Nikon 600PF - Share Photos & Discuss!!!

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maxxus46 said:
in for repair 3 times?? Wow .care to explain? I haven't heard of many issues with this particular lense. Thanks
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Dirt/grit under the focus ring. See my posts a few pages back for more insight, but yeah, it's been disheartening. The 2nd repair was necessary because they didn't get it all out the first time, so technically it's only been 2 separate occurrences.
 
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Will they replace the lense if they can't get it right this time around ? I would ask if the weather seals ( O-rings ) can be replaced while it's in for repairs. It sounds like the sealing was faulty, as it should have kept the sand from getting into the lense. It's also possible the seals didn't get replaced or seated correctly the last time around ? Or worse, they didn't get all the sand out the first time it was in the shop . Good luck and keep us updated

MatthewK said:
Dirt/grit under the focus ring. See my posts a few pages back for more insight, but yeah, it's been disheartening. The 2nd repair was necessary because they didn't get it all out the first time, so technically it's only been 2 separate occurrences.
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ButlerKid said:
I have two weeks of photos almost all using the 600mm f6.3 HERE....... Images are much sharper on my website.

Below are a sampling....all were cropped in post.

Heavy overcast skies and constant rain during the 2 weeks -
600mm f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 20,000!
241123_Panama_Highlds_NZ48310_0030-X2.jpg


DX mode 900mm, f6.3, 1/125, ISO 1,600
241121_Panama_Gamboa_NZ80907_0190-X2.jpg


600mm, f6.3, 1/500, ISO 3,200
241125_Panama_Highlds_NZ40560_0075-X2.jpg
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I thoroughly enjoyed your album of pictures from Panama - way better than turning on the TV. The picture 'Cinnamon Beard' is the one I kept going back to. Superp all!
 
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maxxus46 said:
Will they replace the lense if they can't get it right this time around ? I would ask if the weather seals ( O-rings ) can be replaced while it's in for repairs. It sounds like the sealing was faulty, as it should have kept the sand from getting into the lense. It's also possible the seals didn't get replaced or seated correctly the last time around ? Or worse, they didn't get all the sand out the first time it was in the shop . Good luck and keep us updated
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The tech stated that my lens was in working order, but was offered a refurb unit exchange if I so desired. I felt that the lens never felt quite the same after the first two repairs, the manual focus ring didn't feel as smooth, and at times the lens made a sort of mechanical grunting sound when manually focusing. In the end decided to take them up on their offer for a refurb unit so that I can get a lens that hasn't been opened up/messed with three times.
 
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MatthewK said:
The tech stated that my lens was in working order, but was offered a refurb unit exchange if I so desired. I felt that the lens never felt quite the same after the first two repairs, the manual focus ring didn't feel as smooth, and at times the lens made a sort of mechanical grunting sound when manually focusing. In the end decided to take them up on their offer for a refurb unit so that I can get a lens that hasn't been opened up/messed with three times.
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Yup, all it takes is one bad Tech to ruin a perfectly good lense. Hopefully the next one is better to you. Take care
 
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ButlerKid said:
I understand your love of the 600 PF. I recently spent 2 weeks in Panama with my new 600 PF and came away stunned by the image quality when shooting in rain and low light that forced my ISOs higher than I would have liked! I, too, sometimes regretted not have my 600 TC with me........but those thoughts quickly faded as I hand held the 600 PF and quickly moved to a new location, dropped to my knees and captured a new image before the bird flew away......all the while not tethered to a big tripod!
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Your Panama pics are fantastic! I'm headed to Costa Rica for a dedicated bird photography trip in April and was going to take my newly acquired, refurbished, 600TC--but now I'm not so sure. I can handhold 600TC for short periods, as I can the 800PF I had been using, but was also going to take a tripod and monopod on the trip. Now I'm thinking I should just take my 600PF.
 
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maxxus46 said:
Yup, all it takes is one bad Tech to ruin a perfectly good lense. Hopefully the next one is better to you. Take care
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Finally received my replacement (refurbished) 600PF, and performing the slow turn of the MF ring, it's feeling gritty just like my previous one :mad: So, either it's normal for it to feel like this, or I lost the lottery and this lens also has an issue. Could someone do a quick test of their 600PF and see whether or not there's a gritty feel to it during regular use? Like, is it smooth, then gritty, smooth again, etc? Turning the MF ring on my 100-400, it feels a lot better, though it isn't perfectly smooth either, so perhaps I'm being paranoid and this is just how they're supposed to feel.
 
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MatthewK said:
Finally received my replacement (refurbished) 600PF, and performing the slow turn of the MF ring, it's feeling gritty just like my previous one :mad: So, either it's normal for it to feel like this, or I lost the lottery and this lens also has an issue. Could someone do a quick test of their 600PF and see whether or not there's a gritty feel to it during regular use? Like, is it smooth, then gritty, smooth again, etc? Turning the MF ring on my 100-400, it feels a lot better, though it isn't perfectly smooth either, so perhaps I'm being paranoid and this is just how they're supposed to feel.
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That does not seem right to me... Mine is very smooth, I cannot feel or hear any grinding (gritty sound or feel as I turn the MF ring. Did you check the serial number to ensure they did not send back the old lens (never know!) . Maybe others here can confirm behavior on their copies and respond . You can always point support to this thread if they question the complaint. I would contact them back and tell them the refurbished lens is just as bad , and request another copy. Wow 😳
 
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Yeah, it's a different lens for sure. I've taken a video and captured the sound, which I'm going to send over to Service; I've already emailed them this morning about it. Basically, either I'm overreacting, or this is another affected lens. Only way to know for sure is to somehow get a hold of a brand new copy and see how it feels out of box, but my local store doesn't have one, and I don't want to buy a new one just to end up returning it.
 
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MatthewK said:
Yeah, it's a different lens for sure. I've taken a video and captured the sound, which I'm going to send over to Service; I've already emailed them this morning about it. Basically, either I'm overreacting, or this is another affected lens. Only way to know for sure is to somehow get a hold of a brand new copy and see how it feels out of box, but my local store doesn't have one, and I don't want to buy a new one just to end up returning it.
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Maybe you should post a video here with the sounds your hearing, for others to compare and provide feedback? Good luck
 
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Was able to get a clear sample of the sound. The first 40 seconds you can distinctly hear it as a scratchy sound as I rotate the ring back and forth like I would if adjusting focus. The last 10 seconds I rotate past the part of the ring that exhibits the sound, and you can then no longer hear the scratching. Even in the cleaner portions, this focus ring sounds a bit raspy, but it feels smooth.

https://flic.kr/p/2qGLCnh
 
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MatthewK said:
Was able to get a clear sample of the sound. The first 40 seconds you can distinctly hear it as a scratchy sound as I rotate the ring back and forth like I would if adjusting focus. The last 10 seconds I rotate past the part of the ring that exhibits the sound, and you can then no longer hear the scratching. Even in the cleaner portions, this focus ring sounds a bit raspy, but it feels smooth.

https://flic.kr/p/2qGLCnh
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I am going to compare to mine later this evening and will post my feedback here. That sounds a little gritty in the video , but the microphone may be sensitive enough that it sounds worse than it actually is. Tyl
 
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MatthewK said:
Was able to get a clear sample of the sound. The first 40 seconds you can distinctly hear it as a scratchy sound as I rotate the ring back and forth like I would if adjusting focus. The last 10 seconds I rotate past the part of the ring that exhibits the sound, and you can then no longer hear the scratching. Even in the cleaner portions, this focus ring sounds a bit raspy, but it feels smooth.

https://flic.kr/p/2qGLCnh
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Mine is smooth with no raspy sound. Sorry to say. I think you have said it's not like your other lens and that is enough to know it's not right.
 
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maxxus46 said:
I am going to compare to mine later this evening and will post my feedback here. That sounds a little gritty in the video , but the microphone may be sensitive enough that it sounds worse than it actually is. Tyl
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Tested the focus ring on my 600PF and it's smooth as well, with no audible sounds . I think it's time Nikon services get this situation straightened out as people are paying attention. They owe you yet another replacement . Your situation could be any of us here, it's concerning. Please keep us updated . Good luck
 
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MatthewK said:
Was able to get a clear sample of the sound. The first 40 seconds you can distinctly hear it as a scratchy sound as I rotate the ring back and forth like I would if adjusting focus. The last 10 seconds I rotate past the part of the ring that exhibits the sound, and you can then no longer hear the scratching. Even in the cleaner portions, this focus ring sounds a bit raspy, but it feels smooth.

https://flic.kr/p/2qGLCnh
Click to expand...
Are my old ears getting bad that I don't hear any sound from your video? I have the audio up on the video and set my desktop's sound output to the max. Don't hear the sound, still. :sick:
 
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