Difference Between Nikon Lenses Made In Japan vs Usa?
- Thread starter barns1
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RocketCowboy
Senior Member
I don't think there are any Nikon lenses produced in the US. Nikon does have products built in Japan, China, and Thailand (there may be others). Typically, the expectation has been that the lower end lenses use lower cost labor for their construction, but that doesn't seem to be as hard edged a line as it was in the past.
RocketCowboy
Senior Member
Sparky is on the right track ... this is probably a gray market vs US import question, more than where it was built. For most manufacturers, that does matter.
RocketCowboy
Senior Member
As long as it was a US model (Imported by Nikon USA), then yes. I'm basing this off your profile location being Missouri.
If you bought a gray market item, that warranty would not apply in the US, and some shops may not even service gray market equipment or may do so at a higher price (Sigma recently instituted this premium).
Fred Kingston
Senior Member
Older lenses were made in Japan... before the "globalization of manufacturing"... I have several. I'm not sure about the technical superiority of the optics, but the materials, and build quality of my Japanese lenses is better, than my newer plastic Thailand.Chinese made lenses. IMO
I doubt the build quality has anything to do with where the factory is located. I'm fairly certain Nikon Corp. tells the factories exactly how to make them.
Fred Kingston
Senior Member
3 of my plastic "newer" lenses have been back to Nikon for repairs. My 3 metal Japanese lenses have been fine for better than 30 years... Maybe I should rephrase my post to state that "I think Nikon had better quality lenses in the past when they were making them in Japan, as opposed to making them in other countries."
Is there a difference or not? From what I've read, gray vs US market items are produced side by side.
RocketCowboy
Senior Member
Yes, made side by side. The difference is strictly warranty ... Nikon USA will only warranty product that it imports, not gray market product imported through other means.
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MAYBE a lens sold in the US will have the letters US preceding the serial number. Not all US lenses do. I suppose this is because they produce x number of lenses they know are headed to the US, and the remaining ones probably won't be. But circumstances may dictate they take some of those 'non-US' lenses and package them up (complete with US warranty papers) to ship to US distributors.
But take a lens sold in the US and set it beside a lens sold in England, or France, or Brazil........... the letters US on the serial number MIGHT be the only distinguishing item (IF the letters are there at all).
I'm sure Nikon keeps track of the markets certain serial numbers are sent to. So if John Doe buys a lens in South Africa, then sells it to someone in Kansas, the poor slob in Kansas may send in his used lens to be repaired and get told one of two things: It's a gray-market lens and no warranty work will be done (and if out of warranty, they still will refuse to work on it no matter what, even if he offers to pay for the repair), or there will be an additional fee to repair the lens even if it's under warranty.
Given that Nikon's customer service sucks, and I've heard many stories about someone wondering if their lenses might be gray market because they bought them used (like the guy in Kansas) so they call up Nikon to find out only to hang up with no answers, you're kinda on your own when buying used glass. Heck, even my local brick-n-mortar store (which is an authorized Nikon dealer) can't call up Nikon and find out if a lens they have in their used gear display is a US model or not.
When buying used, you pays your money and you takes your chances.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
There are no manufacturing differences between white-market and grey-market bodies or lenses. None.
The difference between white-market and grey-market is the distribution path taken to get to your door.
It is this distribution path of grey-market kit that creates the warranty issue for it.
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That is my understanding as well.
captain birdseye
Senior Member
The warranty issue between grey and white market lenses is the reason I always think twice before buying used gear.
If using ebay for example, I contact the seller to ask which retailer the item was bought from and if it can be proven.
If the item is grey market I dont bother bidding.
If using ebay for example, I contact the seller to ask which retailer the item was bought from and if it can be proven.
If the item is grey market I dont bother bidding.