03-19-2015, 06:40 PM
I have the Nikon AFS 70-300mm VRII which I bought faulty, firstly the AF was sticking and the VRII seems to work when it feels like it. I posted on the Nikon lens site on DPreview about the problem and someone replied with a link to a AF repair guide.
Briefly, I disassembled the lens and repaired the AF, this left the the VR system with the same fault which is basically that it doesn't work in standby mode, ie when you switch on the camera it tries to go into standby, but then clunks three times and the image drops about the same amount as the AF point, then if you try to focus the VR does nothing,
If you wait ten seconds it fires up and functions perfectly while half pressing the shutter button, you can take photos and as long as you half press the SB the VR continues to function, when you let go after two seconds it cluncks three times the image drops and you have to wait ten seconds before the VR will respond again to the SB.
Taking shots with the VR not working results in soft decentered type images.In stand by mode the OS elements float in a magnet field "aligned", and can be used on a tripod, When the camera is off the elements drop and as far as I can see nothing supports them other than their pivot stops.
I am thinking of downloading the Nikon repair manual and going in to see what I can find, my current guess is one of the standby coils is adrift.
OS lenses are considerably more fragile than non OS.. Nikon want 300 euros for VR repair, I payed 70 euros it works, I just have to think ten seconds in advance.
Airy Discuss,
I can't comment on QC methods in manufacturing apart from a customers point of view, I have had Sigmas, Tamrons, Pentaxs and now Nikons and two out of three have been decentered, my call is quality control rests with the customer, if you don't send it back it must be a good one!
There must be a veritable "carousel" of duff lenses flying around in post vans waiting to fall back on shelves or maybe, maybe, back to the manufacturer, some of these lenses must have done many trips till they fall into the hands of an inexperienced user or someone who hasn't had the time to check!
I've seen far fewer reports of Sigma problems since they pledged QC improvements.
Briefly, I disassembled the lens and repaired the AF, this left the the VR system with the same fault which is basically that it doesn't work in standby mode, ie when you switch on the camera it tries to go into standby, but then clunks three times and the image drops about the same amount as the AF point, then if you try to focus the VR does nothing,
If you wait ten seconds it fires up and functions perfectly while half pressing the shutter button, you can take photos and as long as you half press the SB the VR continues to function, when you let go after two seconds it cluncks three times the image drops and you have to wait ten seconds before the VR will respond again to the SB.
Taking shots with the VR not working results in soft decentered type images.In stand by mode the OS elements float in a magnet field "aligned", and can be used on a tripod, When the camera is off the elements drop and as far as I can see nothing supports them other than their pivot stops.
I am thinking of downloading the Nikon repair manual and going in to see what I can find, my current guess is one of the standby coils is adrift.
OS lenses are considerably more fragile than non OS.. Nikon want 300 euros for VR repair, I payed 70 euros it works, I just have to think ten seconds in advance.
Airy Discuss,
I can't comment on QC methods in manufacturing apart from a customers point of view, I have had Sigmas, Tamrons, Pentaxs and now Nikons and two out of three have been decentered, my call is quality control rests with the customer, if you don't send it back it must be a good one!
There must be a veritable "carousel" of duff lenses flying around in post vans waiting to fall back on shelves or maybe, maybe, back to the manufacturer, some of these lenses must have done many trips till they fall into the hands of an inexperienced user or someone who hasn't had the time to check!
I've seen far fewer reports of Sigma problems since they pledged QC improvements.