Nikkor AiS repair guru needed

semi-ambivalent · Aug 1, 2012

Can anyone here 'recommend' a good shop experienced with Nikkor AiS/CRC lenses? I have a 28mm f/2 that's making a scary loose-element-kinda sound when shaken. It might just be wear in the CRC group but I'd like to head this one off at the pass.

s-a

Jesper · Aug 1, 2012

There are a lot of repair shops that should be able to fix that, but it would help to know were you live. No sense in spending more on postage than repairs.

semi-ambivalent · Aug 1, 2012

Jesper said:
There are a lot of repair shops that should be able to fix that, but it would help to know were you live. No sense in spending more on postage than repairs.

(What a knucklehead.) You're right. Denver.

s-a

jochen · Aug 1, 2012

Hello,
I would show your lens to somebody who knows Nikkor lenses. Perhaps this is quite normal. I have several AiS lenses who make rattling sounds when shaken, e.g. the 1:2,8/135 mm. This comes from the aperture actuating mechanism.

BrianShaw · Aug 1, 2012

semi-ambivalent said:
(What a knucklehead.) You're right. Denver.

s-a

Interestingly, Nikon seems to have removed from their website the list of Authorized Repair Stations, but in Denver area it was Metro Camera Service in Englewood.

BrianShaw · Aug 1, 2012

p.s. I had a Nikkor that developed a slight rattle and it was in the focus assy -- got loose from age and use. I think it cost about $100 to have the lens overhauled. After that it felt (and sounded) just like new again.

Aja B · Aug 1, 2012

It would be worth a dime to phone John at Focal Point Lens in Superior. He usually works on "high-end German and Japanese optics" as noted on his site < http://www.focalpointlens.com/fp_intro.html >. He has serviced my Leica and Nikon glass. Recommended.

dslater · Aug 1, 2012

jochen said:
Hello,
I would show your lens to somebody who knows Nikkor lenses. Perhaps this is quite normal. I have several AiS lenses who make rattling sounds when shaken, e.g. the 1:2,8/135 mm. This comes from the aperture actuating mechanism.

I have that lens. Mine doesn't rattle at all.

Aja B · Aug 2, 2012

When all is said and done tell us which shop you chose and whether you liked the service.

Stephen Prunier · Aug 3, 2012

semi-ambivalent said:
Can anyone here 'recommend' a good shop experienced with Nikkor AiS/CRC lenses? I have a 28mm f/2 that's making a scary loose-element-kinda sound when shaken. It might just be wear in the CRC group but I'd like to head this one off at the pass.

s-a

OMG Iv'e been having the same exact problem with mine for a while now! I tried taking the back off and tighten everything the best I could but it still does it. Mine can be tight to focus at times, and there's some "slop" "wiggle" to it. When I hold the lens in my hand and move it around it makes a clunking sound like the barrel is loose. There's a shop in Providence RI that I'm thinking about contacting. It's only 1 1/2 hr's from me so I may see if I can bring it down and wait. Spend the day down there instead of mailing it.

Can you tell if it's effecting the sharpness of your images?

Stephen Prunier · Aug 3, 2012

dslater said:
I have that lens. Mine doesn't rattle at all.

Have you ever dealt with the repair shop in Nashua? I looked around and one came up in your area. The one in RI is called Zack's Camera Repair.

BrianShaw · Aug 3, 2012

For mine I swear all the shop did was clean it up and renew the damping grease on the focus mechanism. Even with loosenesss and "rattle" I never experienced an affect on image sharpness.

Stephen Prunier · Aug 3, 2012

That sounds promising. If the issue doesn't effect the sharpness, then I can live with it for a while. It's still in E+++ shape, and it looks like it's holding it's value, so it would be worth spending the $$ at some point to fix it.

BrianShaw · Aug 3, 2012

Stephen Prunier said:
If the issue doesn't effect the sharpness, then I can live with it for a while. It's still in E+++ shape, and it looks like it's holding it's value, so it would be worth spending the $$ at some point to fix it.

So, that is exactly what my logic was. My lens was a 1.4/50 that had been in continuous service for 30 years. It was in good condition, gave great images... it just was loose and didn't feel as good to foucs as when it was younger. Then one day I miraculously had a spare C-note in my pocket and the repair shop was right in front of me. I'm glad I had it overhauled but have no regrets from waiting. Had there been image issues I would have taken it in for repair a lot earlier!

BTW, the only "value" a lens has for me is its ability to produce images.

semi-ambivalent · Aug 3, 2012

Stephen Prunier said:
OMG Iv'e been having the same exact problem with mine for a while now! I tried taking the back off and tighten everything the best I could but it still does it. Mine can be tight to focus at times, and there's some "slop" "wiggle" to it. When I hold the lens in my hand and move it around it makes a clunking sound like the barrel is loose. There's a shop in Providence RI that I'm thinking about contacting. It's only 1 1/2 hr's from me so I may see if I can bring it down and wait. Spend the day down there instead of mailing it.

Can you tell if it's effecting the sharpness of your images?

Not right now. In a couple of days I can get my hand on a Nikon 5100 so I'll do some pixel peeping. If it is ill it might be the CRC group. That should affect near-distance performance, right?

s-a

parkpy · Aug 10, 2012

i took mine to Ray's Camera, located in the Denver Pro Photo shop.

He revived my nearly dead Nikkor 35mm F/2 AI. The barrel was loose, the focus action was inconsistent and squeeky, and the focusing ring rubber grip had disintegrated. He tightened and lubricated everything, and found a rubber ring for my lens. Other than the worn off paint, the lens performed as if new! He had told me on several occassions that I should just junk it, rather than shell out the money to fix it...but then I showed him the prices of a decent 35mm f2 AI. I loved that lens AFTER he repaired it.

I like Ray for all of my Nikon stuff. (which I no longer own...now that I have a Contax G2)

semi-ambivalent · Aug 11, 2012

PING! Stephen Prunier

Steven,

I've just looked at some 100% crops from DX images using a D5100 and that 28mm F/2. Nothing appears amiss, either focused at infinity or at the closest distance of 0.25 meters. In fact, I'm damn pleased with what I see. If I were shooting Kodachrome or Velvia or a new Ektachrome or techpan or something like that, on a tripod, with the mirror locked up, I might, might, give the nod to the f/2.8. But I shoot Tri-X so it's a non-starter. Plus I like that extra stop and the veiling at f/2. I've never been inclined to pixel peep and I'm less so every time I conduct one of these (for me) pointless little tests.

I still don't like that rattle but it doesn't appear to be causing any problems. For me. YMMV. Good luck and post if you take any action and what the outcome is.

Snap happy,

s-a

Stephen Prunier · Aug 12, 2012

semi-ambivalent said:
Steven,

I've just looked at some 100% crops from DX images using a D5100 and that 28mm F/2. Nothing appears amiss, either focused at infinity or at the closest distance of 0.25 meters. In fact, I'm damn pleased with what I see. If I were shooting Kodachrome or Velvia or a new Ektachrome or techpan or something like that, on a tripod, with the mirror locked up, I might, might, give the nod to the f/2.8. But I shoot Tri-X so it's a non-starter. Plus I like that extra stop and the veiling at f/2. I've never been inclined to pixel peep and I'm less so every time I conduct one of these (for me) pointless little tests.

I still don't like that rattle but it doesn't appear to be causing any problems. For me. YMMV. Good luck and post if you take any action and what the outcome is.

Snap happy,

s-a

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nikkor AiS repair guru needed

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