So I'm confused. Does Nikon need a RECEIPT or RECIPE?!
Yeah sure, some common sense would prevail considering the d800 is less than a year old. But it's best to follow policy and procedure if you want anything fixed for FREE (ie under warranty). Don't give the mfg anything to fault you by!
M Lucca wrote:
So I'm confused. Does Nikon need a RECEIPT or RECIPE?!
Yeah sure, some common sense would prevail considering the d800 is less than a year old. But it's best to follow policy and procedure if you want anything fixed for FREE (ie under warranty). Don't give the mfg anything to fault you by!
You have to send the correct recipe for Pasta Fazool - and if its not correct, they send your camera or lens back.
When reviewing images taken with ALL my Nikon gear (see Profile) I'll often exclaim "Whoa" but never woe.
I'm sure I'm in the majority and find threads such as this amusing, over a cold craft beer at the end of the day. Just sayin'
Whether or not the OP is a troll has nothing at all to do with the fact that Nikon USA has a strong tendency towards treating their customers (the only reason they exist) like crap.
The AF issue is due to Nikon, not any other person on the planet, f-ing up the camera calibration process in the factory. They should be fixing it free of charge no matter who has the camera.
It's not like the only example of them being a detriment to Nikon Shareholders, either. How many stories do we hear in here that go something like "They called it impact damage, and my stuff is brand new, and want $$$$$ to fix my brand new XXXX."
The people in charge of this policy of customer non-service belong in an unemployment line, not in charge of anything.
Really you need to read a bit more then, John...a quote from your buddy! THAT sir, is a Canon troll If you need this length and TSE features (the only reason to by this type of lens) the solution is to either return it to the store for replacement or send it for repair.
My sample is superb, but the first sample of the 90 TSE was not as good and was replaced with excellent one.
Poor samples are fact of life, but Canon has always been helpful unlike Nikon which service was always abysmal. That’s why I stay with Canon.
I must be missing something Will. I re-read his first post (we are talking about the OP, right?); and it sure looks to me he's talking about some Nikon lenses. Perhaps he shoots both systems
But I think he's a bit young sounding to be my buddy
On a different not I guess you too are finding the Olympics boring.
Apparently Thom Hogan is not the rock-star VIP he thought he was.
His latest posts have really put me off. First, he is not so subtly pointed out that he has influence over many students and a website, so?. Then he confronts random people with D800 on vacation to evangelize and posts that everyone is way over their heads...blah, blah, blah... There used to be information worth reading on that site.
He goes on about his poll and the huge volume of feedback, yet the guy has not posted any test results himself. He does all this research, shares none of it with the public, tries to play both sides of the ball, etc. Now, he plans to include it as content in a forthcoming guide. Maybe post some results and post some images where people are correctly testing or making mistakes testing. He is presenting himself as an authority figure carefully collecting and analyzing data. Where are the results? If he is unhappy with Nikon not stepping up, he should be stepping up with the data he has and some samples. Where is his leadership? He certainly has lots of opinions and implications. Is that premium content?
The point is Thom's customer service is about as good as what he is experiencing with Nikon. Nothing personal, I'm sure Thom is a good guy, but I'm calling him out on these D800 posts.
lara_ckl wrote:
Re-read Thom's post on his website. The person with influence over many students is the person Thom is writing about, not Thom himself.
I either misread that earlier or he clarified the context with the "update". I will leave my original post. I stand by the rest of it. I see he is dropping more hints about anonymous sources and non-disclosure with his inside connections. Why does he mention that stuff? It is hard not to laugh. I hadn't read his site much in recent years, so maybe this is my fault. He just writes paragraph after paragraph from on high, but so little of it contains actual information.
cynerjist wrote:
I either misread that earlier or he clarified the context with the "update". I will leave my original post. I stand by the rest of it. I see he is dropping more hints about anonymous sources and non-disclosure with his inside connections. Why does he mention that stuff? It is hard not to laugh. I hadn't read his site much in recent years, so maybe this is my fault. He just writes paragraph after paragraph from on high, but so little of it contains actual information.
Well, everyone is entitled to an opinion. I find Thom's musings to be very informative and insightful. He has a very keen understanding of how technology should work and I'm surprised more companies don't implement his suggestions. I fail to see any evidence that he is writing "from on high". Unless by "on high" you mean a position of clear thinking and vision. To each his own.
cynerjist wrote:
Apparently Thom Hogan is not the rock-star VIP he thought he was.
His latest posts have really put me off. First, he is not so subtly pointed out that he has influence over many students and a website, so?. Then he confronts random people with D800 on vacation to evangelize and posts that everyone is way over their heads...blah, blah, blah... There used to be information worth reading on that site.
He goes on about his poll and the huge volume of feedback, yet the guy has not posted any test results himself. He does all this research, shares none of it with the public, tries to play both sides of the ball, etc. Now, he plans to include it as content in a forthcoming guide. Maybe post some results and post some images where people are correctly testing or making mistakes testing. He is presenting himself as an authority figure carefully collecting and analyzing data. Where are the results? If he is unhappy with Nikon not stepping up, he should be stepping up with the data he has and some samples. Where is his leadership? He certainly has lots of opinions and implications. Is that premium content?
The point is Thom's customer service is about as good as what he is experiencing with Nikon. Nothing personal, I'm sure Thom is a good guy, but I'm calling him out on these D800 posts....Show more →
I think you're assuming and projecting a lot - it doesn't sound like he "confronted" anyone. I'm guessing most members on this forum who are aware of the D800 issue would have mentioned/asked about it if they were on a photo journey with a D800 user.
If I had a D800 and knew Thom at all, I'd absolutely ask him to have a look and render an opinion.
As for him not posting all his results, etc., I'd offer two likely reasons:
First - if he's been told something by a source, he has to be very careful using the information so it doesn't compromise the person giving it to him. I work for a technology company, and leaks are not only hated, but can be cause for dismissal (even if inadvertent).
Second - 99% of the photography world doesn't understand the theory and practice of how the physical equipment works, not to mention photography itself at the depth he does. I doubt he wants to battle with all the internet heroes who think they know it all.
He's not infallible - heck, I e-mailed him about a comment he made in one of those articles about the variation of the phenomenon between lenses, suggesting that sample variation between lenses might be part of the reason (referncing Roger Cicala's excellent article on the topic: http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/10/notes-on-lens-and-camera-variation), and he agreed that might be at least partially responsible.
At the end of the day, Thom's own results aren't important - he's trying to describe a method for D800 users to specifically test for the issue so they can address Nikon with a highly credible set of information and hopefully get resolution.
He also understands the concept of a statistically significant sample and the amplification factor of the internet: he's not able to talk to enough cold D800 users to offer a mathematically accurate view of the problem, and the people with issues are a lot more vocal than the many happy D800 users out there taking photos (including a buddy of mine).
He's calling out the issue, stating what he sees in his small view of the world and calling for Nikon to step up - I think that is plenty of leadership without sensationalism. He's also separating the folks who are just shooting poorly and/or testing incorrectly from the folks who really have the issue. I think he's being very careful and considered in his approach to the whole thing. Where has Ken Limbaugh....er...Rockwell been on this? He's been shockingly (but thankfully) silent.
Haha we can agree on Rockwell not entering the fray. I don't know you but sense from your response that you may work in an engineering field, conduct experiments and data analysis, and write technical documents as I used to. This perspective is largely what is shaping my view given the fact he is collecting data, but is attempting to describe everything anecdotally without presenting the actual data. You made good points for why he might not be sharing.
I agree that Thom is extremely knowledgeable and capable. This is precisely why I am frustrated and wrote what I did about his D800 coverage. He is a bright guy, but he wanders in different directions with the commentary. That can certainly be interesting as he is able to connect many distant topics. That said, I think he clearly possesses a rigorous approach to these type of matters, and could more carefully construct the content he posts given his impact factor and own comments about how this whole issue demands the utmost care to observe. I am less interested in the "people in over their heads" type of commentary, and more interested in the knowledge he can share with D800 owners/observers that are able to keep up.
He mentioned at one point having statistically significant information, but probably worries about the poll data due to people not controlling the test properly. I think he has seen enough test shots from the emails, is able to ascertain test quality, and could put something together on that basis. Maybe I do not appreciate how much time he spends helping people via email, and how every mention of the d800 increases his burden. However, nobody is better positioned to reveal the scope than Thom at this point given Nikon culture. At a minimum, we could know the magnitude of the number of affected models he has seen.
I think he has more he could share. It is his right to withhold information as he sees fit. However, I want to be clear that he is taking the lid off of these boxes by using terms like statistically significant and said he is seeing "other issues" than left AF but not elaborating. In my opinion he should not be so ambiguous, mention anonymous sources -- just state products may be coming soon, and he should steer clear of financial analysis as he is way out of his domain there. In turn, I will stay out of his domain and refrain from further comment on his blog. He deserves credit for the many things he has done right.
So, am I right in thinking that if I bought a secondhand D800 and found the left AF was faulty (for example) Nikon would not correct this for free under the warranty?
If so, that sucks. Even car manufacturers will honour a warranty with someone other than the original owner.
I was seriously going to consider buying a secondhand D800 at some point, but not anymore. I'll stick with my trusty D700
pr4photos wrote:
So, am I right in thinking that if I bought a secondhand D800 and found the left AF was faulty (for example) Nikon would not correct this for free under the warranty?
If so, that sucks. Even car manufacturers will honour a warranty with someone other than the original owner.
I was seriously going to consider buying a secondhand D800 at some point, but not anymore. I'll stick with my trusty D700
This is an excellent point. However, you should ask for the proof of purchase from original owner as this should be used as proof of warranty time.
It would appear that the service people that Thom first approached about the issue were complete d/heads. It is fair to ask for the proof of purchase but knowing the serial number and how long the camera has been out should have been the catalyst to take the camera under warranty service straight away.
Nikon Australia (through Maxwells at the time) never hesitated when I brought in my F50 without a proof of purchase - they could tell from the serial number in their computer system that I was the owner and they did a repair for nix 4 months out of warranty!
but never woe. 
