Hi, I'm new to this forum and want to say Hello to everyone!

sage007

New member
I'm trying to get info on what type of machine screws Nikon used on the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f-5.6E ED VR Lens. These are the tiny screws that hold the first group of 2 sealed lenses in place. I believe they are JIS(Japanese Industrial Standards) size #0 or #1, 40 threads per inch, 1/4 inch long. I talked to Nikon and they refused to help me. They told me there's no information anywhere on these screws for this lens. Then they later told me to send my lens to them and they would insert the one screw I need. Well, tell me how can they insert this screw in my lens when they first told me they had no information on it. Not Happy with Nikon right now.

Thanks

Jeff
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
Welcome! Well, the screws can't be too expensive. You could always buy both of the screws you suspect are correct and give it a go. If it was me, though, I'd send it to Nikon and let them clean and calibrate at the same time. Anyway, good luck, and welcome again :)
 

Blue439

New member
Welcome! I hear that, contrary to what had been policy for as long as I know, Nikon has recently begun to issue self-repair guides for some of their products. However, I doubt they ever will for lenses. So, I would follow Woody’s recommendations above, if I were you. It is quite normal for a manufacturer of such precision equipment not to want their customers to repair such equipment by themselves. Just try to ask Leica the same kind of question... :rolleyes: :ROFLMAO:
 

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Welcome! If their old manuals are anything like the new ones the screw size is not listed only a part number, so the person you talked to may not have that information.
 

Blue439

New member
There a 26 manuals listed for lenses, they are all Z mount.

If anyone is intereste the repair guides can be found here: https://ssr.downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en_US/index.html
Wow ! I am astonished! I mean, how does one "repair" a lens without the professional, exclusive, very expensive and impossible to use without proper training lab optical equipment? To make sure the elements are still properly aligned after the "repair"?

I looked at the manual for the Plena, and man, that is scary! Good luck to those amateurs who will want to try...
 

Robin W

Senior Member
Welcome to the forum. I hope you are able to find a solution to your problem with some of the advice given. Looking forward to seeing some of your photos.
 

BF Hammer

Senior Member
Wow ! I am astonished! I mean, how does one "repair" a lens without the professional, exclusive, very expensive and impossible to use without proper training lab optical equipment? To make sure the elements are still properly aligned after the "repair"?

I looked at the manual for the Plena, and man, that is scary! Good luck to those amateurs who will want to try...
Think of this less a thing for helping an amateur and more for helping an independent repair shop.

In the USA (and I assume worldwide) manufacturers have been making it impossible for any repairs except by their own factory-authorized facilities. This has been locking-out competition from independent repair shops unfairly. A growing movement trying to right this and some states have been enacting laws, with more legislation being threatened. Nikon has historically been a big offender in this, and appears to be trying to get out in front of this with some self-reform. Of course repair manuals are only the beginning of the problem, sale of parts to independents is another.

This has been driven heavily by a lot of industries. The ones that are making the news are farm equipment and Apple iPhones and Macbooks. John Deere is so bad with their modern equipment that it can take days for a certified tech to come to a disabled harvester in a field and service it or have it towed out for repair. Often for a simple trouble code that can be disabled to allow harvest to continue until the part is shipped in. They are not that different than modern autos are with all the computer-controlled everything. John Deere explicitly has been forbidding self-repair of any of their equipment in warranty and have not provided any diagnostic software or information outside of their service network.
 

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
I'd try several different local Nikon Service Centers, maybe one will have the part and would be willing to send it to you.
 
Top