Nikon E-series serial numbers

[Webmaster]

Hello Paps and welcome on board!

You'll still find E3 batteries on eBay from time to time. Search for Nikon EN-3 or Fujifilm BP-D56. You'll find some more info in this thread:

http://www.nikonweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=59

Good luck.

Jarle

[nikon-nl]

Fot hose who are interested: in Rotterdam (www.kamera-express.nl) a Nikon 3Es is for sale with #9100012 for 795 euro's new in box with batteries, mauals, etc.
nikon-nl

[..............]

This is my first time here. I aquired a Nikon E3N off e bay for £51, if you want to updete your list of serial numbers, it is 7400029. I do not yet have a pcmcia card reader to check photo's- may get a old apple powerbook. then I will also be able to use my Kodak 4200 on it .
I have a Quick start guide for the E2N , plus a battery charging leaflet but no user manual, anyone have one of these?.


Mike

[NIKON KIU]

Hi Mike,
Welcome aboard
Just refer to this thread:
http://www.nikonweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=62
They are the same camera!
Do you own an E2N or E3N?
regards,
Kiu

[Webmaster]

Hi Mike and welcome to the vintage dslr forum.

I assume you have a Nikon E2N?

Looking at the serial number, that makes sense. I've included the number as an E2N. Please let me know if this is wrong.

Jarle

[ThunderNet]

Nikon E3s: 8300053

found in an old advertisement where it's for sale... I hope it's not sold yet

[NIKON KIU]

Hello there Thundernet,
Welcome aboard
Let us know if you get it...and give us a little more detail
Kiu

[ThunderNet]

I've got a E3s it was in the mail today \o/ wohooo

i've got an Nikon E3s with serial: 8300015

[spreefurt]

I tried to understand the system of serial numbers, for this purpose I sorted the known numbers:

51:
5100025 E2
5100035 E2S

52:
5200007 E2S
5200022 DS-505
5200028 E2S
5200028 DS-515
5200067 E2
5200107 E2

53:
none

54:
5400006 E2
5400016 DS-515

61:
6100034 DS-505

62:
none

63:
6300024 E2N

64:
none

71:
7100006 E2N
7100015 DS-505A
7100064 E2N
7100067 E2N
7100103 E2N

72:
7200004 DS-505A

73:
7300049 DS-505A

74:
7400029 E2N

74.1:
7410005 DS-515A
7410006 DS-515A
7410010 E2N

81:
none

82:
8200067 E3

83:
8300008 E3
8300015 E3S
8300022 E3
8300031 DS-565
8300032 DS-565
8300053 E3S
8300090 E3
8300100 E3

83.1:
8310090 E3

84:
8400043 E3

91:
9100012 E3S
9100024 E3S
9100024 DS-565
9100092 E3

92:
9200003 DS-565
9200005 DS-565
9200006 E3S

The first digit is obviously the year of manufacturing. This fits in every case. I thought, that the second digit could be the batch number within year, but this seems to be wrong, because the camera type changes within some second digits. Perhaps it is simply the quarter of the year, no number above 4 was found as second digit.

The last digits seem to be counting within the quarter. But there are 2 serial numbers found twice for different types: 5200028 and 9100024. Perhaps typing errors or the same cameras with one wrong name. Some people use misleading names in ebay auctions, because the Nikons and Fujis are the same. The other possibility seems to be unlikely - it would mean, that Nikons and Fujis were counted in parallel rows.

And there are serial numbers with 1 as third digit. If it was only one, I would assume a typing error, but there are four. Anything was changed there, that needed a new labelling, but what?

Until now there is no hint, how many of each camera exist. We have the total number of 2000 - 3000. This is distributed onto 12 versions. The average number of each version would be about 250, but there seem to be differences. I always thought, that the S-Nikons were rarer than the Nikons without S, but this is not confirmed by the collected numbers. It seems, that the Fujis are rarer than the Nikons, but perhaps the Fujis don't find into the list, because this is a Nikon forum.

It cannot be excluded, that one of the Nikons has a total number smaller than 200. Or perhaps smaller than 190, that would mean, the rarest Nikon could be one of the Fuji-Nikons and not the QV 1000C or the S3M.

[Webmaster]

I tried to understand the system of serial numbers, for this purpose I sorted the known numbers

..that would mean, the rarest Nikon could be one of the Fuji-Nikons and not the QV 1000C or the S3M.

Very interesting. Thanks.

I strongly doubt that any of the Fujix/E-bodies are rarer than the QV-1000C or the S3M, but it's an interesting thought.

Anyone else?

Jarle

[blakehoo]

I've just gotten one: 7300019

in excellent original shape
...but the main dial just popped out and fell on the floor.

Any idea what's up with that?

[spreefurt]

I've just gotten one: 7300019

Thanks. Which version is it?

in excellent original shape
...but the main dial just popped out and fell on the floor.

Any idea what's up with that?

The E2/E3 with their body made of plastic are not as robust as other Nikons for profesional use. Unfortunately Nikon has finished any support for the E2/E3, at least in Germany. Maybe Fuji can help.

[NIKON KIU]

I've just gotten one: 7300019

in excellent original shape
...but the main dial just popped out and fell on the floor.

Any idea what's up with that?

Welcome Aboard,
refer to this thread:
http://www.nikonweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=76
Seems to be one of the weak points.
Kiu

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

The knob is too large in diameter for the shaft - or, the shaft is too small in diameter for the knob, if you'd rather think of it that way - so the knob twists off the shaft where the shaft meets the knob.

Looks to me to be a problem related to how fast one spins the dial. The one I pulled apart with this issue had the knob twisted off, as opposed to snapped off. The plastic had stress marks from torque. Although, it probably doesn't help things if the camera gets whacked on the knob, either.

I bought one off of Kiu that had this problem. I needed a spare power switch / shutter button assembly to repair yet another unit and so swiped it from Kiu's with the bad main dial.

However, I did analyze the fault out of curiosity. It looks to me like this is a part design problem and likely plagues the entire line of cameras. I don't know if it's something that was ever addressed as production went on or not. Probably not given the small quantities produced. I suspect part of the problem is aging of the plastic, which would mean that the fault didn't show up until it was way too late to address in production.

The dial knob and shaft are part of the rotary switch assembly and not a seperate item, so one would need to replace the whole thing to repair the camera. I doubt the part is available any longer, either. Service parts have about a 10 year lifespan, after which the shelves are purged (meaning they toss 'em in the trash to make room for newer parts).

Since we're chatting about known faults, the other common design fault I know of is the main housing on the corner by the power switch. This area is prone to cracking due to the plastic being too thin on the compound corner. The crack runs to the power switch / shutter button assembly opening and then the upper half of the switch ass'y falls out.

So, don't get rid of the unit with the bad main dial, because you just might need the power switch ass'y out of it to repair another unit at some point!

Stan

[Ross_Alford]

I now have my eBay (US) E3s. It is in almost mint condition, and works. Hooray! Serial number 8200046, the first E3s on the list in that batch I think.

Cheers,
Ross