Nikon acknowledges dust issue!

[BackdoorArts]

I'll have to check mine next week and see how it is. So far, after about 4000 shots, I've only cleaned it twice. Which is not so bad I think. But when doing HDR, it is very important that it is squeaky clean.

Absolutely. There are times when I've done radical contrast and brightness enhancement in Lightroom to find them (this gets undone afterwards), fix them, clone the fixes across the bracketed images and then opened them in HDR Efex Pro 2 only to find more. I'm at around 3500 images and have wet cleaned the sensor 3 times already.

 

[Rick M]

I do have to say that as I processed my shots from yesterday I did get more than a little disgusted with the dust thing. I blew off the sensor prior to going out yesterday. Put my new 16-35mm on and did not take it off all day.

Sounds like you have a lot of dust in the camera body. During one of times I used the blower, I set up the crevice tool from my vacuum in a vice and put it about 6 inches from the camera body. I blew the inside out with my blower while the vacuum was on. I repeated with the mirror up and blew off the low pass filter. I don't get repeat build up like that anymore. I think these were shipped with excessive dust in the body and static charges are attracting the dust to the sensor. I don't think just cleaning the sensor is enough, that's why I haven't had my local shop mess with it.

 

[BackdoorArts]

Been wondering just how to do that myself. Great idea, Rick.

 

[stmv]

I read the response, I would not say that they acknowledge any unique D600 issue, or oil spots, just yes, DSLRs get spots, some spots can be removed by the in camera vibration, and if not,, well bring to your nearest Nikon Service center (as if that is convenient), and the friendly 1950s like guy will have it fixed in a jiffy,, right..... it will be put in a pile, waiting for the patient wait for its turn in the queue, in which the technician will lock open the mirror, do a wet clean, finish it in like 15 minutes, and well,, it will filter back to the mailing/send back, and eventually you will get a notice, to pick up your prized procession. Now, maybe it will be covered by warranty, or maybe it will be declared outside, and you will have a service call...


You might consider a local shop, some offer the cleaning, and will do a expediate cleaning, but not cheap,, usually 100 dollars.

or buy the kit, and do yourself, saw a post hear where a link to a video class was presented.

 

[VectorZ]

I returned one to Costco already, and the replacement already has spots. I'm going to attempt a wet clean today as I am going to Palm Springs next week and need the camera in top shape.

Bought these btw. Photographic Solutions PE3C Type 3 Sensor Swab Plus | eBay

 

[macjim]

So we've to shut up and clean our kit... Nice one Nikon. I'll used my D600 but when it comes to replacement time they've lost a customer here. This is the third Nikon product that ended up with a fault: my D50's flash failed well after the warranty ended, my D90 had an intermittent fault where it wouldn't take a photo without a hard reset and now this shutter problem. Might end up selling and buy an X100s instead and rely on my X-Pro1 too.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[clarnibass]

You can notice that in the American statement they don't actually admit to anything other than say dust gets on sensors/filters and if you have spots that don't disappear by the in-camera sensor cleaning or a blower, go to a Nikon service center. That can be true for any DSLR. In the European statement they add that the dust could be coming from inside the camera from its operation and not just dust getting into the camera.

The fact that they have a statement specific to the D600 does say something between the lines... but they don't admit to anything really. If this is just free wet (or any) cleaning then it's nothing like a fix to the problem, as it seems many have the dust spots appear after just a few dozens shots (in the worst cases), so any type of cleaning of the filter won't really help.

On other forums I've read about at least two people who called service centers and asked about this statement, only to find whoever they spoke with didn't even know about it.

 

[Rick M]

It is a shame to have to deal with this and I am dissappointed. I'll just keep mine clean myself and be content until the D900 is realeased.

 

[Dave_W]

The other thing I don't quite get from their statement is whether or not a sensor cleaning is covered under their warranty? If not, then the press release is a statement of the obvious - if you can't clean your camera take it to someone who can. I've read it a few times and I'm almost convinced that the warranty does not cover cleaning, at least by examining their word choices. Has anyone taken their D600 to a service center (not sending it to Nikon) and asked for a free cleaning?

 

[BackdoorArts]

Dave, I plan on contacting Nikon about it next week, showing them the evidence from last Friday (no dust in photo 1, lots of dust 300 shots later - same day, no lens change). I'll let you know what they say.

I did take the advice to clean it again with a vacuum nearby to remove any add'l dust that may have settled in. Nothing close to applying suction inside, but close enough that loosened dust would hopefully get pulled out and not settle somewhere else inside.

 

[bigal1000]

I'm debating selling my D600 for this issue,mine does seem to need wet cleanings quite a lot.I still have a Canon 60D body and it seems to stay a lot cleaner.

 

[BackdoorArts]

Interesting point of note to US owners, I just went to the Nikon website to explore where I might be able to take my camera to have this addressed and there are no authorized service centers in the US for the D600. This means that I would have to ship it back to Nikon to have it addressed, which I fully intend to do next week. Just some food for thought if you're considering contacting Nikon about it.

 

[Mark F]

I sent my D600 in to Nikon LA last month. They replaced the shutter... so far no major dust issues that can't be corrected with a blower. Actually seems pretty easy to clean now.

 

[BackdoorArts]

Good to hear. As soon as I find a day with less than 6 hours of conference calls in it I'm getting mine sent out.

 

[Mfrankfort]

Well Jake, let me know how it goes! Best of luck.

 

[NVSteve]

I purchased my D600 right when it came out because it filled every desire I had for a full frame...and then some. I noticed the spots immediately as I generally shoot outside. Long story short, after spending about $150 on cleaning supplies (including a very cool A/C blower), the dust (mainly oil or something else that could not be blown off) was out of control. By that, I mean that I could see it starting at f/5.6. So, I ended up having to resort to wet cleaning the sensor every single time before I took it out for a shoot. Discouraging, to say the least. I contacted my retailer 3 months later and they happily replaced it with a new body & so far, only a couple spots of actual dust every once in a while. I will certainly keep my eye on it, but I'm not going to resort to sending it in to Nikon until close to the end of my warranty period IF it starts spotting up like my first body. I have noticed a lot of denial out there from D600 owners who don't have the problem, but I'm also guessing some of those people also aren't shooting in bright conditions outside like I am, so are less apt to see anything. The whole experience is unfortunate, but there is no way I can go back to the other crop systems I had previously & I really like what I'm getting out of the D600.

 

[Mfrankfort]

Did you send in your warranty card or anything like that? I wondered about that. I did the online registration and it said I didn't need to send it in, so it's in the garage... Think I should be o.k if I have to send it in just doing it online? Hope so!

 

[STM]

That's really odd because I change lenses constantly on my D700 because all I have are primes, and I rarely get dust spots on my sensor. I wonder why the D600 sensor is more dust prone. Does the D600 have sensor vibration cleaning like the D700? On the D700 you can even set it up so it cleans the sensor each time you power down, though I have never used it because I don't have a problem with dust.

 

[Mfrankfort]

Guess this answers my question, haha.

Digital SLR Camera Bodies and Coolpix Cameras

No registration or "warranty" card is included or needed with a Nikon D-SLR or Coolpix camera. Keep your original, dated proof of purchase from the Authorized Nikon Inc. dealer in case warranty service is ever needed. These products do include either a mail-in form or a paper with a web link to our registration page:​

 

[NVSteve]

Did you send in your warranty card or anything like that? I wondered about that. I did the online registration and it said I didn't need to send it in, so it's in the garage... Think I should be o.k if I have to send it in just doing it online? Hope so!

I believe the most they will ask for is a photocopy of the warranty card. The 24-85VR that came in my kit had to be replaced by Nikon with a new one because of a horrible decentering issue. All they asked for was a copy of the warranty card and purchase receipt.