I am looking at buying a Nikon d300 camera with a serial number - 3023796. Is this a valid Nikon number or is it grey market?

How do I know if my Nikon product is "Grey Market"?If the deal was just too good to be true, it probably was. One of the first indicators that a piece of Nikon merchandise might be Gray Market is if the price is considerably less than most other resellers.
Additionally, a genuine Nikon Inc. USA product will include an Owners' Manual and Warranty Registration card in English. It will also include power cables (if applicable) designed for US style plugs. Any other language on the printed material or wrong cables indicates a Gray Market item.
Another indication of a Gray Market product would be photocopied manuals or manually created software CD's. Nikon Inc. USA always provides professionally printed or duplicated materials with genuine products

Hi,

Personally, I never seen or heard of a fake DSLR camera before because it would cost a lot to make and work just as good as the real thing.

There are a difference in where they are manufactured, for example grey market and domestic market.

Grey Market camera gears are usually a little bit more affordable because it is manufactured somewhere else other than in your own country (US) and carry oversea warranty. The problem is the warranty will not be honor from Nikon USA because it is not manufacture from a US manufacturer or distributor.

SO when you shop, make sure that you are buying from a US distributor and not from a Grey market vendor. Some sites like B & H photo has an option for you to choose if warranty to you is not an issue.

I hope this helps.

There are serial numbers on all Nikon products. The serial numbers are on the outside of the nikon equipment and are very easy to find. Find them and send an email to Nikon Service. They will tell you the county of origin of the item. All newer Nikon Lenses intended for the US market have serial numbers that start with the letters "us" .

D300 can be found scarcely new. It has been replaced with a newer model D300S. The D300S incorporates video and both SD and CF capability for extended uses of writing the photos. One card can be used as backup, or one can be used to write RAW files and the other JPEGs. Some slight changes were added to the menu {active D-lighting}, and the D300S also was give a slight boost to 7FPS. Used D300 on the market go for $900 - $1300 depending on its history.

Are you buying it brand new? If so, if you are not buying it from an authorized Canon dealer,then it is probably gray market. If you are buying it on Ebay and it is cheaper than everybody else in the world, then it is probably gray market.

The main 3 parts on Nikon D300 are shown in figure above. First note their part number and order them from Nikon Service. That is all.

I think the factory repair service is the best choice for this type repair. The El Segundo location worked well for me. You may be able to contact them by phone (number on the Nikon web site) and ask about cost, but if you ship the camera to them they will give you a quote before starting work.

I use a cable release on my D300 quite often and in all modes (timed, multiple or single exposures). I am not aware of any special programming or set up requirements. If the release works on one camera and not the other, then you are correct in your diagnosis.
Contact Nikon service. The number and info is on the Nikon web site.
There are two locations. I have had good luck with the El Segundo location.

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how did it went into the D300 in the first place? Hold the metal part of the lens, press the lens release on teh D300 body. Best to send it to Nikon for a look. They would charge shipping only.