On Tuesday, Nikon said it’s now coming across D7100 DSLRs, which cost in the region of $1000 for the body only, that have been modified to look like the D610 shooter, which retails for $500 more.
The difference here is more stark – the D7100 is a crop-sensor device, while the D610 is Nikon’s entry-level full-frame shooter. For many photographers, making the jump from a crop-sensor camera to a full-frame one requires much consideration, as well as a fair bit of cash, so the disappointment will be significant for those who discover they’ve been duped. Worse still, Nikon refuses to deal with any cameras it deems to be fake, leaving victims who ask for their fake device to be fixed at an official service center having to look elsewhere for help.
In addition to the D7100 being sold as a D610, the camera company said it’s also coming across D4 cameras, which Nikon doesn’t even make anymore, that have been fraudulently modified to look like its top-end $6,000 D4S device.
It’s impossible to know just how many of these modified and imitation cameras are in circulation, but the fact that Nikon felt the need to issue a warning suggests it’s a serious cause for concern.
The company says you can confirm the model of the camera by checking its name in the ‘overview’ screen (shown right) in full-frame playback mode – you’ll see it displayed in the top right corner of the camera’s display.
A visual check of the inside of the D610 would also be useful, as the full-frame sensor is noticeably larger than the D7100’s crop sensor.
[Source: Nikon]
