Dropped D200! « Nikon Rumors Forum

Nikon Rumors Forum » Nikon DSLR

Dropped D200!

(14 posts) (9 voices)

Tags:

No tags yet.

lewinp

member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 21
offline

Out doing waterfalls on a rainy day and slipped on a wet rock, the tripod with camera went with me. The camera hit on the top ISO/quality/WB knob, which broke off. There is also a small crack on the front part of the camera in between the Nikon logo and lens mount. The ISO knob does not work, but miraculously everything else is fully functional.

I am one of the many hopefully waiting out a D700 upgrade (Feb 2011 is my guess), but I really would like to keep using the D200. I know its not worth paying for a repair, but a friend of mine has an old Nikon D200 that is broken, he was using it for parts.

I am wondering how difficult would it be to replace the ISO/quality/WB knob and perhaps if I'm ambitious the top assembly of the camera? The other idea I had was to just seal up the cracks with some silicone (the type for sealing bathrooms) just to keep the elements out for a few more months.

Does anyone have any experience trying to repair Nikons themselves or is it hopeless? I hate to put any money into a camera that is so obsolete, and I don't really want a strop-gap full frame until the D700 upgrade comes out. Appreciate any advice!

Posted 2 years ago #
lewinp

member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 21
offline

ps - please don't get the wrong idea about camera abuse - I baby my gear and this is the first time I've ever damaged a camera in over 20 years of serious amateur shooting!

Posted 2 years ago #
Drab

preferred member
Joined: Aug '10
Posts: 540
offline

If we say the D200 has a current (good condition) selling price of $450, and yours has a current selling price of $50 (pulled out of my ass) than a $400 repair is free and a $500 repair is only a $100 cost (think of it as very cheap rental until the D800 comes out).

Unless you know what you are doing inside the camera (and I assume you don't else you wouldn't have posted) your repair attempts will only make the camera less valuable and more expensive to repair by Nikon.

Posted 2 years ago #
shivaswrath

preferred member
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 841
offline

You can buy knobs from nikon cheap...real issue is whether its worth tearing into it, versus getting a rental body until the update d800 or whatever is released...call up nikon and get the part number if you're ambitious!

Posted 2 years ago #
gelu88

preferred member
Joined: Feb '10
Posts: 295
offline

Drab said:
Unless you know what you are doing inside the camera (and I assume you don't else you wouldn't have posted) your repair attempts will only make the camera less valuable and more expensive to repair by Nikon.

at this point there is perhaps no reason to think about re-sale value. you are better off keeping this as a backup, given its questionable state even with repairs done. Also the increasing number of D300(s) on the used market will mean in 6 months its value will be less anyways.

I'd say that if you conclude that the damage can be contained, just seal it up and keep using it.

who knows? it might stay is a usable state for years more.

Posted 2 years ago #
warprints

preferred member
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 769
offline

I'm with gelu on this. Patch it up and keep using it as a backup. IF knobs can easily be replaced (I don't know), why not give it a try. Braking into the camera to do repairs should be done with the idea that it is for educational purposes only - then you won't be disappointed when the thing flat stops working at all.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mike Gunter

preferred member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 946
offline

Hi,

You _might_ find a local _non_ Nikon shop that can patch it up for less than you think. It won't be up to Nikon standards, but then, it isn't now, either.

My best,

Mike

Posted 2 years ago #
NSXType-R

preferred member
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 2,803
offline

Honestly, I agree with Warprints and Gelu- just stick with it until whatever comes out comes out. The D200 is a couple generations old and although it's a great camera, I wouldn't want to invest money into it.

The more important question in my opinion is whether or not you have the glass to upgrade directly to FX. If you only own DX glass, going straight to FX is going to be more expensive than you think it is.

Posted 2 years ago #
gelu88

preferred member
Joined: Feb '10
Posts: 295
offline

So perhaps waiting for a D400 would be more advantageous than waiting for a D800.

Given the Quality of the D7000, i doubt you'll be disappointed.

Posted 2 years ago #
lewinp

member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 21
offline

Thanks all for the comments. Will try dissasembling my friend's broken camera first to see what I'm getting into first.

Nxst - have slowly been building my FX lens collection as I've been waiting since last spring! Now have 50mm 1.4, 70-200mm II, and just got the 16-35mm, which is a great lens.

Posted 2 years ago #
poster

preferred member
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 779
offline

I say patch it up and use it until it dies on you. It deserves a warrior's death. I bet it still has plenty of juice to keep the fight going.

Posted 2 years ago #
gelu88

preferred member
Joined: Feb '10
Posts: 295
offline

poster said:
I say patch it up and use it until it dies on you. It deserves a warrior's death. I bet it still has plenty of juice to keep the fight going.

nicely said.

Posted 2 years ago #
smarterchild

preferred member
Joined: Jan '10
Posts: 678
offline

Have you thought of just buying like a D7000 and just using that for a few months and then sell it used for 100-200$ less instead of spending 400-500 on a rental for 4 months?

Posted 2 years ago #
Mike Gunter

preferred member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 946
offline

Hi all,

I Think it is _possible_ to patch it for less than $70-80 to get to working until a replacement model can be bought. IF so, than that would make it an attractive option.

My best on what ever decision is made.

Mike

Posted 2 years ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.

The new Nikon Rumors Forum is now live at http://forum.nikonrumors.com/discussions. This forum is now in "read only" mode until I figure a proper way to import all data over to the new platform. Please register over at the new forum.

Dropped D200!

Reply