Nikon Corporation, founded in 1917, is famous for its digital cameras and accessories; and the Nikon brand is associated with quality and craftsmanship. As with any large, respected brand, fakes and reproductions of many nikon do exist. Unfortunately, many fakes are almost impossible to spot. Consumers need to arm themselves with the knowledge required to identify fakes, in order to avoid costly purchasing mistakes.
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Verifying the authenticity of a Nikon camera is not easy. It involves checking the camera, the paperwork, and the packaging. Consumers should always try to get a look at all these elements before committing to a purchase. This is obviously much easier in face-to-face transactions, but online shoppers should always check descriptions carefully, study photographs, and contact the seller with questions. Purchasing a used camera makes this even harder; often, the original retail box and printed materials are no longer available, making it impossible to use them in the authentication process.
Nikon products ship in sturdy boxes, printed with the camera's model number. In some cases, there is also an embossed model number. The label on the box's side panel should contain the Nikon logo, the model number, and the serial number.
Nikon manuals feature high quality printing and ink. Manuals with blurred or unclear text may be cheap reproductions. Nikon cameras also ship with warranty cards. If there are spelling mistakes on this card, or the serial number does not match the serial number on the camera and the original packaging, there is a chance it is fake.
Every Nikon camera has a serial number. With a few notable exceptions, the serial number appears on the bottom of the camera.
Model | Location of Serial Number |
Coolpix 100 | Beneath the battery pack |
Coolpix 300 | Under the battery cover |
Coolpix 950 | On the side |
D3X, D3S, D3 | On the back on the right side of the display |
D2Xs, D2X, D2Hs, D2H | On the back on the right side of the display |
D1X, D1H, D1 | On the back beneath the display |
The serial number is normally six or seven digits. It should match the number on the warranty card and retail packaging.
Nikon cameras are high quality. Consumers should check a camera carefully to ensure screws fit flush and that there is a good finish on the metal components. Rough edges, abrasions, poorly fitting components, and loose or broken screws are all signs of a fake. Poor workmanship is particularly noticeable around the camera mount.
Manufacturers normally work with a single importer that sells and supports products in a given region through a distribution channel. In the case of Nikon digital cameras, the sole importer for the United States is Nikon Incorporated USA. 'Gray market' refers to any product imported and sold through methods other than the distribution channel. These products are genuine Nikon products, rather than fakes, but they may not meet local government manufacturing requirements; they may have power cables that are not compatible with regional outlets, and documentation may be in a foreign language.
As gray market cameras are genuine Nikon products, they are often difficult to spot. Some people may purchase such a camera without even realizing it, particularly people buying used cameras. Generally, a gray market camera is significantly cheaper than a camera sold through the correct distribution channel. This is one of the most obvious signs to watch out for. Additionally, consumers should note that a camera sold through Nikon Incorporated USA includes English documentation and power cables with U.S. plugs. Cameras shipping with photocopied or poorly translated documentation may be gray market.
Gray market cameras may not function correctly in the region they sell in. Additionally, Nikon Incorporated USA does not provide any form of support for such cameras. This means the company does not provide technical support, warranty services, fee-based repairs, or software updates and downloads. Purchasing a gray market camera may result in savings in the short term, but it costs more in the long term, as it is difficult to get repairs or updates.
There are many reliable sellers on eBay selling genuine new and used Nikon cameras. To find what you are looking for, use the search function that appears on every page. Using a general search criterion, such as 'Nikon camera' returns many search results for you to consider, while a more specific search phrase, such as 'Nikon Coolpix camera' returns a more focused set of results. After searching, you can use eBay's filters to refine the results based on price, location, and item condition. Remember to read lot descriptions carefully. Do not be afraid to ask the seller for additional information or more photographs.