David Burns
Active member
Some time ago, I had to have the AF motor replaced on my Nikkor 300mm f4 D AF lens. I had this done at my local repair shop and they did a great job. It took a long time, not because they were slow but because of the time it took to get the parts from Nikon. At the time, they told me that parts for older equipment were getting very difficult and would soon dry up altogether.
The AF on my other 300mm Nikkor, an f2.8 VR II AF, decided to malfunction yesterday and I ended up with virtually every shot out of focus. I am fairly certain that the AF motor has gone on this lens too as it was making strange 'clunking' noises. Having rung the same repair shop this morning, he told me that Nikon in the UK (including Nikon's own repair centre in London) are having to wait months for spare parts. He has a Z6 in for repair at the moment and cannot get spares. He was sure that Nikon in London would have the same problem in getting an AF motor replacement for my 300mm. Apparently Nikon use the same parts distribution company that he does! It is worth noting that the 300mm f2.8 is still being sold new in the UK and therefore, I presume, still being manufactured. It is an expensive piece of kit (£6,000+ in UK) and also the best lens I have ever used! I know the guy in the repair shop and have no reason to doubt what he tells me.
The last time I had equipment repaired by Nikon in London, they did a great job but it took four months. This was on a D500 body that I had bought new just after it was released and was about a year old when I dropped it! I was not told why it had taken so long at the time.
I was both disappointed and alarmed by what I heard and am now concerned that my Nikon equipment is going to become more and more difficult to get serviced owing to the absence of spares and delays in getting them. I have invested a lot in my Nikon equipment and whilst I am no longer using it professionally, I would like to be confident that I will be able to continue using it as an amateur into the future.
Experiences, comments from others?
The AF on my other 300mm Nikkor, an f2.8 VR II AF, decided to malfunction yesterday and I ended up with virtually every shot out of focus. I am fairly certain that the AF motor has gone on this lens too as it was making strange 'clunking' noises. Having rung the same repair shop this morning, he told me that Nikon in the UK (including Nikon's own repair centre in London) are having to wait months for spare parts. He has a Z6 in for repair at the moment and cannot get spares. He was sure that Nikon in London would have the same problem in getting an AF motor replacement for my 300mm. Apparently Nikon use the same parts distribution company that he does! It is worth noting that the 300mm f2.8 is still being sold new in the UK and therefore, I presume, still being manufactured. It is an expensive piece of kit (£6,000+ in UK) and also the best lens I have ever used! I know the guy in the repair shop and have no reason to doubt what he tells me.
The last time I had equipment repaired by Nikon in London, they did a great job but it took four months. This was on a D500 body that I had bought new just after it was released and was about a year old when I dropped it! I was not told why it had taken so long at the time.
I was both disappointed and alarmed by what I heard and am now concerned that my Nikon equipment is going to become more and more difficult to get serviced owing to the absence of spares and delays in getting them. I have invested a lot in my Nikon equipment and whilst I am no longer using it professionally, I would like to be confident that I will be able to continue using it as an amateur into the future.
Experiences, comments from others?