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Hi All

Well the New Year did not start out too good! The AF on my Nikkor 18-200VR has ceased to function just two months out of warranty. There were not any preliminary signs of a problem or intermittent functioning, was working fine and then it was not.

I have removed the lens, and refitted, switched AF buttons to on/off and cleaned the contacts on both the lens and body (D70s), and still no AF (VR works OK), other lenses AF OK.

I guess its off to the repairers, but who should I send it to for the best service and value?

Have you tried it on a different body? Have you checked that the contacts are clean?

Geoff M wrote:The AF on my Nikkor 18-200VR has ceased to function just two months out of warranty. There were not any preliminary signs of a problem or intermittent functioning, was working fine and then it was not.
...
I guess its off to the repairers, but who should I send it to for the best service and value?

Hmm... mine developed almost identical symptoms last year, 2-3mths after purchase, and only after half a dozen uses. Perhaps there's some quality control issue for this lens?

On the question of repairs, I took it back to TEDs as it was still under warranty (replaced the motor assembly), but I can't remember who they sent it back to... sorry can't be of help there.

Geoff - I'll link you to another forum with a guy who had this problem recently.

http://forums.overlander.com.au/viewtop ... ight=18200

Well, the lens has been repaired. As expected it was the SWM. The part was only 75 bucks but the labour was $200. Anyway, all fixed now and good as new. I should say that the service at Andersons was very good. I dropped it in on tuesday and even though they had to order the part, it was ready thursday morning. I wonder if that means they are doing so many of these fix ups that they are really quick at it?

Andersons - is at Capalaba so reasonably close to you.

I took the lens to Andersons yesterday afternoon after trying the lens on a D300 also with the same non function of the AF. The service guys looked at it while I waited and confrimed that indeed the SWM needed replacing.

They quoted $304 inc parts, labour & GST and 10 working days turnaround, so left it with them for repair. Today, less than 24 hours later they phoned to advise that the lens had been repaired and ready for collection.

I will be picking it up tomorrow.

Geoff, have you considered the possibility that the problem was not as stated as a 24 hour turnaround is too fast.

That is some great service!! Shame that the SWM died so quickly on your lens I hope I dont get that problem with my 24-70 or 70-200!

sirhc55 wrote:Geoff, have you considered the possibility that the problem was not as stated as a 24 hour turnaround is too fast.

That is another thing to consider!

sirhc55 wrote:Geoff, have you considered the possibility that the problem was not as stated as a 24 hour turnaround is too fast.

Chris

This was my first thought too. The invoice they have emailed is as originally quoted i.e replace, SWM. The part had to be ordered from Sydney and I suppose that if it was sent overnight it could easily have been received at Andersens the next morning. I will be asking the question when I pick it up this morning.

aim54x wrote:That is some great service!! Shame that the SWM died so quickly on your lens I hope I dont get that problem with my 24-70 or 70-200!

Yeah. credit where credit is due excellent service provided by Andersens but annoying that the part failed so soon. I may take it up with Nikon, nothing to lose! Parts were $72+GST the remainder was the labour cost. (as posted by Who).

Wow, when my 17-35 failed for a similar reason (SWM motor), the parts and labour cost was over $1k. Thankfully, insurance covered it.

Is the warranty on Nikon lenses only 12 months? Also...if an item fails just after the warranty runs out this does not mean that the manufacturer is absolved from all responsibilities. A camera lens should continue to do what it is supposed to do long after the warranty runs out. I'd do a bit of screaming with this one and threaten to take the matter to consumer affairs. You may get a discount on the repairs. Would any of us buy a lens if we knew it would cease to operate after 12 months?

Matt. K wrote:Is the warranty on Nikon lenses only 12 months? Also...if an item fails just after the warranty runs out this does not mean that the manufacturer is absolved from all responsibilities. A camera lens should continue to do what it is supposed to do long after the warranty runs out. I'd do a bit of screaming with this one and threaten to take the matter to consumer affairs. You may get a discount on the repairs. Would any of us buy a lens if we knew it would cease to operate after 12 months?

In another post, I discussed the failure of our MBD200 grip about 2.5 years after purchase and well out of warranty. I expressed the disappointment to Nikon directly, and they fixed it as if under warranty, with my only outlay initial postage of the grip to Nikon.

It is well worthwhile expressing your disappointment at an item of not inconsiderable expense, failing so quickly.