serial numbers nonexistent on some items?

David Lyga · Jul 31, 2019

There is a Nikon lens, I think a 50 AF, that does not have a serial number. I have seen other items, new stuff, that do not have a serial numbers. Is this a new trend? And WHY? - David Lyga

MattKing · Jul 31, 2019

EDIT: Noting that this thread's question relates to new equipment:
Because camera equipment is becoming so undesirable that no one would bother to steal it?
Other than for warranty claims, I'm not sure why serial numbers make sense anyways.

BradS · Jul 31, 2019

it's all computers and shit these days.

The absence of an engraved number does not mean the item does not have a serial number.

gorbas · Jul 31, 2019

With newer Nikkor lenser serial number is on lens body right on opposite side of index mark, not on the lens face, somehow hard to see or notice

BAC1967 · Jul 31, 2019

"Some serials are very faint and difficult to read. Also, some serials are printed on the front element of the lens."

https://www.borrowlenses.com/blog/l...d-lens-theft-one-registered-serial-at-a-time/

Sirius Glass · Jul 31, 2019

MattKing said:
Because camera equipment is becoming so undesirable that no one would bother to steal it?
Other than for warranty claims, I'm not sure why serial numbers make sense anyways.

The serial numbers are needed to date old Graflex, Speed Graphic, and Crown Graphic cameras.

gorbas · Jul 31, 2019

Nikkor AF-S 1.8/50mm G

MattKing · Jul 31, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
The serial numbers are needed to date old Graflex, Speed Graphic, and Crown Graphic cameras.

The thread is asking about current, newly manufactured items.

Sirius Glass · Jul 31, 2019

MattKing said:
The thread is asking about current, newly manufactured items.

Eventually today's cameras will be old, just like the Graphics.

Helinophoto · Jul 31, 2019

They are often actually somewhere inside the lens.
Google your lens and add "serial" and to a photo-search, to see if you can find examples.

benjiboy · Jul 31, 2019

On the subject of the serial; numbers on equipment, after spending a lifetime in photographic retailing I notice that my local film camera store when I buy equipment doesn't put its serial number on my receipt and in my experience, some dishonest customers often used bring other people equipment back either for a warranty repair or a refund that we hadn't sold them that "belonged to a friend, or their brother in law" and I used to impress on my staff that they must write the serial number on the receipt and that a receipt is a legal document.

guangong · Jul 31, 2019

Minox 35mm cameras had serial numbers printed on small adhesive strip so that when defective cameras still under warranty were returned for repair, the adhesive strip was simply removed and put into new camera. (This info from horse’s mouth) No attempt made to repair camera.
I am even surprised to see serial numbers screened onto contemporary plastic autofocus lens. Modern cameras are designed to be disposable. My toothbrush doesn’t have a serial number.
Current digital cameras won’t become old or classic cameras because electronics in camera soon become obsolete. I feel the same way about electronics laden modern cars.

Theo Sulphate · Jul 31, 2019

David Lyga said:
There is a Nikon lens, I think a 50 AF, that does not have a serial number. ...

Some newer Nikkor lenses have the number printed on a label or sticker that's glued in place. Perhaps that was removed on your lens.

guangong said:
Current digital cameras won’t become old or classic cameras because electronics in camera soon become obsolete. I feel the same way about electronics laden modern cars.

Agree. As I read on one car forum: "a ticking time bomb of unreliability".

Arklatexian · Jul 31, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
Some newer Nikkor lenses have the number printed on a label or sticker that's glued in place. Perhaps that was removed on your lens.

Agree. As I read on one car forum: "a ticking time bomb of unreliability".

Why just "modern"? As long as I can remember (back into the 1930s), When you bought a new car, it was considered "old" the first time it left the dealer's showroom or other property. Like some cameras after fifty years or so, they became valuable again, what few that were not in a junk-yard.......Regards!

bdial · Jul 31, 2019

On mine it's engraved in black on black along the right side of the aperture ring, very hard to see, but it is there.
An AF zoom I recently bought is similar, but it's on the underside of the lens body.

ic-racer · Jul 31, 2019

Current high-end digital cameras will be sought after more so than film cameras. As digital SLR production goes down, new prices will skyrocket like film camera prices. Old digital SLR cameras will be sought for their value and performance.

Digital SLRs will be the New Analog as "Digital Imaging" will take the form of lensless computer generated imagery. A good portion of 'Hollywood' is already generated without a lens or sensor.

Theo Sulphate · Jul 31, 2019

Arklatexian said:
Why just "modern"? As long as I can remember (back into the 1930s), When you bought a new car, it was considered "old" the first time it left the dealer's showroom or other property. ...

That's just simple depreciation. What I suspect guangong and I are referring to are the multitude of electronic subsystems that a year 2010+ car has, where several subsystems will fail beyond reasonable repair in 20 years.

Compare a W123 Mercedes with a modern car where not only engine and fuel management are microprocessor controlled, but microprocessors either control or monitor seats, climate, console, instruments, displays, doors, mirrors windows, radio, tire pressure, stability control, collision detection, lane keeping, interpretation of road signs (stop sign & speed limit signs) - many of these things added to ensure inattentive and distracted drivers can continue in their incompetence. Sure, some of these things won't render the car into a brick, but it'll hardly retain any value with failing subsystems.

I don't want any car where the console looks like an iPhone or a laptop screen.

eddie · Jul 31, 2019

I would think serial numbers necessary for efficient quality control purposes. They’d help with narrowing down problem issues.

RalphLambrecht · Jul 31, 2019

David Lyga said:
There is a Nikon lens, I think a 50 AF, that does not have a serial number. I have seen other items, new stuff, that do not have a serial numbers. Is this a new trend? And WHY? - David Lyga

It's likely on the bottom-side of the lens and very hard to see and read. take a closer look with a loupe.

Theo Sulphate · Jul 31, 2019

Which lens is it exactly?

Ken Rockwell, in his reviews, describes where the serial number is.

David Lyga · Aug 1, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
Which lens is it exactly?

Ken Rockwell, in his reviews, describes where the serial number is.

I will try to post this tomorrow. - David Lyga

guangong · Aug 1, 2019

From past APUG threads there are more than a few camera users who are unable to focus a lens and are totally dependent on auto focus. Some of these lenses do permit manual focus. Modern cars are quite different. For many automobiles the existence of a rear camera has allowed auto designers to create cars that are really impossible to drive in reverse without a camera.

David Lyga · Aug 2, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
Which lens is it exactly?

Ken Rockwell, in his reviews, describes where the serial number is.

Here it is:

I bought it for $10 at a camera show. It was so filthy that I had dustBALLS inside. Underneath the filth, the rear element was found to be covered with the tiniest hairline scratches, yet the contrast and sharpness are absolutely fine. I had to completely take it apart and thoroughly clean it. Yes, I forgot to clean the easiest part: the serrated focus wheel on the outside! I will tend to that, shortly. - David Lyga

Dennis-B · Aug 2, 2019

David Lyga said:
Here it is:

View attachment 228001

I bought it for $10 at a camera show. It was so filthy that I had dustBALLS inside. Underneath the filth, the rear element was found to be covered with the tiniest hairline scratches, yet the contrast and sharpness are absolutely fine. I had to completely take it apart and thoroughly clean it. Yes, I forgot to clean the easiest part: the serrated focus wheel on the outside! I will tend to that, shortly. - David Lyga

I own a similar (although "D") model, that's Chinese made. It has a "US" serial number which is on the rear of the aperture ring. When the lens is set at f/1.4, the serial number is 180 degrees opposite the scales, and right beneath the "Made in China" mark. It's a bit difficult to see.

BMbikerider · Aug 2, 2019

David Lyga said:
There is a Nikon lens, I think a 50 AF, that does not have a serial number. I have seen other items, new stuff, that do not have a serial numbers. Is this a new trend? And WHY? - David Lyga

Where are you looking for the serial number? They used to be engraved on the front of the lens and usually painted white. However the the later lenses which do have a proportion of plastic in their construction, a serial number will usually be found on one of the rings around the barrel. The usual way to find them in this situation is to have a light shining obliquely across the site and the stamping should be visible.

As for what is the purpose of serial numbers? Well if a lens has changes in the optics and or barrel, difficulty may exist in identifying what the version of the actual lens is. Comparison of the serial number with a manufacturers list should definitively identify what the lens is. This was especially so with Nikon manual focus lenses which did differ even during a production run and the serial number will tell you when the changes happened after a certain number.

serial numbers nonexistent on some items?

David Lyga

MattKing

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BradS

gorbas

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ic-racer

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serial numbers nonexistent on some items?

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