Nikon F6 serial numbers - post yours!

[HHPhoto]

I've gotten the firmware upgraded on several Nikon F6s. Pre upgrade, they all showed the F6 Nikon logo (see 3rd image here) on the LCD panel. Post upgrade, the F6 Nikon logo was gone. Just my observation though, and I'm not sure if its a definitive way to tell if the firmware has been upgraded.

No, that is unrelated.
Also the current brand new F6 show the Nikon F6 logo on the rear panel, if certain modes are used (P in connection with some others; as soon as you switch from P to A for example, the logo disappears).

Cheers, Jan

 

[jonmanjiro]

Any news from our members in Japan, which serial numbers have been sold recently in Japan?

No updates of late. I'll try to drop by some of the camera stores next Wednesday when I'm in Tokyo.

If you don't have any problems (especially not the battery indication problem), then you have the recent firmware.

All F6s starting from s/n 18754 left the factory with the new firmware. No doubt many earlier F6s would have been upgraded when sent back to Nikon for servicing for whatever reason, but there are also probably some still out there that have never been back to Nikon for servicing so still have the older firmware.

No, that is unrelated.
Also the current brand new F6 show the Nikon F6 logo on the rear panel, if certain modes are used (P in connection with some others; as soon as you switch from P to A for example, the logo disappears).

Cheers, Jan

I shot my F6 in A mode 99% of the time so that would explain why I never saw the F6 logo :bang:

Thanks for the correction Jan!

 

[dave lackey]

I shot my F6 in A mode 99% of the time so that would explain why I never saw the F6 logo :bang:

Thanks for the correction Jan!

Interesting, but mine shows nothing like the "F6" in any mode.

 

[HHPhoto]

No updates of late. I'll try to drop by some of the camera stores next Wednesday when I'm in Tokyo.

Thank you! I am looking forward for your report.

I shot my F6 in A mode 99% of the time so that would explain why I never saw the F6 logo :bang:

Thanks for the correction Jan!

You're welcome. I am also an 'A' shooter 😉. And I needed several years to discover in the manual the description when the "Nikon F6" is shown on the rear LCD 🙄. In the German manual it is on page 18.
It it shown when the following modes are selected:
- DX for film speed
- AF focus selector on single focus
- AF focus field: the central one exactly in the center
- exposure mode P
- no exposure compensation
- no bracketing
- no data imprint selected
- flash syncro: normal on the first shutter curtain

Cheers, Jan

 

[Woody 63]

I have had my F6 for about 10 months bought it from Ffordes in Scotland
The serial No is :- 0021524 not sure what year this would have been made, if anyone has an idea

 

[dtcls100]

I recently had the upgraded firmware installed on two Nikon F6 bodies by Nikon USA. The bodies both previously displayed the "Nikon F6" logo on the rear LCD. After the firmware upgrade, that logo no longer appears in any mode. The upgrade definitely fixed the situation where the battery indicator showed significant drain after a few rolls. While I am not sure (since I did not perform any controlled tests), the AF appears to be a little snappier in low light. If only Nikon would upgrade the firmware to allow the F6 to be used with the latest electronic aperture lenses (like the new 24-70 f2.8)!

 

[Godfrey]

If you don't have any problems (especially not the battery indication problem), then you have the recent firmware.
For about 8 eight years now I have not heard anymore from anyone reporting that problem. So most probably those former cameras with that firmware problem have all been updated by the Nikon Service in the meanwhile.
...

re: experience with or using DC 105mm f/2 AF-D?​

A friend of mine. It's stunning. One of the best lenses Nikon have ever made.

Cheers, Jan

Okay. It's not like I use the camera constantly, but the two (used) CR123s I put in when I got it are still going strong after about 8 rolls of film. So I suspect that I'm on the latest firmware.

I've got the DC105 on my short list now. ;-)

G

 

[jonmanjiro]

I've gotten the firmware upgraded on several Nikon F6s. Pre upgrade, they all showed the F6 Nikon logo (see 3rd image here) on the LCD panel. Post upgrade, the F6 Nikon logo was gone. Just my observation though, and I'm not sure if its a definitive way to tell if the firmware has been upgraded.

No, that is unrelated.
Also the current brand new F6 show the Nikon F6 logo on the rear panel, if certain modes are used (P in connection with some others; as soon as you switch from P to A for example, the logo disappears).

Cheers, Jan

Thinking out loud here, but maybe that applies only to cameras that already had the new firmware from the factory and were not upgraded later 😕

I recently had the upgraded firmware installed on two Nikon F6 bodies by Nikon USA. The bodies both previously displayed the "Nikon F6" logo on the rear LCD. After the firmware upgrade, that logo no longer appears in any mode. The upgrade definitely fixed the situation where the battery indicator showed significant drain after a few rolls.

Thanks for the comment, dtcls100. That mirrors my experience. I'm glad I wasn't imagining it!

Interesting, but mine shows nothing like the "F6" in any mode.

I know Dave's F6 has a reasonably early s/n and has the latest firmware because I'm the one who took it to Nikon for the upgrade.

 

[LeicaTweeter]

hello rangefinder, my nikon F6 has serial number 31678. just bought it last week used from japan, in excellent condition. thanks

 

[HHPhoto]

Thinking out loud here, but maybe that applies only to cameras that already had the new firmware from the factory and were not upgraded later 😕

Maybe.
I definitely know that the current factory new cameras show the F6 logo as described in my posting above.

Do you in the meanwhile have new numbers from brand new F6 in Japanese camera stores?

Thanks and cheers,
Jan

 

[HHPhoto]

hello rangefinder, my nikon F6 has serial number 31678. just bought it last week used from japan, in excellent condition. thanks

Then you have one made in 2009. Just made a little bit after mine was made.....🙂.
Congratulations! Enjoy your new camera! The best 35mm SLR ever made.
I can highly recommend the MB-40 vertical grip, too. Perfect combination with the camera.

Cheers,
Jan

 

[photomoof]

OK -- I started looking at the F6. Lots of used ones in the $650 range in EX+++ condition. My S2's would like a younger friend.

Question, is there any problem buying from Japan? Will Nikon USA service the cameras?

Damned thread! 😡

 

[Godfrey]

OK -- I started looking at the F6. Lots of used ones in the $650 range in EX+++ condition. My S2's would like a younger friend.

Question, is there any problem buying from Japan? Will Nikon USA service the cameras?

Damned thread! 😡

I've had no issues buying Nikon gear from Japan.. Excellent interactions, fast delivery, beautiful equipment. Nothing I've bought has needed any service yet so I don't know if Nikon USA will cause a problem, but if they did I'd send the gear to Nikon imJapan for service without any question. My understanding, though, is that the service restrictions have always been on warranty work, not service and repair.

G

 

[photomoof]

Thanks Godfrey. I am not expecting repairs, I have had very few issues with Nikon over the year. Seems crazy not to get one if these bodies.

 

[HHPhoto]

Will Nikon USA service the cameras?

Why not?
In Germany Nikon offers service for all later film cameras.
Older film cameras are transferred to repair companies which are focussed and specialised on older Nikons.

Second and best option: Buy a new one now, handle it with care and you will most probably not have any problem in the next 40 years (and you have a guarantee, too).
The price of a new one is very very low for such a perfect camera which can be used for such a long time.
It is even less than 1/3 of the price of a D4, and you will definitely not use a D4 for decades.......

Cheers, Jan

 

[Pioneer]

A new Nikon F6 will set you back about $2300 in the US. A little less if you buy grey market. It is about half the price of a new Leica film camera.

 

[photomoof]

Why not?
In Germany Nikon offers service for all later film cameras.
Older film cameras are transferred to repair companies which are focussed and specialised on older Nikons.

Second and best option: Buy a new one now, handle it with care and you will most probably not have any problem in the next 40 years (and you have a guarantee, too).
The price of a new one is very very low for such a perfect camera which can be used for such a long time.
It is even less than 1/3 of the price of a D4, and you will definitely not use a D4 for decades.......

Cheers, Jan

What their policy is on items purchased from Japan, not strictly gray market, is unclear on Nikon's site. Why I asked what others had experienced.

https://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/331/~/what-is-gray-market?
"Nikon Inc. USA cannot provide any technical support or warranty service on Gray Market items. Additionally Nikon Inc. USA cannot perform any fee-based repair work on Gray Market items. Please do not contact Nikon Inc. USA for help with any Gray Market products. Please contact the reseller or importer of your Gray Market items for warranty and service information as well as software updates and downloads."

 

[HHPhoto]

@photomoof:
AFAIK the guarantee topic is only about factory new cameras, and in the guarantee time.
It is not about used cameras, which don't have a guarantee anymore.
If you have a problem with a used camera which has to be fixed, you have to pay for the repair anyway.

Cheers, Jan

 

[HHPhoto]

A new Nikon F6 will set you back about $2300 in the US. A little less if you buy grey market. It is about half the price of a new Leica film camera.

In Germany it varies (dependant on the distributor) between 1,700€ and 1,900€ for the body, and about 400€ for the MB-40 vertical grip (the D4 is in the 5,700-6,000€ range).

For such a "once in a lifetime" camera, which can be used for 40-50 years (or even more), that is next to nothing, only some Euros p.a..

One of the reasons I will again go for a brand new one.
Then my first F6 (also bougt new) will be loaded with colour reversal film on my projects, and the second, new one will be used parallel loaded with BW reversal, BW negative or colour negative film.
Perfect solution.

Cheers, Jan

 

[jonmanjiro]

Do you in the meanwhile have new numbers from brand new F6 in Japanese camera stores?

Thanks and cheers,
Jan

Hi Jan, not yet. I was occupied with other things the few times I've been into central Tokyo recently. Hopefully soon!