Nikon F3 Serial Numbers / Production Dates

[RonVol]

Welcome to the NikonGear! Do feel at home! Sorry I don't have and F3 but appreciate your effort to keep track of the changes etc

Is that a 13mm on your Avatar?

Thanks for the welcome Erik 

Yes, that's a 13mm in my avatar............well spotted!
It was part of my collection as of a few months ago. After 6 years; unfortunately it was time to part with it.
The lens now resides in southeast Asia somewhere.

[Erik Lund]

Super nice product shot!

[Bjørn Rørslett]

First time shooting spring flowers with my 300 mm f/2.8 AIS and the (then new) Nikon D1. My colleagues were green with envy.

[null]

For 1999982-It does have "CE" Stamped in it.

2000126 is "61VRN", and has CE stamped on the baseplate. Both of these cameras have "CE" on the boxes. I bought both at the same time, the latter is my back-up still in the box. My 1983 F3AF just kept going.

[null]

Hi Brian,
Sorry, I don't know about the F3 SN list that you are referring to.
My list is the first time I've ever seen such a list. I don't know of anyone that has anything similar.
All the lists I've seen to date are simply serial numbers, they do not show the date/production codes and the corresponding information associated with those codes.

Many years ago someone maintained a site with a list of F3 serial numbers and asked for dates of purchase. I had entered mine in with the purchase date. I cannot find this list on the Web as of today, I suspect it is defunct. Too bad, it had a lot of F3 SN's on it.

[Lorne]

Ron,

My F3 HP is s/n 1978027, production code 57V0, and does have CE on the baseplate.

[RonVol]

For 1999982-It does have "CE" Stamped in it.

2000126 is "61VRN", and has CE stamped on the baseplate. Both of these cameras have "CE" on the boxes. I bought both at the same time, the latter is my back-up still in the box. My 1983 F3AF just kept going.

Thank you for confirming that info Brian.
Both of your cameras have quite high serial numbers.
I haven't seen CE stamped on an F3 box before.
If you could post some images, that'd be much appreciated.

[RonVol]

Many years ago someone maintained a site with a list of F3 serial numbers and asked for dates of purchase. I had entered mine in with the purchase date. I cannot find this list on the Web as of today, I suspect it is defunct. Too bad, it had a lot of F3 SN's on it.

Yes, I know of the site to which you're referring.
Unfortunately that list is useless as it only shows purchase dates, not production dates.
Some of the dates associated with the serial numbers were shown as being years apart.

In fact; that useless list was the one that inspired me to do something better and more accurate 

[RonVol]

Ron,

My F3 HP is s/n 1978027, production code 57V0, and does have CE on the baseplate.

Thank you Lorne 
Your F3 body is the earliest that I've seen with the CE stamp............May 1997.

[null]

Thank you for confirming that info Brian.
Both of your cameras have quite high serial numbers.
I haven't seen CE stamped on an F3 box before.
If you could post some images, that'd be much appreciated.

The F3AF box was with the F3HP box, also an unusual label thrown on.

F3 Boxes by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

[RonVol]

The F3AF box was with the F3HP box, also an unusual label thrown on.

Thank you Brian, much appreciated 

[Matthew Currie]

My F3AF is serial # 1658418, the code is 14VK.  It does not have a CE stamped on it.

[RonVol]

My F3AF is serial # 1658418, the code is 14VK.  It does not have a CE stamped on it.

Hi Mathew,
Thanks for the info.
Are you sure that your camera is an AF body?
Serial numbers for AF bodies start with 83XXXXX.

[Matthew Currie]

Hi Mathew,
Thanks for the info.
Are you sure that your camera is an AF body?
Serial numbers for AF bodies start with 83XXXXX.

Sorry, brain glitch while posting.  I meant HP and typed AF.  It's just a plain HP.

[RonVol]

Sorry, brain glitch while posting.  I meant HP and typed AF.  It's just a plain HP.

Thanks for confirming the info Matthew