Hank Was Right

Got the estimate/bill to fix my Nikon 80-400mm VR lens. They saying just under $700. I told them go ahead. Hank was right about one thing--check the camera too. I put the camera on a tripod and shot some print held parellel to the lens and checked for sharpness. Looked OK. Camera seemed to operate fine and the test roll I shot came out fine. Yesterday I used it for two important shoots, one where I'm very unlikely to get a second entry (dangerous ag industrial plant.) The slide came back today looking sharp but there was something WEIRD! On the horizontal shots, there were two dark lines at the top center of the frame. They were only there for the horizontals, NOT the verticals. I was thinking the shutter was blown again, but that would have messed up both horizontal and vertical. Then I thought maybe the silly hard hat they made me wear got in the way, but no way. It was too short. I took the lens off and opened the back, and fired the shutter on bulb to hold it open. At first I saw nothing-I was looking for wires or something else broken hanging down. I tapped the camera and suddenly two stems of dried grass pivoted out of a seam. That was it! I pulled them out. Fortunately they weren't in a critical part of my images, but they will be a pain to clone out. They were beautiful shots!


Kent in SD

Yeah, Hank is sometimes right. You're not supposed to tell him though.

Pete D.

I'm only happy to be right on a deal like this when the fix is painless!

That wasn't so on our old Mamiya Pro's. The lens mounts tweeked (fixed with the subsequent Super model) after protracted use with long lenses, usually a few months after the warranty expired. No fix. Do not pass Go. Buy a new body.

Then there were the two Mamiyas that got tipped with the tripod- On the same day!!! You can't imagine how ugly wires, springs and screws are when sticking out cracks in the bottom of a body. No fix. Do not pass Go. Buy a new body.

Anyone for equipment insurance?

Thanks for the feedback, Kent.

You can't imagine how ugly wires, springs and screws are when sticking out cracks in the bottom of a body.

Oh, yes I can imagine it.


Kent in SD

Yikes, your repair bill is almost twice the cost of my two most expensive lenses.