M635_Guy
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 p.8 #9 · Nikon says Impact Damage, D800 | |
m.sommers00 wrote:
Well I got a response back from Nikon today. Unfortunately the store where I bought everything is in the middle right now. I feel bad for her.
Nikon:
"For the body they are saying that the aperture lever has been bent down, but they have agreed to lower the estimate, but it is possible that once the body is internally inspected by a technician they may find the frame will be bent and the camera will be beyond repair.
Regarding the lens, our Nikon rep said the lens mount has a major bend in it, he says he's never really seen one so bad. But again, they will agree to lower the estimate from full impact pricing.
The new estimates are as follows;
Body - $391.61
Lens - $609.36
Please note that these estimates are pending approval and then internal inspection by the technicians. Once they open everything up, there could be additional damage, and in that case the full impact pricing will be applied, with your approval of course. "
Photos of camera and lens:
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http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c159/matt_calgary/MS1.jpg |
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http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c159/matt_calgary/referenceunit.jpg |
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http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c159/matt_calgary/MSLens.jpg |
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And my response:
Thanks for the photos. I've never had any aperture problems on any of my others lenses. The 80-400 would sometimes go to F/0, I'd have to pull the battery and wait a few seconds, and then it'd be fine for a few days. But when I cleaned the contacts the problem went away. Given how much dust and sand I had over three months in Africa, I didn't really think it was a problem. I mean there's dust in the lens already.
I still don't understand how all this affects the AF system and the focus chatter on AF-C that I described. All my other lenses work fine. Any bayonet "damages" are not why I sent this in at all because I never had a problem with any other lenses!
I would like the tech to specifically indicate how this would fix my focus chatter problem, on the lens. It was a problem from the get-go when I took it home - it's something wrong with the lens, I know it is. It's like it has a hard time deciding on a specific point and fluctuates back and forth ever so slightly. I only sent in my camera because I wanted it calibrated to the lens since I couldn't adjust it enough on the fine-tune. The fact I'm not alone on this issue and others on the photography forums have been able to describe exactly my same problem is not just a coincidence they all have "damaged bayonets." The bayonet likely has lots of wear and tear from mounting and unmounting the 80-400 and 16-35 so much in the field. I know the TC14e had trouble dismounting one time and I had to turn it with a lot of force to get it off, which is probably why that lever is slightly bent. But again I've never had aperture issues with any of my other lenses, and I have a lot. That hardly seems coincidental to me.
However, if this bent lever and mangled bayonet will fix things then I'd be willing to pay their fee, on only the camera.
There is absolutely zero percent chance that 80-400 lens has ever seen anything close to impact damage and it absolutely infuriates me that they're claiming that's the case, especially at a whopping $600!
How was it decided that they'd suddenly decrease the price? Like what was it based off of initially and now it's less? Something just does not seem right to me here.
I'm very sorry you've had to read through this Teri as this has nothing to do with you and everything to do with the Vancouver Nikon service center, so again I'm sorry. But there is 100% something wrong with that lens from the factory and there is no way I'm paying for their QC problems.
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Their reply:
Essentially Nikon is standing firm on their assertion that there must have been an impact big enough to bend the metal, they think the impact could have damaged other parts of the camera/lens internally. But they will not know unless the estimate is approved and the equipment is taken apart and inspected for damage.
It sounds like a bit of an impasse, would you like me to have Nikon ship the equipment back so that you can deal with them directly?
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My response:
If the bayonet and aperture lever are damaged, that was probably my doing trying to deal with the TC14 that didn't want to come off for some reason (which I'm still confused about), that's probably my fault. I just don't get how they're saying the lens is damaged, it's absolutely appalling.
If I do approve the lens as well, will we be able to thoroughly test it in the store before I take it home? My hugest fear is that I give in to these guys and say to "repair" the lens, and then I take it home and it's actually not fixed at all, get it sent in again only to be told it's from impact damage! I'm at an impasse as well. I really don't know what to do here because I don't have much use for a mis-focusing $2,700 lens. If they're not going to fix it under warranty, what other option do I have?
I could send in my entire arsenal of gear and be told they all suffer from impact damage at this rate.
Before I say yes or no to the body or the lens, I would like a write-up from the technician explaining how EXACTLY the impact caused the AF system to malfunction, which parts were affected and how, and to explain how the malfunction of focus chatter on AF-C with stationary objects is only affected by this one lens. I would also like photos of the impact site with some form of indicator to the exact site in question.
Once I have these, I will approve Nikon to start service. If they cannot, I want their supervisor to call me.
...Show more →
Honestly, it is pretty obvious that that mount has seen some sort of stress from a drop or other force. I'd like to hear what Roger C. says, but it seems like the lens could be bent vs. the expected plane of the sensor and thus confusing the AF system. That thing is hurt, and not just a little. I think their term "impact damage" is more of a catch-all for "hurt by external force."
I can't say much about the body, other than the lever does appear bent as well and I have to wonder how "square" it is - it doesn't take much to throw off the AF system.
BenV wrote:
I've been down that road. Its ridiculous. They wouldn't budge. Do what I did and be shady back to them. Decline the offer. Get the email saying you declined. Call and accept the repair. Once you get your gear back call your CC for fraud charges. Unfortunately that's what I was forced to do. This impact damage is bull. I'm actually getting upset remembering it.
I'm still pretty shocked about this. It would never occur to me to pull something as dishonest and probably illegal as that.
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