Sick lens in for service :(

Zerodog

Was shooting with my much loved 80-200 AFS a few weeks ago and the camera suddenly got sluggish during continuous auto focus. Frame rate dropped to a snails pace on a D3s. I like to shoot in focus priority, so no focus no shooting. Tested it later that weekend and confirmed it. Release priority it worked fine. But focus priority, very slow shutter response. I think the fine focusing that happens with continuous auto focus is the problem. Something is wrong.

So dropped it off at my local camera repair shop for them to have a look at. Luckily I have one in my town. Hopefully it won't cost an arm and a leg and my first born child. If it is, it might be time to start thinking about a new VR2:cry

ziggy53

Wishing you the best of luck.

Zerodog

I hope it isn't a big deal. I really like this lens. Some of my favorite shots have come from it. And I really don't feel like shelling out $2400 for the new one. Although the extra 10mm would be nice to have. And the closer focus would also be a very good thing. I have a dance event in a couple weeks so hopefully it is done by then. Otherwise I will be renting one of the new ones to test drive.

I wasn't completly in love with the VR1 version. It felt kind of cheesy compared to the monster 80-200AFS. I looked at one last year and passed. Maybe the VR2 will impress me more?

Zerodog

Seymore wrote: »

Is that local place (4U) qualified to do the repair or are they shipping it out? Any thought?

They are all in house. I believe they are a Nikon service center. It is this place. Forsters Camera And lucky for me, right down the street. Sounds like it will be about 2 weeks. But I should hear back on the estimate on monday.

Zerodog

So they came back with a quote for me. They said the auto focus seemed fine. But it needs a service. It is feeling crunchy. And the lens mount is pretty worn. So I am having it replaced as well. Hopefully a clean and tune up will help this thing. Maybe the lens mount is what is giving me problems too? It is loose enough to notice it. Looks like $175 for the service, $45 for the lens mount, and $10 for some new rubber rings on the focus and zoom. So gonna land me right around the $250 mark with tax. Not terrible, but not cheap. It is about $2000 cheaper than the alternative though.

ian408

That seems pretty reasonable to get that kind of work done and best of all, it's a local business!

Zerodog

Lens is back. $230 total. What is interesting is I also have a new VRII that I rented for a dance recital the other night and for tonight. I think I might put them head to head in low light for action. If I have time between dances I will swap. Just messing around on the patio walking forward shooting a green glass ball, the focus speed and acuracy seems close. But the old dog seems to have the upper hand for tracking. More shots in focus while walking forward or backwards on the object at 9fps. not exactly a lab test. Just a messing around test. VR?? What is interesting though is the old 80-200 is a bit longer at 200mm? Wouldn't 200 be 200? On my ball test it is inches difference. Maybe the new version is more like 170mm?

Lens has new mount and is rock solid on the camera now. More solid than even the new one. It was pretty sloppy before. Focus and zoom rings greatly improved in feel. No more grit. And motor sounds quiter too. Maybe it was just really dirty. Looking though the lens is the same old dust. So they didn't get inside very deep. Interesting enough, the new VRII has some dust in it as well.

ziggy53

Best of luck with the repaired lens.