Comments on: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII problem seems to be wide spread

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:22:38 +0000

Yes, unfortunately you have no way of knowing what they did INSIDE the lens (you know where the work is actually done). It’s quite possible your “flawless” repair involved a much of internal damage to fragile parts. Was the damage or lack of precision significant enough to cause problems in the future? Who knows, but generally when sloppy work is revealed in a few instances it’s much more prevalent than you think.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:45:34 +0000

What a dumb response. Why should we take your experience as representative (of which we have no proof either)?

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 05:46:47 +0000

I just checked mine and I see the same thing that is represented in the photo above. However, on close inspection the issue looks more like pits in the “ridges” than flaking (to me anyway). I see no loose material. So I have no idea if this is a true defect or an aesthetic issue.

All I know is that I’m enjoying the images from this lens way too much to get worked up about it.

By: another anonymous

another anonymous — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:40:30 +0000

it’s 1,5 year when i bought my 70-200 VR – the old version of course and i have 2mm front focus on it. i compensated it on D300 body and it works ok both with and without my nikon 1,7x teleconverter. i have no experience with nikon service on my own. what do you say, should i try to visit the service center or not even think about it? PS: i’m not NPS member yet cause of lack of one more pro body. i’m waiting for d700 successor. what would you recomment me to do ppl? i’ll think about you words if you leave some here.. thanks

By: longtimenikonshooter

longtimenikonshooter — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:16:40 +0000

Here is a translated reply from Nikon Beijing Service Center dated 01/11.

Source: a Chinese photography forum (http://forum.xitek.com/showthread.php?threadid=693293)

Nikon Beijing Service Center
Nikon (China) Imaging Equipment Corp, Ltd.
Tel: (010) 85151230

Product: AF-S 70-200 f/2.8 VR II
Serial Number: 200165xx

Payment: Free of Charge

Maintenance Bill Number: 113-0407240

Date: January 11, 2010

Failures Observed: lens thread defect at 200mm (the customer believes either thread or its coating peeling off). Inspection requested.

Maintenance Performed: After inspection, thread of the lens submitted indeed has certain peeling. However, that is normal when the surface of that metal was manufactured. There, the alleged problem will not affect the len’s performance, rigidness, or function.

here is the original reply:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2737/4269425066_0776e74bac_o.jpg

By: longtimenikonshooter

longtimenikonshooter — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:20:22 +0000

Let’s get serial numbers rolling here:

mine: Serial# US200112XX (ordered from amazon.com) and shipped in Nov, 09.

By: David

David — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:50:18 +0000

Same with mine – the published images are very similar to what I see. Not sure about what’s happening with others but the issue with mine is obviously not related to peeling or flaking of a finish or coating. The root cause of this observation is likely improper processing (probably the heat treating process) of the component’s raw material. It’s obvious to me that the chunks of metal missing on the edges of the threads likely came off during the machining process to cut the threads. And, for folks with chunks inside their lenses, this same threading operation could have weakened other areas of the threads allowing chunks to fall off during shipping and/or normal use. Regardless of root cause, I’m sending mine to Nikon for whatever fix their offering because a little chunk of metal inside this expensive lens is not a warm and fuzzy thought!

By: Dallas TX

Dallas TX — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:43:35 +0000

I have mine too! i cannot believe it until i check mine last night, this “damaged thread peeling”. It is the same thing as the rest on this posting as well as in the DPReviews forums. Is this the first time for Nikon to actually messed up their lenses? maybe Nikon was in a hurry to released this 70-200 VRII in time for the winter olympics without quality control or whatever it is they’re up to? I hope Nikon will come to their attention to recall this particular lens.

By: polvopolvo

polvopolvo — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:36:33 +0000

I’ve got the same markings on the ‘threads’ althoiuhg I can’t see any loose stuff anywhere althouhg I haven’t really looked in detail with a torch. I seem to remember a similar issue with the 24-70 2.8 when it came out – weren’t people reporting metal particles inside that as well? Nikon just said it’s fine and one we all went….. Shame if it’s more serious on 70-200 as otherwise it’s a brilliant lens – fast and sharp…..

By: Daf

Daf — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:45:44 +0000

Sent it to a friend who has this lens – his is also affected.
So showing up on UK stock too.

By: CS

CS — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:58:59 +0000

Yeah, whatever. Everyone knows even if the specs are the same, there will be differences in quality control due to culture and cost structures in different countries. Retard to think otherwise.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:16:13 +0000

Amen!

By: nuser

nuser — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:08:00 +0000

definitely a damaged thread, have it on mine too ;(
can’t see it affecting performance unless parts of that thread are already
inside the lens ;(

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:00:00 +0000

Yeah I have one of those Toyota’s made in the US (2006 Tundra). This is my fifth Toyota and the only one made here. It’s such poor build quality I’ll never buy another Toyota made here. While I absolutely feel this supports why the big three have such issues with quality (poor American workmanship), I blame Toyota for not doing as they promise of assuring QA is at the same level as products made in Japan.

There’s no excuse for this getting past QA at Nikon, but it’s not the first. I’m on my second D3, the first one bad out of the box and had to send in my 24-70mm twice in the first three months!

They keep up with these QA issues every release of pro equipment and people will start jumping ship.

By: john

john — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:55:58 +0000

Mine was perfectly clean when I bought it. It began when I use the zoom. It took 300 pictures to see those particle. More use zoom, more particle comes.

By: john

john — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:50:55 +0000

This is a major problem of Nikon. Mine has serious problem. Every time I zoom this lens the metal particles coming like a pepper mill. #$%&ing nikon. They forgot how to make the lens.

By: ISELLNIKONCAMERA

ISELLNIKONCAMERA — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:59:58 +0000

Looks like Nikon got a serious issue with Quality Inspection. Attention Nikon Quality Assurance Engineer. STOP LINE ALERT! Root cause could be material issue, process issue, in process inpesction and quality assurance.

By: jay

jay — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:22:11 +0000

Because it doesn’t matter where it is made, it is made to the same spec and same process and same QC.

By: dB

dB — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:28:30 +0000

I JUST received mine from B&H, and it is exhibiting this problem as well. I imagine I could exchange it, but it sounds like the next lens is very likely to have the same problem. Maybe I should return it and wait a few months…. man I’m not sure what to do now.

I’m tempted to just live with it, I would never even be aware of the issue if it weren’t for this site…

By: fxed

fxed — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 01:55:02 +0000

funny, your a riot. I’m not going to get sucked into how many years I have experience with photography vs you. All I can say is; U SO Funny.