repairing my 80-200 ??

[rootrider]

So a few hours after I decided to post my 80-200 2.8 for sale last weekend.. the auto/manual focus selector ring on the lens cracked.

[img width=800 height=523]http://www.fakelag.net/gallery/d/25147-2/DSC_4087.jpg[/img]

It looks like I could take it off very easily.. just by unscrewing it. But acquiring the new part and installing it would be a bit of a larger challenge I'm sure.
Any idea what I can do to get this fixed for a good price? I'm not looking to spend a lot of money on this.. since I myself don't use manual focus very much.. and if I sell it I want enough money left to make a replacement lens purchase a little easier on my wallet.

Is anyone familiar with possible Nikon repair places in the Seattle area? Or maybe someone can point me in the right direction towards a suitable place.

Thanks!

[cyclohexane]

It looks like I could take it off very easily.. just by unscrewing it. But acquiring the new part and installing it would be a bit of a larger challenge I'm sure.

If you find someone who knows the part number and/or (probably will be an "and") has a service manual for your lens, you could call Nikon's Parts Department and order the ring.

if I sell it I want enough money left to make a replacement lens purchase a little easier on my wallet.

Does the crack adversely affect operation? If the lens works just fine, I'd just leave it and include it in the description when selling.

Can't help you in Seattle, but...

For official Nikon service, since you're on the West Coast, you're probably using Nikon Service in El Segundo, CA (East Coast is Melville, NY). The office is located in this office complex that resembles a business in Cupertino (as does the rest of El Segundo), so I half-jokingly refer to El Segundo as "home away from home". I haven't been there while it was open, so I can't tell you anything else about the physical place. I've had good service from them (shipping from home), but they communicate with you using snail mail, which slows the process down a bit.

APS, located in the Midwest, used to be a Nikon service facility but is now an indepedent repair shop. They do still perform service under Nikon warranties, so they do get training, manuals, and parts to work on even the latest equipment. No idea how much they cost or how their service is, but I hear good things about it. Hopefully someone has a link to their website.

KEH (keh.com) also offers a repair service, but I have no idea how it's priced compared to other competitors.

[rootrider]

yeah, with that crack the ring wants to come apart or off the lens entirely unless I'm really careful. Every time I switch in between manual or auto I have to be careful

[cyclohexane]

You might want to look at this: DPreview post on getting a cracked ring repair. Keep in mind this is the internet. You bought your lens used, correct? If so, well, then, we're not under warranty, but you'll still get an idea of how much a repair like this costs.

I think repairs like these depend on who you get working on your gear. El Segundo rebuilt my D2H for me after a nasty accident which nearly involved both me and the camera tumbling on asphalt (luckily, it was just the camera) for free, so you never know what you'll get.

[rootrider]

thanks.. sounds like his ring cracked in the exact same spot mine did

and yeah.. bought it used. It works perfectly except for this

[Nikonfreak]

Check the Nikon web site here.

http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php...neral_service&

Sometimes, like in my area, there are authorized repair centers. When the repair center couldn't handle the repair of my lens (70-200 VR) THEY sent it off to Nikon in Mellville.

You might want to check and see if the same can be done for you locally, but if not then Segundo would be first on your list.

Julio

[rootrider]

thanks.. guess I should have checked Nikon's site to begin with
They list an authorized service center in Seattle... guess I'll have to have them look at the lens and see how much it'll cost.

[cyclohexane]

sounds like his ring cracked in the exact same spot mine did

Another shooter today told me that his ring also cracked in that spot. He just lives with it on his lens. He's probably sharing my logic that if it's something broken that doesn't affect the ultimate operation and image, then it's ignorable because if it broke once, it'll eventually break again. Needless to say, our stuff has seen better days.

If you don't manual focus the lens much, you could probably get away with gaff-taping it and retaping it when the tape comes off after you've switched back-and-forth one too many times. But the problem is that you're selling the lens...

[rootrider]

exactly. If I weren't planning on selling the lens for something else then I'd care less and just deal with it. It's definitely an annoyance since I can't switch to manual focus very quickly/easily when I want to, but I don't do this very often, so.. meh.

But I'm hoping to upgrade to an 80-200 af-s or 70-200 2.8 down the road, and will probably pick up the Sigma 100-300 f/4 when I get the chance for longer range shooting and I intend to use my current 80-200 as collateral.

It looks like I'll be keeping this lens a little longer than I wanted to though. Oh well.