Hi everyone.

I live in the UK and have all of a sudden felt the urge to get a D700, mainly because I have a couple of weddings coming up and wanted to have a two body setup so I'm not constantly swapping lenses on the camera (existing camera is a D200).

So, I did a bit of research and looked at loads of photography sites. Eventually, found one that was cheap, and their feedback on "review" sites looked average, but the negative comments were kind of normal (camera out of stock, customer complains he hasn't received it, etc).

Also, as the price was quite good £1699 and offered a free copy of Nikon Capture NX, I was tempted. I emailed them to ask whether the cameras were sourced from Nikon UK for warranty purposes, and received a reply stating that all of their Nikon equipment is sourced through Nikon Europe.

Taking this into account, I went ahead and bought the body along with a SB-900 flash.

Today, I received it. However, it's fairly clear that the camera was originally for the Japanese market due to the japanese writing on the side, a "D700 (j)" note. Also, the instruction manual was a laser printer jobby which has been stapled together. It's fully complete, but about 3cm thick and not the proper bound booklet - no doubt because the one originally in the box is in Japanese. Finally, I can't find any Nikon Capture NX software. And, not surprisingly, there's no yellow Nikon UK warranty card in the box.

I did phone the customer services of the supplier, and they were very quick to brush me off with "don't worry, the body is sourced via Nikon Europe and we do provide a two year warranty, first is with Nikon. You have nothing to worry about".

I then phoned Nikon to enquire about the "legitimacy" of the camera, and they suggested I try to register it on Nikon UK's website. Apparently, if the camera is a grey import, the registration will fail. The serial number starts with 2, which would confirm a Jap model. But the registration went through OK.

My main concern is that if I had known that the camera was likely to be a grey import, if I went through and purchased it, I would have known it was an imported body and accept any potential consequences because of that.

But the matter of the fact is that I have no original manual, no software which was included (also written on receipt) and the fact I was kind of misinformed when I queried the origin of the body.

Of course, I have a seven day cooling off period, but I'm going to be out of the country for the next two weeks (doing the wedding shoots at the weekends). The supplier I purchased from assures me that they provide a two-year warranty, the first of which is handled by Nikon direct, the second by themselves. I'm not too sure whether Nikon UK would service it should a fault arise, and the ability to register the serial number suggests it would be ok, but all other pointers (no warranty card, no uk manual, jap serial number) just don't help the situation.

In a way, I regret buying it now, especially as I can pick up a D700 body from heathrow airport Tuesday morning for practically the same price, and I know it will be a proper UK model with everthing that goes with it. But I caved into the nicety of having it for this weekend and the wedding shoot.

So, bottom line, what would you do?

I'm thinking of asking for the Capture NX software in an email, and then judging by how that goes, use it as a further reason to send the camera back for a refund.

Are there any other consequences or suggestions you can advise. I wouldn't be that bothered if it was just a D40 - but as this is a "professional" bit of kit, I don't want to have any aggro down the line if ever I need service under warranty (whether handled by supplier or Nikon direct).

Sounds like you did get a grey market camera. I bought my first DSLR (D50) and this is the way it came. photo copied manual and so on. I did not know the difference till after a mouth use it that I got a grey market camera. It still worked fine and was a great first camera.

Now I know to stay away from the super low deals and only buy from an Authorized Nikon Dealer.

I would try to return it for a refund, but they probably won't reply because they now have you money.

Later,
David
http://davidthenikonuser.blogspot.com/

D700 | D300 | D60
28mm | 35mm | 50mm | 150mm Micro | 300mm
24-70mm | 70-200mm | 80-400mm | 200-400mm
TC1.4 | TC1.7 | TC2.0

You'll only need to worry about it if it breaks! And what's the worst case scenario.. an insurance claim? In any case, as Nikon accepted the registration I think that at worst you have a returned item that was never registered by the original owner.

I've found out the hard way with grey imports. If you want a UK product, don't go for the cheap stuff. 99% of it will be grey. In fact, I only buy from retailers that I know are official UK distributors now. Look out for stores offering their own warranty rather than from the manufacturer. Purely Gadgets are an example of this. Be wary of places that have stock (or say they do) of equipment when no one else has any.

Hello,

I totally understand your concerns on one hand, but on the other hand, who cares?

* You have a D700 today! Enjoy every second of it. You got a good deal, it seems, and you can make it better by starting to shoot NOW!
* You'll have a much better time taking pictures at the wedding with a camera you've been using for few days versus one you'd had just picked up en route.
* After skimming it for the 1st time, the manual is useless. I prefer the PDF version as I can search through it. Even better, check out: http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/d700/users-guide/index.htm
* I live in Bahrain, and my D700 (purchased locally) is "gray" to you and those in the US.
* The Firmware is identical on all Nikon cameras. The only difference is the default settings. E.g. my "View Mode" was set to Pal when I first switched my camera on. When I purchased a camera from the US, it was set to NTSC.
* The camera is brand-new (so it seems). Keep a copy of all your correspondence, and in case of a problem, you can refer back to them. Also, try to get something written from Nikon UK that if you register it, they'll warrant it.
* Personally, I'd continue using whatever software you're currently using for the D200. I don't like NX, but if they promised, they must honor their promise.

Good luck, happy shooting!

Hussam

Just remember that if you shoot RAW, that the plug-in you need for Photoshop is RAW 4.5, and this works on CS3 only (or maybe CS2 also). I don't know what other RAW converters are doing with D700 files.

Walter

f/8 and be there?....but I'm moving as fast as I can!

>Just remember that if you shoot RAW, that the plug-in you
>need for Photoshop is RAW 4.5, and this works on CS3 only (or
>maybe CS2 also). I don't know what other RAW converters are
>doing with D700 files.

Bibble reads them no problem ... they are very quick on updates.

On the camera issue I would get a full refund as the company is clearly a tad dodgy - saving a few quid just isn't worth the hassle that may occur longer term.

Hi,

"The serial number starts with 2, which would confirm a Jap model."

I don't think a serial number that starts with a 2 indicates a camera destined for the Japanese market. I live in Canada and the serial number of my D700 starts with a 2. My camera is NOT grey market, it came with the Nikon Canada warranty card and the English and French instruction manuals as do all Nikon cameras distributed by Nikon Canada.

Enjoy!

Randy

>Hi,
>
>"The serial number starts with 2, which would confirm a
>Jap model."
>
>I don't think a serial number that starts with a 2 indicates a
>camera destined for the Japanese market. I live in Canada and
>the serial number of my D700 starts with a 2. My camera is NOT
>grey market, it came with the Nikon Canada warranty card and
>the English and French instruction manuals as do all Nikon
>cameras distributed by Nikon Canada.
>
>Enjoy!
>
>Randy
Maybe the pattern doesn't follow D700, but I know that for D300, the serial numbers determine which region the camera is marketed for.

Edit: reading a few more posts on various other nikon forums, it seems clear that the first digit which identified the market for a D300 does not apply to the D700 - proper US bodies also have the 2xxxx number. Sorry for that...

Still, I'd like my free copy of Nikon Capture NX

I've emailed the company requesting it and enquiring about their returns procedure. Will decide what to do when I get a response.

>Still, I'd like my free copy of Nikon Capture NX

will not be of much help, unless you get NX2...

Welcome to Nikonians and sorry to hear about your experience. You do have an international warranty but not a local warranty. Keep a copy of the sales receipt to prove original purchase. If there is a problem, you will have to ship the camera to an international service center for service. And that is why I deal with a local dealer for over 20 years and who has been selling cameras for over 108 years.

George
My Nikonian Galleries

Who was the supplier?

I bought a D300 grey import but I knew I was doing it. In the UK Nikon will always be happy repair grey import cameras but you have to pay, so at least you know you will always be able to get it fixed.

Richard

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your trouble. Wanted to highlight a few things.

1. Nikon does not ship a full version of Capture NX2 with the D700. It did do so with the D3 & D300, but not with the D700. The trial version can always be downlodaded from Nikon's website.

2. There is no international warranty for Nikon Digital SLR bodies. Nikon only provides local warranty for the digital SLR body.

3. The registration at the Nikon UK site is useless without a Nikon UK Warranty card & sales receipt.

Given the above, yours is obviously a grey market body. I would not accept a grey market body, beacuse if something goes wrong, you end up spending a lot of money getting it repaired. Also since there is not a big price difference between the grey market and the authorised body, it does not make any financial sense.

I would return it to the dealer and ask for a full refund, since
1. He promised a Nikon UK body, but did not deliver the same.
2. He promised Capture NX, but did not give the same.
3. He promised Nikon UK warranty, but there is no warranty card.

It might be advisable to check the shutter count just to make sure it is not a used or demo set. Hope this helps.

Good luck.

Cheers,
Sandeep

Never say Die!

Thanks for your comments, Sandeep

I think I'm going to return it. I've not received any response to my email on Saturday - and today it's a bank holiday in the UK.

I know Nikon Capture NX needs to be version 2 to stand a chance, but I just tried it with a trial version and it looks like Nikon still haven't got the D700 programmed as it doesn't seem to work. Even the latest 2.2.0 update doesn't fix it. So the software's useless with the D700 body at the moment anyway.

Plan is to package it all up so my girlfriend can post it this week as I'm off to Paris tomorrow morning on business. But I have the option of buying a D700 UK spec at Dixons LHR for pretty much the same price. So if they have it in stock, I can check there and then that it's a proper UK version with English manuals, English box and all that, and then decide whether to buy or not.

If I do, then obviously I'll be returning my existing one as I can't afford to have two D700 bodies

If I don't buy it, and I don't receive a reply from the original supplier by Thursday when my girlfriend joins me in France, then I have the option of asking her to bring it along and I'll have to chase up the supplier to return it later.

I'm not too bothered about Capture NX - it's not exactly as if I could use it with the D700 anyway! But it was another incentive to purchase from this supplier and as they didn't provide it, another reason for the whole lot to go back.

If you use the body in France and put a lot of shots on it the supplier may refuse to accept the return as it's a used camera.

Hedley
Originally from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales -- now in Arkansas

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

nikon offer a free manual exchange in uk

send yours and they send a english one

its not unusual

the capture nx is a code on a piece of paper look closer for it..

if your pictures arent good enough
your not close enough..