Impact damage - repairable?

[rayonline_nz]

Hi all,

Any of you have success with impact damaged equipment? Is it repairable other than getting a "as is" unit and swap out the chassis?

A Nikon 18-35mm AF-D, tripod tipped over, the lens at the aperture ring area snapped off. Seems not an uncommon issue at least on eBay. The ribbon cable had a clean cut, I have repaired larger ribbon cables before but this is tiny - 4 wires. The plastic aperture ring sits on top of the main exterior lens barrel. The aperture ring has 4 plastic screw holes, A piece of plastic with 1 screw hole broke off. The lens still manually focuses, the lens zooms in and out, the aperture rings closes and opens without clicking sounds, also the lever works. The glass is also untouched.

After a few years ago, I have a replacement lens but I've kept it for that what if.


Cheers.

Edit. The plastic bit that broke off isn't on the aperture ring it's on the main lens barrel underneath the aperture ring unit.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I would think that it is repairable as long as parts are available.

 

[rayonline_nz]

Not me but can people with the right skills or equipment repair a flex ribbon cable? Can epoxy be used to glue back that plastic piece that broke off? Or would that not really work?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Not me but can people with the right skills or equipment repair a flex ribbon cable? Can epoxy be used to glue back that plastic piece that broke off? Or would that not really work?

Maybe. Would you share photographs.

 

[rayonline_nz]

Images. Ribbon snapped. Plastic with screw hole broke off the main exterior lens barrel.

 

[tokam]

The plastic may have deformed as it broke off. May make glueing it together difficult. Sourcing complete sub assemblies for replacement during repair could be a problem depending on the age of the lens.

A professional repair could be expensive if the lens has to leave NZ. Get a firm quote. Just noticed that you have already replaced this lens so would be interesting to know if replacement is cheaper than repair.

 

[rayonline_nz]

Yes the plastic bit that broke is deformed a bit. If I hold it to the area with a pair or tweeters it doesn't fit exactly. The 3 screws which goes from the metal lens mount thru the aperture ring and into that main lens barrel all 3 screws continue to spin and doesn't stop. This lens goes for less than $200US now. I have the updated AF-S G version lens which retails for $750US which I got it for $400US equiv a few years back.

For a few years I was hoping for a smashed front element lens with a good condition barrel and rear end to no avail but I haven't been particularly looking at it. You do find the odd lens that pop up eBay in nearly the same condition as mine. I read that lens manufacturers designed them to break at the lens mount to minimise internal damage. Other more sane individual prob just write it off despite the glass on it is untouched. Well, in NZ I am not sure if Nikon still services these and if so to what extent. Some of the warranty and service advisory equipment with the newer stuff forward to Australia.