that they are necessarily quite a bit more sensitive to being dropped or handled roughly. If I were considering this camera, I would be less interested in the market status of the camera and much more interested in the overall apparent condition and how I judged that it had been treated. Has it been handled roughly? Does it appear to have been roughed up or jostled around? Is the lens mounting flange scratched or dented? Are the rubber grips torn, ragged, or loose?

Remember, a used camera for sale is a camera that for one reason or another someone doesn't want any more. Just like the case of a used car, that can sometimes not be a problem, and it can sometimes be a huge red flag. Part of buying used is discerning which of those is the case. We can't help you with that, because we aren't there. You'll have to do it.

A few years ago, I traded some unused equipment for a bundle of used Nikon digital gear. I didn't know as much then as I do now. One item that was in the bundle was a D300. It looked fine, except for some wear on the rubber grips. When I got it, I found that it wouldn't work with my older AF lenses. Examination revealed that the tab on the Aperture Interface ring was broken off. (The previous owner had apparently forced some older non-compatible lenses onto it.) Additional diagnosis revealed that the internal mechanism of that AI ring was also damaged. I was able to find a junker body including the damaged parts and make repairs. (That sort of project is something that I enjoy doing occasionally. It was otherwise not an economically feasible repair.) (A second body in that same bundle was a like-new D300s with low shutter count which still works perfectly today.)

Buying used can be a way to come up with really nice equipment and save quite a bit of money. Or not. But it does not come without uncertainty.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

The Nikon D7XXX, D3XXX, and D5XXX cameras exceeded numbering availability so Nikon "borrowed" some of the Japanese numbering allowances and started those cameras at 25XXXXX after the entire range of 3XXXXXX numbers had been used for USA production.

Bill P

I'm skeptcial about these kinds of statements. Why?

Bill P

Oops. 1. I have a Nikon 12-120/4. It was purchased as a refurb direct from Nikon USA. its serial number begins with US66. Did Nikon sell me a grey market lens?

2. I have a Nikon D3. I purchased it new from a pro dealer in Chicago. It was in the first shipment he got from Nikon USA. IIt included all the USA specific paperwork in the box. Its serial number begins with a 2. Is it grey?

mleuck

Why does it matter. You have no warrenty.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Hope you don't ever have problems, because IF the camera is gray market, Nikon USA and their authorized repairers will refuse to work on it, even if you're willing to pay for the work.

Nikon USA also won't sell replacement parts to unaffiliated repair shops, so there's good chance it won't be possible to get fixed anywhere else in the US either.

It may end up being a "big deal", if your gray market camera ever needs work.

Of course, not all repairs require replacement parts or generic items can be used (for example, light seal replacements, sensor cleaning or a simple focus calibration).

Some have been successful shipping their gray market Nikons to an overseas repairer. Of course that takes longer, adds cost and might be riskier.



That's true with most other brands of gray market.

But with Nikon, specifically, it's not just the lack of warranty. With Nikon USA's policies regarding gray market cameras and repair part availablity, it can mean "no repairs possible" or, at a minimum, a real pain in the arse getting a gray market camera fixed.