Just thought I would post to put a period at the end of this thread:

The lens was returned yesterday (delayed by the four day Diamond Jubilee weekend) and it seems quieter, faster to focus and sharper than before so I'm a happy bunny. It was completely free of charge - bang on budget!

Well done Nikon UK, one happy customer here.

Seriously- that is one of the first good Nikon repair stories I've ever heard.

I'm glad to hear it, spraynpray. Enjoy the diamond jubilee.

spraynpray said:
So, I sent the lens to the Nikon Service Centre in Kingston upon Thames last Thursday then started watching the progress of the lens on-line. Just checked (one week later) and found it was finished! I rang in to pay for it and they said I only had to pay return postage - clean, adjust focus at infinity, repair the problem and replace the bayonet mount, all free. Only problem is I will not get it back until after the Jubilee weekend so I will be zooming with my feet until then.

Well done Nikon Service Centre - easy return process then a fast and cheap repair!

Good to hear the good stories about companies and business that do the right thing :)

So, I sent the lens to the Nikon Service Centre in Kingston upon Thames last Thursday then started watching the progress of the lens on-line. Just checked (one week later) and found it was finished! I rang in to pay for it and they said I only had to pay return postage - clean, adjust focus at infinity, repair the problem and replace the bayonet mount, all free. Only problem is I will not get it back until after the Jubilee weekend so I will be zooming with my feet until then.

Well done Nikon Service Centre - easy return process then a fast and cheap repair!

Ah, good point PAG, thanks.

@spraynpray: If you can wait a little bit, a pile of inexpensive 18-105 lenses often pop up when a new camera is released with that as its kit lens. The kits seem to get released first and those that can't wait for the body-only release will buy the kit and dump the brand new 18-105 on eBay, Amazon, craigslist, etc.

jonnyapple said:
What about a 24-120 f/4, spraynpray? Perhaps a bit long on the short end, but it's FX if you decided to go there someday. Sorry about the 18-105.

As you said Jonny, a little long on the short end but also the price end - I just paid less for my new D7000. Good glass costs, I know, but the most I will pay is £450 so it looks like the 16-85 is my only other choice (and goes nicely between my 11-16 and 70-300VR). Maybe I could strike a deal with a smaller shop - 18-105VR plus 50mmf1.4G for the 16-85VR...hmmmmm.

What about a 24-120 f/4, spraynpray? Perhaps a bit long on the short end, but it's FX if you decided to go there someday. Sorry about the 18-105.

Well tcole it is impressive that you got away with a couple of dinks after that accident - I'm glad.

I have been on to Nikon and they have agreed to charge me the std £12 return postage and inspection fee and I have agreed that they may proceed with the repair if it is less than £50.00. After that, I want to know the what's and why's before I cough up a bunch of money.

If all goes well, I'll have it repaired and keep it but if it is too expensive I may put the money towards a 16-85 or an 18-200 VR2. I want the range of the 18-200 with the build quality and IQ of the 16-85. <sigh> I don't like unlooked for expense like this - especially as I baby my gear.

Sadly yes it was attached to my D5000. I went out to a railroad track at night in the snow to take some long exposures which I thought would look neat with the snow. Unclipped the tripod mount without holding on to the camera at all...duh. I think the lens caught the brunt of the fall. The snow might have damped it slightly, but then it was covered with snow and it gave me an error the first time I turned it back on...but the mirror just needed to be reset by clicking the shutter. Just left two small dings in the front of the barrel of the 18-200...fared pretty well I think and probably would have snapped the plastic mounts off.

tcole1983 said:
I think the 18-200 is fairly well built. Not 70-200 build, but better than the other kit lenses...metal mounts. Mine survived a 4 ft fall into rocks with only a couple little chips in the metal and still shoots great.

Yeeikes - not attached to your D5000 I hope?

NSXType-R said:
I think it's time for Nikon to upgrade the build quality on the midrange zooms. Not everyone wants the bulk of the 18-200 VR or the price.

Agreed.

NSXType-R said:
I dread the day when the plastic mount snaps itself off of my 18-135 kit lens.

Strangely, my 18-105 mount attaches more smoothly than my other 'better' lenses. The 35mm feels worst of the lot. It is attached with plastic though so yes, we'll have to be careful!

I think it's time for Nikon to upgrade the build quality on the midrange zooms. Not everyone wants the bulk of the 18-200 VR or the price.

That's why I really love the 18-135, the predecessor to the 18-105 and why I bought the D40 kit with the 18-135 instead of the 18-55 kit, which has a terrible focus ring.

Although I have never repaired a lens through Nikon before, it might end up being more expensive than buying a used 18-105.

I think one of your other options is to see if any early adopters of the D7000s that were sold with the 18-105 kit lens want to sell you their 18-105 lens.

Chances are that they just want the body and not the lens anyway and were willing to pay the higher price just to get the body early.

I dread the day when the plastic mount snaps itself off of my 18-135 kit lens.

I think the 18-200 is fairly well built. Not 70-200 build, but better than the other kit lenses...metal mounts. Mine survived a 4 ft fall into rocks with only a couple little chips in the metal and still shoots great.

while out taking some shots last night I noticed that the zoom ring on my 18-15VR tightened up before it reached the short end. I zoomed away - OK - then zoomed back and it tightened again so I turned the camera upside down, gave it a little shake and it all returned to normal. I took it off the camera and carried on with my 35mm as I didn't want to do damage to it. Today it started OK then I could feel the resistance of the zoom ring changing near the 18mm end again.

I am fed up about this - yes I know, send it to Nikon but that doesn't stop me being fed up! Technology and cars etc. just need to work and not give trouble. Aaaargh!

Rant off.

I like that lens a lot. If I thought that the 18-200 VRII was a lot better built (like the 16-85 is), I'd get it as I like a walk around lens to have a decent zoom range. I fancy the 16-85 but I fear it would be too short. Reviewing my snaps, I use all of the length of the 18-105. On balance I suppose I'd better spring for a service - does anybody know if Nikon keep the cost of a service down for cheap lenses or is it just parts and labour at the same rate?

Thanks guys.