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In 1965, Nikon introduced the first TTL metering finder,
Photomic T, for Nikon F system. Although it was a significiant improvement
to its predecessor Photomic, it did have a slightly larger base that required
the mirror housing to be modified. A red dot in front of the serial numbers
was added to designate those body modified to accept Photomic T and later
finders. The red dot can only be found between the body serial numbers
657xxxx to 66xxxxx. It should be noted that all the bodies from 67xxxxx
number block onwards were modified but without the red dot. Within the
range of 658000-659999, I would say only about 3/4 of them are modified
and red-dotted. As the serial numbers get closer to 659999, the more likely
you will see a red dot. 65 block Red Dot F is not as rare as some dealers
would like you to believe.
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66 block red dot
According to the note that came with a photomic T finder box set I acquired, the highest serial number in 66 block is 6602847. This note is the only direct evident of the 66 block production number I have seen to date. There is an error in the note though. It should read " If the camera is below this number, AND (not or) does not have the red dot... " ALL of the 66 block are chrome and red-dotted (watch out for the fake black 66 bodies. They do exist!). Why Nikon suddenly jumped the serial numbers from 6602847 to 67 block is still an unsolved mistery. I think they probably realized all the new bodies were going to be made to accept the new finders anyway, they might as well stop stamping the red dot at some stage. It would be less confusing to start off with a new block of serial number rather than half way through 66 block.
Red dot before 658 block
The Red dot list consists of numbers before 658 block. Even the Photomic T project was probably known within the company months before it was announced in Aug 1965, the authenticity of some early 657xxxx red dot (manufactured in 1964) is still questionable. It is possible Nikon might have modified some of the unsold old stock after the Photomic T was introduced before shipping them to the dealers.
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Unmodified mirror house |
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A Red Dot version
with modified mirror house that can accept Photomic T finder. |
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Three different versions of Red Dot F |
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Even rarer than 66 block Red Dots are black bodies with
a red dot. According to Uli Koch's fabulous reference book for Nikon F,
they only exist in the 6597xxx number block. i.e. much less than 1000
black bodies can be found with a red dot! (I have seen chrome Red dot
body repainted in black though) The only red dot bodies that can beat
this, in terms of rarity, are those "Nikkor" marked bodies with
a red dot. Nikkor bodies were only made for German market for a short
period of time. |
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How many Red Dot Fs are there?
Of all the Nikon Fs between 6580000 and 6599999 I have
come across, around 75% are Red-dotted. Assuming
all those samples were randomly picked, we can then base our estimate
of the total number of Red Dots on the 75% figure. Since there are 20,000
Fs between 658000 and 6599999, we should expect to see rougly 15,000 of
them with a Red Dot. On top of that, there are 2848 Red Dots on
the 66 block, plus a few before 658 block. That gives a ballpark figure of just under 18,000!
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THE RED DOT NIKON F LIST (updated on 12 Mar 2024)
Bold numbers with a letter B after the
serial numbers --- Black bodies Numbers with FB after the serial numbers --- Original chrome bodies repainted in black Numbers with NP after the serial numbers --- Serial number plate removed from original body Numbers with NK after the serial numbers --- Nikkor bodies for German market Numbers with GD after the serial numbers --- Gold plated bodies
( 6591280 was previously registered as a black body and is now confirmed to be a repainted chrome body )
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6570022 |
6587601 |
6590590 |
6593145 |
6595295 |
6597183 |
6598431 |
6600004 |
6601339 |
6602497 |
6573678 |
6587637 |
6590595 |
6593158 |
6595317 |
6597186 |
6598445 |
6600006 |
6601346 |
6602520 |
6575738B |
6587673 |
6590624 |
6593195 |
6595320 |
6597196 |
6598456 |
6600012 |
6601351 |
6602550 |
6575857B |
6587681 |
6590676 |
6593198 |
6595348 |
6597199 |
6598457 |
6600021 |
6601355 |
6602576 |
6575859B |
6587721 |
6590677 |
6593213NP |
6595387 |
6597208 |
6598467 |
6600057 |
6601362 |
6602580 |
6576610 |
6587733 |
6590704 |
6593214 |
6595389 |
6597225 |
6598524 |
6600087 |
6601395 |
6602609 |
6578939 |
6587791 |
6590753 |
6593224 |
6595403 |
6597262B |
6598574 |
6600112 |
6601398 |
6602620 |
6579009 |
6587804 |
6590776 |
6593232 |
6595421 |
6597267B |
6598579 |
6600118 |
6601406 |
6602675 |
6579184 |
6587811 |
6590780 |
6593268 |
6595426 |
6597295B |
6598591 |
6600142 |
6601424 |
6602680 |
6579343 |
6587832 |
6590794 |
6593288 |
6595444 |
6597308B |
6598610 |
6600144 |
6601425 |
6602729 |
6579590 |
6587863 |
6590881 |
6593297 |
6595481 |
6597337B |
6598661 |
6600150 |
6601450 |
6602736 |
6579650 |
6587957 |
6590895 |
6593306 |
6595493 |
6597340B |
6598718 |
6600166 |
6601487 |
6602757 |
6581277 |
6588023 |
6590898 |
6593359 |
6595527 |
6597351B |
6598730 |
6600169 |
6601489 |
6602768 |
6581357 |
6588242 |
6590937 |
6593369 |
6595565 |
6597392B |
6598731 |
6600186 |
6601490 |
6602786 |
6581416 |
6588327 |
6590965 |
6593380 |
6595570 |
6597395B |
6598772 |
6600187 |
6601502 |
6602819 |
6582181 |
6588473 |
6590966 |
6593445 |
6595574 |
6597396B |
6598774 |
6600197 |
6601503 |
6602847 |
6582334 |
6588664 |
6590982 |
6593459 |
6595603 |
6597409B |
6598779 |
6600200 |
6601506 |
|
6582415 |
6588745 |
6590995 |
6593478 |
6595605 |
6597421B |
6598788 |
6600208 |
6601559 |
|
6582900 |
6588766 |
6591009 |
6593499 |
6595640 |
6597425B |
6598789 |
6600225FB |
6601585 |
|
6583061 |
6588824 |
6591014 |
6593509 |
6595678 |
6597436B |
6598813 |
6600254 |
6601586 |
|
6583069 |
6588859 |
6591025 |
6593512 |
6595685 |
6597448B |
6598822 |
6600255 |
6601596 |
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6583239 |
6588996 |
6591109 |
6593647 |
6595690 |
6597475B |
6598837 |
6600283 |
6601611 |
|
6583265 |
6589023 |
6591110 |
6593698 |
6595716 |
6597476B |
6598853 |
6600287 |
6601685 |
|
6583470 |
6589030 |
6591113 |
6593706 |
6595721 |
6597503B |
6598884 |
6600295 |
6601687 |
|
6583486 |
6589039 |
6591152 |
6593766 |
6595730 |
6597524B |
6598921 |
6600305 |
6601688 |
|
6583571 |
6589068 |
6591201 |
6593777 |
6595755 |
6597526B |
6598953 |
6600327 |
6601693 |
|
6583572 |
6589104 |
6591228 |
6593782 |
6595805 |
6597528B |
6598962 |
6600341 |
6601696 |
|
6583622 |
6589116 |
6591237 |
6593852 |
6595815 |
6597536B |
6598988 |
6600348 |
6601724 |
|
6583682 |
6589257 |
6591267 |
6593922 |
6595821 |
6597537B |
6598990 |
6600417 |
6601728 |
|
6583748 |
6589334 |
6591270 |
6593963 |
6595869 |
6597544B |
6599007 |
6600429 |
6601740 |
|
6584000FB |
6589360 |
6591280FB |
6594045 |
6595886 |
6597548B |
6599015 |
6600455 |
6601753 |
|
6584220 |
6589384 |
6591308 |
6594126 |
6595917 |
6597558B |
6599026 |
6600466 |
6601770 |
|
6584584 |
6589404 |
6591309 |
6594137 |
6595931 |
6597559B |
6599029 |
6600484 |
6601772 |
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6584698 |
6589419 |
6591323 |
6594161 |
6595967 |
6597580B |
6599056 |
6600516 |
6601776 |
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6584756 |
6589424 |
6591327 |
6594225 |
6595970 |
6597595B |
6599082 |
6600523 |
6601778 |
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6585000 |
6589428 |
6591338 |
6594226 |
6595980 |
6597600B |
6599093 |
6600556 |
6601784 |
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6585030 |
6589465 |
6591359 |
6594291 |
6596001 |
6597602B |
6599142 |
6600562 |
6601793 |
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6585032 |
6589466 |
6591364 |
6594294 |
6596004 |
6597612B |
6599145 |
6600590 |
6601795 |
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6585323 |
6589469 |
6591376 |
6594303 |
6596027 |
6597618B |
6599173 |
6600595 |
6601833 |
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6585349 |
6589471 |
6591406 |
6594306 |
6596045 |
6597624B |
6599185 |
6600641 |
6601841 |
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6585370 |
6589495 |
6591439 |
6594327 |
6596090 |
6597628B |
6599222 |
6600645 |
6601857 |
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6585392 |
6589529 |
6591460 |
6594347 |
6596147 |
6597633B |
6599248 |
6600650 |
6601861 |
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6585401 |
6589534 |
6591464 |
6594382 |
6596226 |
6597651B |
6599264 |
6600664 |
6601883 |
|
6585408 |
6589536 |
6591472 |
6594387 |
6596229 |
6597653B |
6599276 |
6600724 |
6601885 |
|
6585480 |
6589556 |
6591504 |
6594406 |
6596252 |
6597660B |
6599292 |
6600738 |
6601901 |
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6585494 |
6589559 |
6591512 |
6594446 |
6596283 |
6597676B |
6599318 |
6600763 |
6601928 |
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6585499 |
6589560 |
6591537 |
6594566 |
6596301 |
6597684B |
6599407 |
6600765 |
6601932 |
|
6585512 |
6589597 |
6591572 |
6594572 |
6596362 |
6597694B |
6599414 |
6600867 |
6601953 |
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6585519 |
6589606 |
6591583 |
6594594 |
6596373 |
6597696B |
6599443 |
6600879 |
6601955 |
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6585566 |
6589614 |
6591587 |
6594631 |
6596377 |
6597702B |
6599452 |
6600892 |
6602011 |
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6585593 |
6589644 |
6591592 |
6594632 |
6596460 |
6597718B |
6599463 |
6600900 |
6602013 |
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6585632 |
6589647NP |
6591605 |
6594633 |
6596481 |
6597728B |
6599473 |
6600903 |
6602022 |
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6585640 |
6589651 |
6591614 |
6594665 |
6596559 |
6597733B |
6599489 |
6600907 |
6602035 |
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6585717 |
6589657 |
6591629 |
6594672 |
6596568 |
6597810BNP |
6599492 |
6600914 |
6602039 |
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6585743 |
6589658 |
6591635 |
6594687 |
6596569 |
6597812B |
6599501 |
6600934 |
6602061 |
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6585813 |
6589673 |
6591680 |
6594701 |
6596578 |
6597816B |
6599502 |
6600939 |
6602065 |
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6585831 |
6589695 |
6591681 |
6594749 |
6596588 |
6597818B |
6599581 |
6600962 |
6602082 |
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6585834 |
6589705 |
6591687 |
6594764 |
6596623 |
6597845 |
6599673 |
6600975 |
6602090 |
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6585875 |
6589742 |
6591688 |
6594766 |
6596630 |
6597886 |
6599712 |
6600988 |
6602118 |
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6585890 |
6589752 |
6591695 |
6594773 |
6596663 |
6597918 |
6599759 |
6601003 |
6602132 |
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6585920 |
6589753 |
6591767 |
6594777 |
6596682 |
6597920 |
6599760 |
6601023 |
6602142 |
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6585943 |
6589758 |
6592025B |
6594781 |
6596726 |
6597930 |
6599784 |
6601027 |
6602155 |
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6585952 |
6589822 |
6592249 |
6594812 |
6596757 |
6597931 |
6599826 |
6601030 |
6602162 |
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6585980 |
6589842 |
6592426 |
6594832 |
6596771 |
6597952 |
6599836 |
6601050 |
6602193 |
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6586013 |
6589897 |
6592444 |
6594834 |
6596775 |
6597969 |
6599838 |
6601057 |
6602206 |
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6586014 |
6589915 |
6592448 |
6594861 |
6596776 |
6598020 |
6599858 |
6601062 |
6602240 |
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6586051 |
6589951 |
6592481 |
6594871 |
6596782 |
6598051 |
6599914 |
6601071 |
6602260 |
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6586080 |
6589979 |
6592527 |
6594888 |
6596796 |
6598114 |
6599927 |
6601094 |
6602268 |
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6586084 |
6590025 |
6592530 |
6594897 |
6596814 |
6598119 |
6599945 |
6601100 |
6602271 |
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6586148 |
6590122 |
6592558 |
6594905 |
6596840 |
6598121 |
6599901 |
6601125 |
6602288 |
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6586163 |
6590127 |
6592625 |
6594930 |
6596853 |
6598136 |
6599906 |
6601138 |
6602290 |
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6586535 |
6590135 |
6592656 |
6594937 |
6596859 |
6598137 |
6599951 |
6601150 |
6602292 |
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6586641 |
6590163 |
6592673 |
6594969 |
6596877 |
6598141 |
6599960 |
6601152 |
6602304 |
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6586749 |
6590212 |
6592702 |
6594974 |
6596885 |
6598142 |
6599961 |
6601153 |
6602322 |
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6586764 |
6590238 |
6592779 |
6595012NK |
6596918 |
6598146 |
6599968 |
6601168 |
6602334 |
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6586827 |
6590247 |
6592823 |
6595024 |
6596941 |
6598170 |
6599970 |
6601181 |
6602344 |
|
6586943 |
6590261 |
6592879 |
6595054 |
6596949 |
6598183 |
6599985 |
6601199 |
6602356 |
|
6586948 |
6590280 |
6592939 |
6595074 |
6596953 |
6598207 |
|
6601201 |
6602362 |
|
6587043 |
6590319 |
6592961 |
6595116 |
6596967 |
6598208 |
|
6601219 |
6602374 |
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6587135 |
6590383 |
6592982 |
6595118 |
6596995 |
6598210 |
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6601233 |
6602376 |
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6587137 |
6590404 |
6592995 |
6595149 |
6597011 |
6598218 |
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6601234 |
6602385 |
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6587145 |
6590410 |
6593008 |
6595165 |
6597026 |
6598243 |
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6601241 |
6602394GD |
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6587163 |
6590424 |
6593026 |
6595170 |
6597042 |
6598264 |
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6601244 |
6602397 |
|
6587192 |
6590431 |
6593070 |
6595175 |
6597045 |
6598364 |
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6601246 |
6602417 |
|
6587195 |
6590442 |
6593071 |
6595206 |
6597100 |
6598372 |
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6601256 |
6602428 |
|
6587335 |
6590472 |
6593072 |
6595235 |
6597102 |
6598379 |
|
6601281 |
6602433 |
|
6587395 |
6509500 |
6593073 |
6595263 |
6597148 |
6598380 |
|
6601284 |
6602455 |
|
6587415 |
6590526 |
6593090 |
6595272 |
6597159 |
6598392 |
|
6601289 |
6602460 |
|
6587541 |
6590557 |
6593124 |
6595284 |
6597170 |
6598397 |
|
6601301 |
6602472 |
|
6587590 |
6590568 |
6593125 |
6595290 |
6597172 |
6598414 |
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6601326 |
6602486 |
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The red dot serial numbers listed below are either not in the normal range or simply do not look like factory made. It is doubtful that they were originally red dot bodies. |
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6400484 |
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6402845 |
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6409628 |
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6426599B |
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6427110 |
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6440237 |
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6450566 |
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6465567 |
Red dot position not aligned with serial number |
6470110 |
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6491001B |
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6499558 |
Red dot position not aligned with serial number (Questar modified F) |
6518885 |
Red dot after the serial numbers |
6532092B |
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6537198 |
|
6537431 |
Red dot position not aligned with serial number |
6544209B |
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6557765 |
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6560442 |
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6570022 |
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6575367B |
signs of non-factory modification |
6575859B |
signs of non-factory modification |
6579353 |
signs of non-factory modification |
6583024 |
signs of non-factory modification |
6586061 |
signs of non-factory modification |
6589091 |
Red dot too large |
6590135 |
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6592097B |
signs of non-factory modification |
6593780 |
signs of non-factory modification |
6595367 |
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6602810FB |
Black body |
6609327GD |
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The serial numbers listed below are confirmed NOT to have a red dot. If you see one with a red dot later on, you know they are not original! Italic numbers with FK after the serial numbers --- Fake Red dot ( 6582886 was previously registered as a chrome body but it is now repainted to be a black body ) |
6570244 |
6576871 |
6580961 |
6583002 |
6584747 |
6587633 |
6593450 |
6570453 |
6576996 |
6580984 |
6583104 |
6584782 |
6587712 |
6593559 |
6570483 |
6577019 |
6581112 |
6583122 |
6584944 |
6588008 |
6593574 |
6570858 |
6577032 |
6581183 |
6583129 |
6585001 |
6588010 |
6594078 |
6570933 |
6577085 |
6581263 |
6583191 |
6585065 |
6588050 |
6594085 |
6571756 |
6577282 |
6581388NP |
6583192 |
6585127 |
6588126 |
6593785 |
6571816 |
6577379 |
6581394 |
6583251 |
6585179 |
6588204 |
6593818 |
6572071 |
6577496 |
6581398 |
6583260 |
6585201 |
6588352 |
6593922 |
6572128 |
6577845 |
6581424 |
6583295 |
6585244 |
6588404 |
|
6572570 |
6578016 |
6581539 |
6583384 |
6585263 |
6588454 |
|
6572806 |
6578084 |
6581713 |
6583436 |
6585280 |
6588480 |
|
6573042 |
6578217 |
6581773 |
6583446 |
6585462 |
6588489 |
|
6573461 |
6578288 |
6581845 |
6583453 |
6585686 |
6588493 |
|
6573275 |
6578613 |
6581884 |
6583478 |
6585817 |
6588575 |
|
6573517 |
6578774 |
6581898 |
6583486 |
6585964 |
6588625 |
|
6573734 |
6578821 |
6581943 |
6583503 |
6585987 |
6588814 |
|
6574396 |
6579254 |
6582003 |
6583564 |
6585998 |
6588825 |
|
6574601 |
6579303 |
6582010 |
6583592 |
6586128 |
6588901 |
|
6574990 |
6579448 |
6582065 |
6583596 |
6586156 |
6588905 |
|
6575145B |
6579495 |
6582099 |
6583634 |
6586175 |
6589136 |
|
6575379B |
6579568 |
6582170 |
6583635 |
6586188 |
6589148 |
|
6575435B |
6579787 |
6582255 |
6583670 |
6586287 |
6589205 |
|
6575502B |
6579923 |
6582263 |
6583706 |
6586308FK |
6591898B |
|
6575529B |
6580206 |
6582308 |
6583723 |
6586313 |
6591914B |
|
6575552B |
6580169 |
6582331 |
6583741 |
6586480 |
6591915B |
|
6575559B |
6580298 |
6582338 |
6583873 |
6586491 |
6592014B |
|
6575581B |
6580340 |
6582343 |
6583926 |
6586504 |
6592034B |
|
6575734B |
6580354 |
6582679 |
6584022 |
6586596 |
6592119B |
|
6575819B |
6580387 |
6582442 |
6584113 |
6586612 |
6592136B |
|
6575832B |
6580442 |
6582454 |
6584115 |
6586666 |
6592175B |
|
6575842B |
6580510 |
6582590 |
6584254 |
6586738 |
6592193B |
|
6575918B |
6580518 |
6582606 |
6584478 |
6586872 |
6592290 |
|
6575954B |
6580554 |
6582703 |
6584484 |
6587076 |
6592335 |
|
6576006B |
6580590 |
6582718 |
6584529 |
6587317 |
6592341 |
|
6576121B |
6580609 |
6582723 |
6584565 |
6587330 |
6592425 |
|
6576155B |
6580657 |
6582773 |
6584569 |
6587340 |
6592530 |
|
6576190B |
6580658 |
6582795 |
6584588 |
6587371 |
6592915 |
|
6576199B |
6580691 |
6582886FB |
6584595FB |
6587440 |
6593075 |
|
6576378 |
6580826 |
6582961 |
6584623 |
6587521 |
6593337 |
|
6576589 |
6580860 |
6582963 |
6584688 |
6587630 |
6593368 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A few words about those Black Red Dot bodies You may notice that there are a few black Red dots outside the 6597 series in the list. Their authenticity cannot be verified by the author, but they are included in the list for your reference anyway. It should be noted that Nikon produced black bodies in blocks of consecutive serial numbers, rather than randomly picking one here and one there. If you see a black Red dot body whose adjacent serial numbers are all chrome, then there is a good chance that this black one was also originally chrome. Apart from painting a chrome Red dot body black, one can also fake a black Red dot by modifying an authentic black (but Non-Red dot) body to Red dot version. All you have to do is to remove the raised lips behind the mirror hosuing and drill a Red dot in front of the serial numbers! (see this poorly done fake red dot !!) If you combine the Red-dot and the non-Red-dot lists together, at least 3 black number blocks will start to emerge. They are 6575-6576, 6591-6592 and the well known 6597. According to Uli's book, black Red dots only exist in 6597 block. The safest way to get an authentic black Red dot body is to look for those in 6597 series. |
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