Nikon Z8 - Service Advisory

[Garuna]

Lenses are locked in place via a small pin on the mount that goes down when we press the lens release button all the way.

When unmounted, the release button is smooth to press.

When a lens is mounted and if the release button is pressed to unmount it….the release button produces a ‘tuck’ ‘disengaging’ sound half way through, it doesn’t go down all the way smoothly and there is resistance…and after that sound/disengagement…it goes down smoothly all the way.

My Z8 lens release button has this behaviour, and i compared it with my other camera, a Sony a7rIII and it does the same but to a lesser degree but resistance is there.

Makes me think they made it like that so the lens doesn’t fall off when we press the button inadvertently.

If its a normal behaviour or not, we will know if someone who knows this stuff chimes in…

This is not lens dependent at all…happens with all lenses especially if you manoeuvre the lens left or right very slightly.

If this is normal behaviour then it should happen every time, but no, sometimes the release button can be smoothly pressed all the way down to unmount a lens.

 

[SNEDDERS6666]

My Z8 is affected apparently. The issue is on rare occasions some lenses won’t lock on. I’ve never experienced this with my Z8 but I’d better send it in as it’s a warranty recall and you need to be able to say the thing is perfect if it’s going to be sold at any time…I’m not planning on selling, but in a few years, who knows?

Hey Patrick, I'm in Scotland, how did you get notified by Nikon or did you have to contact them? I can't find anything on the Nikon support site do you know where the notification is? Thank you, David

 

[Takatanaka]

Hey Patrick, I'm in Scotland, how did you get notified by Nikon or did you have to contact them? I can't find anything on the Nikon support site do you know where the notification is? Thank you, David

Click and follow this link: Nikon UK

 

[Geoff_G]

My “Z9” multi selector down button is ignoring when pressed. So I sent it in NPS to be fixed. I hope I won’t have to wait forever because its all hands on deck to fix the Z8.

Meanwhile my Z8 shows effected. It doesn’t show any signs of issues. Lenses lock properly. I can’t stay without a camera. I will wait until I get the Z9 back. But my question is, is it safe to shoot with it if the lens locks/clicks in? Or there is a risk the lens might fall off? I can’t take such a chance holding it above babies.

The problem is that some lenses may not lock in. If they do lock in your good to go.
That said, at some point it's prudent to send it to Nikon so there won't be any issues down the road with a different lens..

 

[SNEDDERS6666]

Click and follow this link: Nikon UK

Thank you so much Takatanaka

 

[SNEDDERS6666]

Apparently my Z8 is also in the affected serial number range in the UK 600XXXX although my Z 40 f2 fits perfectly and my FTZ2 also with my 500PF, 300PF and my 24-85 all fit well with no locking issues whatsoever. I'll send it in when it suits. I'm going to Seattle and Alaska for most of August so wont be before then.

 

[Krümelkraft]

Lenses are locked in place via a small pin on the mount that goes down when we press the lens release button all the way.

When unmounted, the release button is smooth to press.

When a lens is mounted and if the release button is pressed to unmount it….the release button produces a ‘tuck’ ‘disengaging’ sound half way through, it doesn’t go down all the way smoothly and there is resistance…and after that sound/disengagement…it goes down smoothly all the way.

My Z8 lens release button has this behaviour, and i compared it with my other camera, a Sony a7rIII and it does the same but to a lesser degree but resistance is there.

Makes me think they made it like that so the lens doesn’t fall off when we press the button inadvertently.

If its a normal behaviour or not, we will know if someone who knows this stuff chimes in…

This is not lens dependent at all…happens with all lenses especially if you manoeuvre the lens left or right very slightly.

If this is normal behaviour then it should happen every time, but no, sometimes the release button can be smoothly pressed all the way down to unmount a lens.

This happens depending on how tight the lens is fixed on the mount.
There is a small tolerance in the rotational direction. If your lens is sits very tight, it will press the pin against the hole in the mount. In that case it can behave as you describe.
You can try to rotate the locked lens slightly until you feel it's in its "middle" position (i.e. not to its tolerance limits, rotationwise). Eventually the button will go down smoothly.

I also can imagine that after some usage, the pin may become a bit more "slippery" and therefore easier to push down. Also lenses that rotate easier may not cause this behaviour.

 

[Patrick M]

Hey Patrick, I'm in Scotland, how did you get notified by Nikon or did you have to contact them? I can't find anything on the Nikon support site do you know where the notification is? Thank you, David

I had to check on the Nikon UK support website. My camera, as well as my lenses are all registered but I've never ever had an email notification for any reason where one of my registered products are concerned. It was a Nikon FB group where I saw someone in Asia point it out..

I'm on the wait list - ie I expect an email when they have the required part. I'm away for a month - with a rented z100-400 although I've not had any problems locking on lenses

 

[Krümelkraft]

Nikon UK said the "issue" was in the locking mechanism this time and not the button - so different to the Z9 issue.

This sounds odd to me. The button and the locking mechanism are practically the same.
I think they just won't admit that they built in the same crap in the pre-manufactured Z8s as in the Z9.

What makes the lens lock in is the pin that sticks out of the mount and which is lowered by pressing the lens release button.
That pin and the button are directly mechanically coupled (spring loaded), so, if there is something broken and the pin either doesn't go down or doesn't come up, then the lens can't be locked or removed, respectively.

Nikon, please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[JoelKlein]

@JoelKlein you should be able to get a loaner via your nps membership

Loaner showing not before 2 weeks from now.

 

[nrwatson]

I will return to dealer for refund and reorder camera not been impressed with Nikon service lens return in a worse condition than it left me difficult to prove

 

[Owney]

Mine was part of the initial shipment and is part of the recall.

 

[ARClark]

My Z8 is effected, but my Z9 needs repair the multi button bottom press is broken.
I can’t send in 2 cameras in the hot season. I personally haven’t noticed issues with the Z8 mount.

No clue what to do…

Interesting. The rear dial on my Z9 isn't functioning properly and I'll be sending it in. Have had it 18 months. I was thinking that without the mirror and mechanical shutter that maintenance would be minimal. But I do use that dial A LOT for scrolling through images on the rear screen, and with 15-20 fps bursts shooting birds all the time, I'm probably using it a lot more than I did on my D850s. So we're seeing wear and tear on some less obvious components.

Hopefully your new Z8 holds up for you if you send in the Z9 to Nikon. Are you close enough to the Nikon repair shop to drop it off?

 

[SNEDDERS6666]

I had to check on the Nikon UK support website. My camera, as well as my lenses are all registered but I've never ever had an email notification for any reason where one of my registered products are concerned. It was a Nikon FB group where I saw someone in Asia point it out..

I'm on the wait list - ie I expect an email when they have the required part. I'm away for a month - with a rented z100-400 although I've not had any problems locking on lenses

Thanks Patrick I found it thanks to one of the guys here. My serial number is in the included bodies but I have no issues with any of my lenses and I am in Seattle and Alaska for most of August so I won't be sending it in until after that. Cheers mate.

 

[SoCalRick]

Interesting. The rear dial on my Z9 isn't functioning properly and I'll be sending it in. Have had it 18 months. I was thinking that without the mirror and mechanical shutter that maintenance would be minimal. But I do use that dial A LOT for scrolling through images on the rear screen, and with 15-20 fps bursts shooting birds all the time, I'm probably using it a lot more than I did on my D850s. So we're seeing wear and tear on some less obvious components.

Hopefully your new Z8 holds up for you if you send in the Z9 to Nikon. Are you close enough to the Nikon repair shop to drop it off?

If you want to save wear and tear on your rear dial, you can always use your finger to "swipe through" your images when reviewing them on the rear display screen. You can also use pinch and spread motions to zoom in and out.

 

[Dparson7]

Just making sure. My z8 is affected. When I go thru the process (with Nikon USA) and get to the shipping label page I can continue as a guest. But then the z8 is not listed in the product pull down list. Am I correct that I should just choose Z7, then make sure the packing slip is in the box with the z8? Thanks

 

[John Navitsky]

i selected z9. i think in the us it said to pick z9. afaik, it’s to get the right weight for shipping and the z7 would be lighter

 

[Dparson7]

Just checked and Z9 is not listed?

 

[John Navitsky]

weird. back up and see what it tells you to do

 

[KeenanQ]

Just making sure. My z8 is affected. When I go thru the process (with Nikon USA) and get to the shipping label page I can continue as a guest. But then the z8 is not listed in the product pull down list. Am I correct that I should just choose Z7, then make sure the packing slip is in the box with the z8? Thanks

You need to select Z6 according to the instructions.

 

[SBurkholder]

I’ve actually had this happen to me twice now. Both times I was questioning myself on how I could have pushed the release button. Both times I was very lucky to have caught the camera before it dropped. I then saw this thread and it suddenly dawned on me that it probably wasn’t my fault. Currently in remote Cuba and have been in limited internet access. Now back in Havana and back to the States on Tuesday. Leaving for Europe in two weeks. Wondering if they can get it fixed in time.

BTW the lens was the 100-400.

 

[Garuna]

I’ve actually had this happen to me twice now. Both times I was questioning myself on how I could have pushed the release button. Both times I was very lucky to have caught the camera before it dropped. I then saw this thread and it suddenly dawned on me that it probably wasn’t my fault. Currently in remote Cuba and have been in limited internet access. Now back in Havana and back to the States on Tuesday. Leaving for Europe in two weeks. Wondering if they can get it fixed in time.

BTW the lens was the 100-400.

That means your lens was mounting (with a click sound)? Advisory says the lens will not mount.

 

[SBurkholder]

That means your lens was mounting (with a click sound)? Advisory says the lens will not mount.

Well, I assume so. Been using Nikon for 40+ years and have never had this happen to me before. Now twice a little over a week seems to me unusual. But I don’t know for sure. Could be my fault but I’ve now strapped the camera to the lens and then to my shoulder strap.

 

[bsinc1962]

In my opinion it sounds like a tolerance issue with the mount. Hence why some work fine and some might have lenses that won't mount.
Nikon probably has a go/nogo gage or other type of gage to quickly check the mounts. If it passes it goes back in the box and quickly back to the customer. If it fails it gets a new in-tolerance mount.

 

[Snapshot2020]

i selected z9. i think in the us it said to pick z9. afaik, it’s to get the right weight for shipping and the z7 would be lighter

Yep... Z9 was the instructions when I went to the Nikon USA Website on Friday morning. My Z8 was shipped to Nikon on Friday with a Tracking Number issued by Nikon.