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Newtophotos · 12-21-2015, 06:38 PM

A buyer has asked for the serial number for a lens I currently have on eBay. What can someone learn from the serial number? I'm not assuming their motives are bad, I just don't know what one can learn.

dansamy · 12-21-2015, 06:40 PM

If it's listed in one of the stolen serial number lists.

**monochrome** · 12-21-2015, 06:44 PM - **1 Like**

Depending on the suspicious nature of the buyer,

Whether the item apears in any stolen goods database
Roughly when the lens was manufactured (doesn't work well for Pentax)
Nothing. The buyer just thinks he SHOULD ask

**jatrax** · 12-21-2015, 06:44 PM

Some people think that the serial number can be an indication of age of the lens. With Pentax that is usually not the case, as Pentax seems to use a system not based on anything I can understand.

In addition there are serial number databases for stolen lens, and for stolen property in general.

The person may have had a lens stolen and is checking to see if anyone on ebay / craigslist is selling it.

robthebloke · 12-21-2015, 06:45 PM

It can also be used to narrow down the true age of the lens.

**lmd91343** · 12-21-2015, 07:04 PM

For Leica, catalogs with look-up tables can be used to find the age. Older Nikons were the same way and newer I don't know. Older Canon, the numbers are even less related to age than Pentax, newer ones I don't know. With Russian, Hasselblad, and Kodak, the age is explicit in the serial number.

**ramseybuckeye** · 12-21-2015, 07:10 PM - **3 Likes**

The serial number should be listed or better yet pictured in the listing. It's an identification method so you get the used lens you purchased. I always list it, I have heard of people that buy something say it is defective, then return a different lens. The serial number can protect both buyer and seller.

---------- Post added 12-21-15 at 09:14 PM ----------

On Vivitar lenses you can find out who the manufacturer was by the serial number. https://www.cameraquest.com/VivLensManuf.htm

rawr · 12-21-2015, 07:19 PM

Maybe the buyer is a Nikon owner, where you can look up the age and other things about a Nikon lens based on its serial.

AFAIK there is no similar resources for Pentax.

**monochrome** · 12-21-2015, 07:36 PM

Originally posted by ramseybuckeye

The serial number should be listed or better yet pictured in the listing. It's an identification method so you get the used lens you purchased. I always list it, I have heard of people that buy something say it is defective, then return a different lens. The serial number can protect both buyer and seller.

How sad. I never thought of that.

Newtophotos · 12-21-2015, 08:11 PM

Great suggestions folks. I originally bought the lens off eBay a few years. Where is this database? I plugged the number into the database here on pentaxforum but it was no help.

gifthorse · 12-21-2015, 08:30 PM

For some third party lens providers, the serial number identifies the manufacturer.

Great Vivitar 28mm Bestiary

robthebloke · 12-21-2015, 09:45 PM

Pentax Serial Number Database - PentaxForums.com

Na Horuk · 12-22-2015, 01:12 AM

Are you worried the lens you are selling is stolen?

Anyway, yeah. I thought it was mostly so that the buyer knows which lens to expect and the seller knows which lens he sent. This way, the seller can't send a different lens from the one pictured, and the buyer can't return a different lens than the one received.

Yes, checking for stolen lenses is also possible, but I don't think its that common.

Chaos_Realm · 12-22-2015, 04:14 AM

In the case of the FA Limited's it can also indicate what type of coating was applied. Ie some believe the earlier coatings have more 'Pixie Dust' than the latter - or so the story goes. This thread goes into the details about some of the earlier ones apparently having lead in it and there being an obvious colour difference.

Oldbayrunner · 12-22-2015, 06:07 AM

Originally posted by Newtophotos

Great suggestions folks. I originally bought the lens off eBay a few years. Where is this database? I plugged the number into the database here on pentaxforum but it was no help.

Many are being registered here; https://www.lenstag.com/

12-21-2015, 06:38 PM	#1
Newtophotos Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 439	What can one learn from a lens serial number? A buyer has asked for the serial number for a lens I currently have on eBay. What can someone learn from the serial number? I'm not assuming their motives are bad, I just don't know what one can learn.

12-21-2015, 06:44 PM - 1 Like	#3
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Depending on the suspicious nature of the buyer, Whether the item apears in any stolen goods database Roughly when the lens was manufactured (doesn't work well for Pentax) Nothing. The buyer just thinks he SHOULD ask

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12-21-2015, 06:40 PM	#2
dansamy Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,450	If it's listed in one of the stolen serial number lists.

12-21-2015, 06:44 PM	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Some people think that the serial number can be an indication of age of the lens. With Pentax that is usually not the case, as Pentax seems to use a system not based on anything I can understand. In addition there are serial number databases for stolen lens, and for stolen property in general. The person may have had a lens stolen and is checking to see if anyone on ebay / craigslist is selling it.

12-21-2015, 06:45 PM	#5
robthebloke Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Sydney Photos: Albums Posts: 844	It can also be used to narrow down the true age of the lens.

12-21-2015, 07:04 PM	#6
lmd91343 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,027	For Leica, catalogs with look-up tables can be used to find the age. Older Nikons were the same way and newer I don't know. Older Canon, the numbers are even less related to age than Pentax, newer ones I don't know. With Russian, Hasselblad, and Kodak, the age is explicit in the serial number.

12-21-2015, 07:10 PM - 3 Likes	#7
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,295	The serial number should be listed or better yet pictured in the listing. It's an identification method so you get the used lens you purchased. I always list it, I have heard of people that buy something say it is defective, then return a different lens. The serial number can protect both buyer and seller. ---------- Post added 12-21-15 at 09:14 PM ---------- On Vivitar lenses you can find out who the manufacturer was by the serial number. https://www.cameraquest.com/VivLensManuf.htm

12-21-2015, 07:19 PM	#8
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Maybe the buyer is a Nikon owner, where you can look up the age and other things about a Nikon lens based on its serial. AFAIK there is no similar resources for Pentax.

12-21-2015, 07:36 PM	#9
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by ramseybuckeye The serial number should be listed or better yet pictured in the listing. It's an identification method so you get the used lens you purchased. I always list it, I have heard of people that buy something say it is defective, then return a different lens. The serial number can protect both buyer and seller. How sad. I never thought of that.

12-21-2015, 08:11 PM	#10
Newtophotos Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 439 Original Poster	Great suggestions folks. I originally bought the lens off eBay a few years. Where is this database? I plugged the number into the database here on pentaxforum but it was no help.

12-21-2015, 08:30 PM	#11
gifthorse Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Nevada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,949	For some third party lens providers, the serial number identifies the manufacturer. Great Vivitar 28mm Bestiary

12-21-2015, 09:45 PM	#12
robthebloke Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Sydney Photos: Albums Posts: 844	Pentax Serial Number Database - PentaxForums.com

12-22-2015, 01:12 AM	#13
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Are you worried the lens you are selling is stolen? Anyway, yeah. I thought it was mostly so that the buyer knows which lens to expect and the seller knows which lens he sent. This way, the seller can't send a different lens from the one pictured, and the buyer can't return a different lens than the one received. Yes, checking for stolen lenses is also possible, but I don't think its that common.

12-22-2015, 04:14 AM	#14
Chaos_Realm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,251	In the case of the FA Limited's it can also indicate what type of coating was applied. Ie some believe the earlier coatings have more 'Pixie Dust' than the latter - or so the story goes. This thread goes into the details about some of the earlier ones apparently having lead in it and there being an obvious colour difference.

12-22-2015, 06:07 AM	#15
Oldbayrunner Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 1,665	Originally posted by Newtophotos Great suggestions folks. I originally bought the lens off eBay a few years. Where is this database? I plugged the number into the database here on pentaxforum but it was no help. Many are being registered here; https://www.lenstag.com/

What can one learn from a lens serial number?

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