A project for Nikon F3 and FM2 camera owners...

SoiDog · Feb 14, 2015

I have an F3. There is a serial number on the top right, near the hinge like you say. The first four digits are 1748xxx. Where do I find the alphabetic characters? Inside the film chamber? If so, I have a bit of film to burn before I can have a look, but will do.

Cheers,

SoiDog

John_Nikon_F · Feb 14, 2015

It'll be behind the hinge for the back.

Ned, your buddy's camera is an August 1989 build.

-J

NedL · Feb 14, 2015

Thanks!

andrew.roos · Feb 15, 2015

FM2n
N 8232xxx
02BC

ronnies · Feb 16, 2015

Is the production date list up on Sover Wong's website yet? I couldn't find it when I looked today.

Ronnie

Kawaiithulhu · Feb 16, 2015

Finally remembered to chime in, hope this helps:

F3P
hinge: 7402
serial: P 9003

John_Nikon_F · Oct 27, 2015

ronnies said:
Is the production date list up on Sover Wong's website yet? I couldn't find it when I looked today.

Ronnie

Not yet.

Re: Kawaiithulhu's F3P: July 1984 looks to be the date code. I'm guessing that they must've made a few P bodies between July and August 1984. Serial jumped to 9005346 in August of that year.

-J

accozzaglia · Oct 30, 2015

Nikon F3HP:
Serial: 1748xxx
Inside: O5VL

John_Nikon_F · Oct 30, 2015

^October 1985.

-J

trythis · Mar 22, 2016

Zombie thread! Interested in what you find regarding this camera.
Just picked up a FM2 (early with the X200)
Serial: 7160***
Inside:N2MC

Is that November 1982?

John_Nikon_F · Mar 22, 2016

Yessir.

-J

IN468 · Mar 23, 2016

F3 HP
Serial 1888xxx
no code inside

John_Nikon_F · Mar 24, 2016

IN468 said:
F3 HP
Serial 1888xxx
no code inside

You are looking at the area where the back's hinge is, right? That's where the code is on an F3. The FM2/FM2n bodies have it inside the film chamber. Anyway, the body is likely from 1989-90, if the wind-side top cover hasn't been swapped.

-J

IN468 · Mar 24, 2016

oh sorry, 79VM at the hinge my F3

my FM2N - No 8539xxx inside 56DF

spoof · Mar 24, 2016

F3T: T8209 (serial), 63TA (inside)
F3HP: 1604 (serial), 63VJ (inside)

rwreich · Mar 24, 2016

FM2n

7261
D3PC (where the film can is seated)

John_Nikon_F · Mar 25, 2016

^December 1983. Yours is very early for an FM2n. Nikon phased out the early FM2 and started producing the FM2n around August-September of that year. The early FM2n bodies are a little different than most, having the early FM2 shutter (non-replaceable shutter curtain blades), and the FM-style nameplate font (less bold than the later bodies). Other than that, the bodies are the same as the later ones, through 1989.

-J

John_Nikon_F · Mar 25, 2016

IN468 said:
oh sorry, 79VM at the hinge my F3

my FM2N - No 8539xxx inside 56DF

F3 is July 1989. Not a problem.
FM2n is May 1996.

spoof said:
F3T: T8209 (serial), 63TA (inside)
F3HP: 1604 (serial), 63VJ (inside)

Both are June 1983. Wouldn't surprise me if they happened to be made during the same week, or maybe even the same day.

-J

rwreich · Mar 28, 2016

John_Nikon_F said:
^December 1983. Yours is very early for an FM2n. Nikon phased out the early FM2 and started producing the FM2n around August-September of that year. The early FM2n bodies are a little different than most, having the early FM2 shutter (non-replaceable shutter curtain blades), and the FM-style nameplate font (less bold than the later bodies). Other than that, the bodies are the same as the later ones, through 1989.

-J

That's really interesting - thanks for the info! Mine does have the honeycomb shutter if that makes any difference... It's a really terrific camera (perfect exposures and mechanically very smooth. I should get the foam replaced and have it cleaned, though.

nolanr66 · Mar 28, 2016

I just picked this FM2n up today from a Craigslist seller.
Nikon FM2n serial number n 8628..
Inside number 97DF

Any information would be appreciated. Chrome model, smooth shutter.

John_Nikon_F · Mar 29, 2016

That one would be a September 1997 body. Final version.

-J

nolanr66 · Mar 29, 2016

Thank you

John_Nikon_F · May 12, 2016

Still looking for serials and date codes...

-J

CMoore · May 23, 2016

I have two F3. One of them is very hard to read.
1. 1598 53VJ
2. 1566
HA2
HA3
HAZ
followed by what looks like a backward letter D

John_Nikon_F · May 24, 2016

The second one should read D2VH.

The 1598xxx body is May 1983. The 1566xxx body is December 1982.

-J

A project for Nikon F3 and FM2 camera owners...

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