Nikkor 28mm ais: send for service or replace?

brianentz · Sep 18, 2014

One of my principal lenses is my 28mm 2.8 ais lens. Love it, but from everything I've read I should think that it should be sharper than mine is. Perhaps, it suffered some wear/damage or perhaps for some other reason it is not as sharp as it could be. My question is: Would you recommend sending it for Nikon and for $147 having them overhaul it or would you sell it and just buy a new one? I think it would probably be more cost effective to have Nikon service it with the complaint that it is not as sharp as it should be.

What do you think?

jochen · Sep 18, 2014

Hello,
the 2,8/28 AiS Nikkor with CRC is one of the best 28 mm lenses for SLR's on the market. Is it not sharp at infinity or at close focus? Did it fall down? Does it have visible damages or does it rattle when shaken? Wear does not impact optical properties at all as far as the infinity position is correct (this can be checked very easily).
I think it wouldn't be correct to sell a lens from which you know that it has any mistake.

OldBodyOldSoul · Sep 18, 2014

The 28/2.8 AI-S is known to be exceptionally sharp at close distances where it's pretty much unmatched. At infinity it is only average, which still doesn't mean it's bad. For landscapes I would get any version of 28/2 instead. If you think the lens underperforms closer to MFD (8in, 20cm) then definitely find a better copy; In that case, I would check with KEH if you could swap lenses with some extra $ added on your side.

Xmas · Sep 18, 2014

If you are a careful worker

heavy tripod
Tmax 100 or Delta 100
...
mirror release or lock
and shoot lens test sequence
2.8, 4, 5.6, 8
look at negs with borrowed microscope or loope

You should see the lens performance improve

I use the earlier /3.5 but for performance 5.6 to 11.

If I want a sharp shot both a can of beer and lean on wall or lamp post - I have neural problems.

If you are not careful - you don't need the test.

Arvee · Sep 18, 2014

Check to see that the front cell has not started to loosen. I owned one that was not sharp and the front cell had rotated about half turn counterclockwise. I simply used a rubber jar lid opener and re-tightened it and it was fine. I have seen this happen to other 28mm AIS lenses; has something to do with the CRC feature and how it operates that causes it to loosen. If it gets too loose, the focusing will start to bind and it will not focus to infinity.

benjiboy · Sep 18, 2014

There are many independent repair companies who will service your lens cheaper than Nikon .

BrianShaw · Sep 18, 2014

When I last had a Nikkor AI-S overhauled I seem to recall paying much less than that at an independent. I think I recall about $50... and it was the among best money I have ever spend having camera gear maintained.

brianentz · Sep 18, 2014

Brian, where do you recomend?

benjiboy · Sep 20, 2014

If you have the lens professionally serviced you know it's been cleaned internally, re- lubricated, and re-collimated, if you buy another of unknown history it could soon also become faulty.

Newt_on_Swings · Sep 20, 2014

There are so many 2.8s out there, unless it's special to you I would get another. A 28mm f2 on the other hand I would repair as it would be cheaper than getting another lens.

Nikkor 28mm ais: send for service or replace?

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