Hey.. I'm new to this group and have a concern that I'd like verified (or debunked). My D800 is close to a year old, but I've been struggling with focus issues for months. I should have sent it in as soon as the issue presented itself, but I worried about it getting sucked into Nikon service for months. Instead, I was in contact with service via phone sending pictures, etc trying to determine if it was the camera itself or maybe my lens needing calibration. I'd try micro adjustments .. the problem would go away, then come back, then go away again. I have never dropped it and protect it with my life.
Two weeks ago when a friend was trying to convince me that a lens he has is so sharp that it needs to be my next purchase, I tried it out on my D800 and snapped a picture of him. His sweater was as sharp as a tack, but his face obviously in very soft focus. Focus issue back.
I sent it to Melville. I got an email the day it arrived saying they would repair my focus issue free of charge under my warranty. Great. The next day, I received another email saying that the camera suffered "heavy impact damage beyond economical repair" and my warranty was voided due to user damage; the inside rear casing is cracked in half. This totally came out of left field; No way. I had never dropped the camera. They sent me a photo of 2 scuff marks as proof of a massacre. I had never seen scuff marks before, and questioned the condition of the box on arrival. They said they don't photograph the boxes, but would refuse one if it was damaged.
When I got my camera back, I looked for the scuffs.. they are hardly noticeable and less than 1/8" and if I run my finger across them, I can't even feel them. But Nikon says it's my fault. There is no way anything i could have done to this "durable pro camera" that would crack the frame in half (and with no visible external damage).
With few options, I figured I'd look on ebay to see what I could get for it for parts and did a search for "Nikon D800 parts only". The very first hit I came to was another D800 also in excellent external condition, but listed with "cracked internal casing". They posted pictures and included one of the crack... in the exact same spot as mine. What are the chances? I can't imagine this not being some kind of manufacturer's defect or a weak spot of some sort.
I've done some research and have heard talk of many D800s with the same issue, but would like a little more concrete evidence backing on this. Has any of you had a similar issue? Or know of anyone who has?
Thank you, Chuck... I've been skimming around the forum and I've seen that APS is highly regarded. That's good to know. .. I'm not feeling like I can trust NikonUSA at all and thought there weren't any authorized dealers who can fix D800s. The problem is, after reading so many issues with it, I honestly wouldn't want to invest any money into it at this point. The one I saw on ebay (identical condition with identical crack fully disclosed) sold for close to $1300 yesterday, which is more than I imagined for parts only. But still.. that's a huge loss. I haven't had it a year.
I was just going to try to upload a photo of the crack side-by-side with the ebay camera, but I can't. How do you become "upload and sell" member?
nikon customer service has treated me well fixing my left focus issue on my d800e, so i am surprised by their call on your camera. i am sorry for your issue, but i would continue to pursue it and would like to see your foto of the crack? amazingly sad...
MaryO wrote:
Hey.. I'm new to this group and have a concern that I'd like verified (or debunked). My D800 is close to a year old, but I've been struggling with focus issues for months. I should have sent it in as soon as the issue presented itself, but I worried about it getting sucked into Nikon service for months. Instead, I was in contact with service via phone sending pictures, etc trying to determine if it was the camera itself or maybe my lens needing calibration. I'd try micro adjustments .. the problem would go away, then come back, then go away again. I have never dropped it and protect it with my life.
Two weeks ago when a friend was trying to convince me that a lens he has is so sharp that it needs to be my next purchase, I tried it out on my D800 and snapped a picture of him. His sweater was as sharp as a tack, but his face obviously in very soft focus. Focus issue back.
I sent it to Melville. I got an email the day it arrived saying they would repair my focus issue free of charge under my warranty. Great. The next day, I received another email saying that the camera suffered "heavy impact damage beyond economical repair" and my warranty was voided due to user damage; the inside rear casing is cracked in half. This totally came out of left field; No way. I had never dropped the camera. They sent me a photo of 2 scuff marks as proof of a massacre. I had never seen scuff marks before, and questioned the condition of the box on arrival. They said they don't photograph the boxes, but would refuse one if it was damaged.
When I got my camera back, I looked for the scuffs.. they are hardly noticeable and less than 1/8" and if I run my finger across them, I can't even feel them. But Nikon says it's my fault. There is no way anything i could have done to this "durable pro camera" that would crack the frame in half (and with no visible external damage).
With few options, I figured I'd look on ebay to see what I could get for it for parts and did a search for "Nikon D800 parts only". The very first hit I came to was another D800 also in excellent external condition, but listed with "cracked internal casing". They posted pictures and included one of the crack... in the exact same spot as mine. What are the chances? I can't imagine this not being some kind of manufacturer's defect or a weak spot of some sort.
I've done some research and have heard talk of many D800s with the same issue, but would like a little more concrete evidence backing on this. Has any of you had a similar issue? Or know of anyone who has? ...Show more →
Mary, What lenses have you had mounted on the body? Just curious. Also, do you use a tripod regularly?
James: I mostly use my go-to lens, 24-70; that would be the heaviest. I have a few primes that I use as well and I occasionally use 70-300 zoom. I rarely use a tripod. Regardless, even if I used Nikon's heaviest lens, should it crack a camera frame?
I think I'm able to post photos now. If this works, the photo on the left is the ebay camera in nearly identical condition as mine; the photo on the right is mine:
But welcome to the forum! I hope you find a way to a happy conclusion... I am a D800E owner as well, and I do use my camera (which is supposedly what they're designed for!). Nikon can't expect us to bubble wrap a camera with "professional level body", and never subject it to any mild impact. Sound like if someone bumps into your camera on vacation, say while lining up for lunch somewhere, you're toast! Now I'm imagining the D800 or even a D4 being made of glass... how could anyone, much less a pro, use such a fragile thing and not expect it to break?
It does sound to me that this is a serious design issue, and with some great amount of luck, if you and/or Thom and/or enough other people speak out about this issue, that Nikon may do something about this.
That’s nasty. How could something like that even happen with normal use, or with even some abuse. I guess I’ve been lucky. I bought my D800 used about 3 years ago and it got knocked off a table once, and last year I got hit hard on the football sidelines for not staying focused on the action. Been on the sidelines for 10 years, and have never dropped the ball on what was happening on the field. Messed up my lens cover and gave me a nasty bump on my forehead, but the camera is still working fine. Going to watch this thread to see what your outcome is, but it does look like the camera will have to be replaced.
Just looking at the pic of yours on the right, is that the screw threads of the tripod socket hole to the right of the crack? If it is, do you use anything like a Black Rapid type strap that hangs the camera from the tripod socket? Could that put stress on a weakly designed piece of metal? Even if you treated it with kid gloves if the design was weak it just might not have been able to handle that particular stress. Just a wild a$$ guess on my part.
Another thought, maybe dumb, but, if all else fails and you can't salvage anything out of the camera, try some JB Weld on that metal part. It may sound silly but I've seen that stuff do some amazing things. And if you've got nothing else to lose.....
Exactly, James, it's not minor damage; and totally inconsistent with the outside of the camera or anything I possibly could have done. I've been told that metal experts say the required force to generate a crack like this can't be done without clear and obvious damage to the outside of the camera. There was no visible external damage to either camera. Like I said, I've heard of many other D800s with casting cracks that have occurred in the exact same place and that's why I'm here. I would love to contact anyone else with a similar issue... for the reason you mentioned: Multiple voices.
Thanks, everyone, for the warm welcome and support
Chestnut: I totally agree. It has to be a design flaw. How could two cameras with no exterior damage crack in the exact same spot? And you're right about expectations of a $3,000 pro body. I certainly don't abuse my equipment; in fact, I treat it like it's made entirely of glass, but I shouldn't have to. And this definitely shouldn't happen from normal use.
Wingspar: It does have to be replaced, unfortunately. Nikon returned it to me claiming impact damage beyond economical repair and voided my warranty. I couldn't believe it. I sent it in for what I thought was the D800 AF issue and was totally side-blinded by this.
egd5: Yes, that is the screw thread for the tripod socket. I don't use a tripod often; probably less than a half dozen times with this particular body and no; there were no tips or falls either. But you're right, regardless that's what that socket is there for and it should be able to withstand that kind of use unless the design is weak or flawed, and there's no way it can't be. Re: JB Weld: I guess if it comes down to it, I'd try anything, but when I talked to Thom about the possibility of my focus problems being the usual D800 focus issue and the crack was just an incidental finding, and he thinks that a crack like that would throw off the alignment of all the components necessary for focus. I can't imagine it would be easy to get it back in perfect alignment.
The ebay camera with the crack totally disclosed got close to $1300. It's a consolation. But it's not right. We shouldn't pay $3000 for a pro camera expecting reasonable durability, not even getting any kind of durability whatsoever, and taking a massive loss less than a year later
I recently sold my good D800 and only got $1400 for it, so $1300 for a damaged one is a great price, IMO. Good luck with everything.
Edit: You mentioned in the OP that the problem was intermittent. I was just thinking that the JB Weld might at least make it stable. Like I said, it would be a last resort if all else fails and you can't get rid of it.
