Repairing Nikon's 80-400mm VR

imnunky

New member
At a local lake a few weeks ago, fishing picnic type of day used my D90 and 80-400, brilliantly outreached my shoulder mount video camera,
Whilst packing my stuff to my vehicle, camera and lens nicely on my shoulder when wham some one bumped into me and yes down they went, (that is one mother of a heavy lens) needless to say my heart went down with them,
Oh yes I can tell what is going on in your heads, You shudda this, you shudda that, But at that time I was confident that I was OK with the way I was packing,
Well to cut this long story short Estimated cost to fix Lens via Nikon Canada, Is $1,250, only explanation I got was "Oh it's a USA model", so now what do I keep the very expensive paper weight, or fix it, Fixing it will cost me the loss of getting a Nikon 70-200 VR and a Nikon D300s, Plus I am in the duldrums, (Depressed) and thinking of giving up completely, Whoa now, hold on a minute, Yes I have decided to fix it, even though it is very slow focusing it has reach, or will have when I get it back, well now is there a moral to this, I'll let whom ever wants too go from here, I have my own IMHO, Ernie
 

johnwartjr

Senior Member
Ernie,

If you're close to having the funds for the 70-200, I'd suggest getting it and a 1.7 teleconverter - putting 1250 into an 80-400 doesn't seem wise to me if you want the 70-200 too.

I've shot with both on my D90, and I really like the 70-200 more. A LOT more.

Maybe get an estimate from an American camera shop, if Nikon Canada uses that as a reason?
 

imnunky

New member
Ernie,

If you're close to having the funds for the 70-200, I'd suggest getting it and a 1.7 teleconverter - putting 1250 into an 80-400 doesn't seem wise to me if you want the 70-200 too.

I've shot with both on my D90, and I really like the 70-200 more. A LOT more.

Maybe get an estimate from an American camera shop, if Nikon Canada uses that as a reason?

Thank you johnwartjr I had agonised over that decision, but I don't want a paper weight either, I did try another repair shop and what I save is eaten up in shipping charges, But this is not realy what I was after, and that is some one elses moral to my story, I would love to get some views Thank you for your suggestion though
 

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
My heart goes out to you, never a good story but if you like the lens (one very expensive lens) than get it fixed. John does raise a very practical point though with a more manageable lens and converter to get the reach.
 

imnunky

New member
My heart goes out to you, never a good story but if you like the lens (one very expensive lens) than get it fixed. John does raise a very practical point though with a more manageable lens and converter to get the reach.

Yibel
Thank you for your sentiments, it is getting fixed as we speak, do you have a moral or foot note to my little story, thank you ...Ernie
 

Ranie

Senior Member
Whats with the "USA Model"?
I really dont get it. Its still a Nikon and they should not label it as USA or Japan or any other country. These authorized service centers should treat their company product as their own product.
For example, If you have a Rolex watch and bring it to an authorized Rolex service center for service, they don't ask if it came from another country. They accept it as it is and charges are pretty standard worldwide for the service. The only difference would be the currency exchange of each country and of course taxes.
 

imnunky

New member
Ranie: I agree totally, I was however unable to get a definitive answer to that, all I got was " we are not suppose to repair US model", But I must add though the Canadian repair shop have been magnificent, and I am a thoroughly happy customer
...thanking them all concerned
 

imnunky

New member
Footnote to the above, just received my 80-400vr back from repair shop, I have nothing but praise for all concerned, especially when I was informed that an over-estimate occurred, and that an refund of part of my payment has been deposited to my account, My hat's off to all at Nikon :D
 
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