I have the D7000 with the 18x105mm lens, using it on the D7000 and i also have a bag appropriate for it but today it just fell (with the bag) and the lens separated from the body, wasn't a hard fall and i was surprised that this happened. Its strange that one of the plastics that was ment to be holding the lens on the body just shipped off and now the lens cannot really mount securely on the body!
What can i do guys cause im going bananas over this, is there a way to mend this?
Im surprised that this is so easy to break and why the heck is it made out of plastic? Shouldn't this be metal or something?
18-105mm lens plastic just chipped off
(43 posts) (14 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Kit lens = good optics + light construction.
Pro glass = better optics + rugged construction.
You have to send it to Nikon for a new mount and get the body checked while you're at it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
It has been dropped that hard do bother repairing it. claim on your insurance and get a new lens and body
Posted 1 year ago # -
sevencrossing said:
It has been dropped that hard do bother repairing it. claim on your insurance and get a new lens and bodyI dont really understand what you mean, you suggest to repair it depending on the drop? Body is not affected nor the lens, only the plastic mount has issue, cant it be replaced? and if so where?
Posted 1 year ago # -
If a camera has been dropped with sufficient force to separate the lens from the body , it is never going to be the same again
Posted 1 year ago # -
Zoran, I recommended sending the body and lens off to Nikon for repair - once they know it has been dropped and with enough force to break the mount, they will know what to do to return it to perfect condition.
Then sell it, buy another and be more careful. LOL!
PS: if you had a stell mount lens on there, it may not have broken, but the camera would still haave needed a check up from the bottom up to ensure all is well.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well, these things do happen and we are all (maybe not all, but most) feeling sad for you. No one wants to see their camera or lens break. Apparently, the force on the lens, or angle of attack, was sufficient to fracture the plastic to which the metal mount is fastened, correct? And, it is entirely possible, this is the only part which needs replacement. But, it does need checking out by a competent repair facility. Note "competent" was used. Do other lenses work on the camera OK? Is there any damage to the mirror? Any evidence of issues within the prism? Does it turn on and off properly? Do all the menu items seem OK?
A lot of these things can be checked by you with a different lens and a test pattern.... brick wall does fine. If another lens mounts easily and is secure, then maybe the only issue is with the lens which came off. After all, the mount on the camera is significantly larger, more mass, than the lens mount plastic parts.
Good luck.... oh, the 24-120mm f/4.0 VR Nikkor fell out of my D4 yesterday..... apparently the lens release button was pressed while I had it in my car (on floor under blanket) and I did not check this. The lens fell about three inches to a desk when I tried to "straighten the lens hood." So, it happens to all of us. Sorry about your incident.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Nikon lens mounts are typically metal but the cheaper lenses have what is supposed to be a durable plastic lens mount to reduce cost.
By the way, are you the guy who had old AIS lenses and was debating what to do if you bought the D7000? If so, did you just buy the D7000+lens and is it under warranty?
Did you drop it or just set it down within a padded camera bag? If you set it down within a camera bag and the lens mount broke AND the camera and lens are in warranty, I'd suggest you submit a warranty claim to Nikon to get them to repair it. If in inspecting it they conclude negligence was causal they will inform you they will charge you for the repairs before proceeding. Nikon will be able to judge if there was a flaw with the lens mount. Personally I researched that lens and got it in hand before returning it. There are some flimsy components within that specific lens -- others have reported it breaking easily on the internet. I know this because I researched, bought, then returned that specific lens.
Posted 1 year ago # -
zoran said:
the only thing i can do is, before leaving that is, is to make an ebay purchase of the rear bayonet mount i believe, but i have no clue on how ebay works etc.Do you know how to service the lens? What purpose does it serve you if you buy a bayonette mount?
Look, unless you know how to service the lens yourself, you really have two options- send it into Nikon for service or another provider, or buy used or buy another lens.
Posted 1 year ago # -
well im certain that its the rear bayonet mount that is the problem!
and yeah ive made some research over servicing itPosted 1 year ago # -
Ay Caramba! Send it to Nikon. I am a very experienced and practical person but because I have seen trained technicians work on my camera - and seen what's inside - I would not touch it myself.
Look, I notice that you come on NR asking "what can I do - is there a way to mend this?" but in spite of getting good advice to send it to Nikon, you are determined to try to fix it yourself. Why ask the question in the first place? 5 minutes research doesn't make you a fully trained Nikon Repair Technician, nor does it give you the correct tools to work on the lens or more importantly be able to confirm that the rest of the lens and the body is all working as it did when it left the factory.
If you keep asking the same question until you hear the answer you want to hear, you will eventually hear the answer you want to hear - that doesn't make it the best answer.
I'm done with this, good luck.
Posted 1 year ago # -
@zoran - check ebay for rear mount for Nikon. forget sending the lens to Nikon - it's a cheap lens and official repair may cost You more than buying a new one - call them and ask for app. cost. instead look for local camera repair shop - as when the optics are untouched it should be an easy repair. as for the bayonet mount itself - on cheap lenses it's plastic, like it or not. want metal one get more expensive lenses. Nikon policy over here is simple, most ppl who buy cheap lenses never take them off from body.
Posted 1 year ago # -
@adamz.... I agree with you about the NIKON costs... and it blows my mind to learn that some of the lens mounts are plastic.... guess I never looked. Do not have any at present, even an old one.
@zoran... The only caveat I would add is to find a camera repair shop which services the pros in the area. Unfortunately, in my geographic area there seem to be a lot of "experts" in repairing things who simply have lots of experience doing things incorrectly and without really caring about the end result. Of course, the DYI approach is always reasonable if one has the patience, tools, and eyes.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yes several of the kit lenses have plastic mounts. The 18-55 is another that does. IMO one reason I like my 18-200. It had a fairly substantial drop and it fared very well. I think it would have snapped plastic mounts off or completely broken the lens.
I will second the calling for a quote and going from there. If it is over half the price of a replacement lens I would scrap it and get another lens. You could try to fix it yourself if the repair cost is too much, but personally I would cut my losses and be more careful.
Posted 1 year ago # -
spraynpray said:
Ay Caramba! Send it to Nikon. I am a very experienced and practical person but because I have seen trained technicians work on my camera - and seen what's inside - I would not touch it myself.Look, I notice that you come on NR asking "what can I do - is there a way to mend this?" but in spite of getting good advice to send it to Nikon, you are determined to try to fix it yourself. Why ask the question in the first place? 5 minutes research doesn't make you a fully trained Nikon Repair Technician, nor does it give you the correct tools to work on the lens or more importantly be able to confirm that the rest of the lens and the body is all working as it did when it left the factory.
If you keep asking the same question until you hear the answer you want to hear, you will eventually hear the answer you want to hear - that doesn't make it the best answer.
I'm done with this, good luck.
thanx for your help my friend
Posted 1 year ago # -
right now im locatedin Melbourne and there is no store that can help me with this issue, ill have to wait for 4 weeks the less to get it fixed but i leave Melbourne in 2 weeks so i cannot do it that way, ill have to do it on my own,ill prolly order it from Nikon and mend it on my own... looks pretty simple on the video, dont you think guys?
Posted 1 year ago # -
zoran said:
ill prolly order it from Nikon and mend it on my own... looks pretty simple on the video, dont you think guys?I think you are just asking for one hell of a headache and potential heartbreak. Drops on the cheaper lenses can cause internal out of alignment issues, VR breaking, etc. that you don't know about yet. If you are leaving in two weeks, I think the only solution is to buy a new/used lens. I know everything you are hearing Sucks, but doing anything yourself will probably void Nikon willing to work on it even for a fee. It is one thing if it is broken from a drop, another if you are screwing with it and it doesn't work. Even if you do replace the mount correctly, if there is some internal stuff wrong and you have to send it to Nikon, you are toast (out of luck).
Depending where you are going, could be a good opportunity to justify buying a 35mm/50mm/macro or any other lens you want and just use that and send this one in to be repaired. Nothing like being forced into a lens you don't normally use to help your photo skills grow.
Posted 1 year ago # -
If I had a 'relatively' cheap lens and that happened to me, I might well try and have a go myself. spraynpray was correct though zoran, if you mess it up or buy the wrong items from eBay/Nikon, be aware that your local service centre will most likely just laugh at you if you subsequently ask for their help. You're right, the video you posted does SEEM to make it look pretty straigh forward, but in my experience of attempting such things, jobs that start off looking like they'll take 5 mins, can end up leaving you in a world of hurt! A wise man once said (my father) "Only gamble what you can afford to loose", can you afford to mess it up? If you can I wish you the best of luck, let us know how you get on.
Posted 1 year ago # -
TaoTeJared said:
Nothing like being forced into a lens you don't normally use to help your photo skills grow.I agree with everything Tao says, but even more so with the last statement.... For years many of us had one lens on a body and did just fine. It forces one into learning so much more about the perspectives, angels of view, and general limitations of having one focal length. Get a 35mm or wider and have a ball....
Posted 1 year ago # -
@zoran
I say if you feel confident you can repair the lens yourself then don't listen to anyone telling you that you can't and go for it. Compared to other lenses, the price of the 18-105 is a drop in the bucket and it's probably the perfect lens to start fixing yourself.
I don't own any kit lenses myself but if I ever broke my 50 f/1.8 or maybe even my 35 f/1.8 then yeah, I'd probably do the DIY approach.
BUT just like others said, be prepared for the worst which includes warranty invalidation, possibility of lens being worse off or the lens having other issues even after fixing the mount.
The only other issue I can think of is I think that Nikon stopped selling parts to individual buyers and only sell to authorized repair centers... or does that apply only to camera parts (as opposed to lenses)?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I really like that lens but I broke the end ring loose on it by always mounting my lens hood backwards on it when not using it. I was able to screw the ring back on but it's not locked in place anymore.
Anyways, if anyone is mounting their hood backwards like that you may want to be careful when taking it off.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I am surprised someone hasn't made a metal copy of this cheap plastic component.
After a female friend had her 18-105mm lens suffer this fate recently, I researched it on the net and found all the information on how to repair it (same part apparently on the 18-55mm, 55-200mm and 18-105mm Nikons), but no reference to a metal replacement.
I even went so far as to email a Chinese manufacturer of lens adaptors, figuring they would have all the ingredients and machinery to recreate the original in metal, but they have not responded.
I know it is arguable how economically viable the exercise is if people pay someone else to replace these, but I suspect there'd be a reasonable market of people prepared to replace their own plastic ones with metal. I still have two of these 'kit lens' and would be tempted to replace the plastic mount plates with stronger ones provided the price was reasonable.
All the above assumes that copyright is not an issue.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Okay... ive just fixed my lens mount by replacing it with a new one, but im not exactly certain that it works as it was in the first place.
Focusing in some cases will not happen instantly, i will do one ore two focusing tries to make focus, but to be honest i dont know if this happens only by focusing on difficult elements eg. like a one colored blanket
Is there some way i can measure the effectiveness of the lens?Posted 1 year ago #
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