I've used Nikon camera's for the last 24 years.
I have owned or currently own the following:
Nikon F w/ motor
Nikon FA w/ motor
Nikon F3 w/ motor
Nikon FG w/ motor
Nikon EM w/ motor
2 D70s
SB-16
SB-E
55mm Macro
70-210mm
300mm
18-35mm
28-70mm
35-70
teleconverters
50mm
70-300 G and ED
18-70mm
28mm
35mm
85mm
One thing I've learned; the older the Nikon gear, the better the
quality.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, I"VE SPENT A FAIR AMOUNT OF $$$ WITH NIKON.
It used to be that Nikon were so far superior to Canon, Minolta,
etc in system and design, that Nikon really were the only way to
go.
However, I have the strongest urge today to sell everything and buy
a different brand.
My dealings with Nikon lately have been absolutely horrible. I
have needed to call tech support regarding issues with software,
cameras, and lenses. Telephone hold times have been over 30
minutes. In every case the tech support representative was
clueless and of zero help. I knew more about the product than the
Nikon tech rep in EVERY case. Each of the issues were related to
flaws in their products.
Secondly, I needed to send a lens in for repair. The service
person was unable to answer my questions at all, saying she just
was there to answer phones and had no technical knowledge.
However, she did promise that the repair process would take 7-10
days from the time they received the camera.
Sixteen day after they received teh package, I finally received a
letter from Nikon showing the wrong lens model and claiming a
repair price as expensive as the lens. If I declined the repair,
it would be ten days before they even sent the lens back to me!. I
called and the person in service was absolutely of no value in the
matter. This was after waiting on hold for 40 minutes. This meant
a promised repair of 7-10 days would actually take over a month.
My emails to Nikon are ALWAYS met with generic responses of no
value. The inaccuracy of the information they provide through tech
support a great deal of the time shows that their representatives
are not adequately trained.
Furthermore, they are delivering products to market with
significant flaws....something that didn't happen when Nikon was so
superior to the others. Now, Nikon is starting to become "just
another manufacturer". Cameras with focus issues, VR lenses with
malaligned elements, software glitches, focus errors in lenses...
the list is endless.
Nikon's customer service is so poor that they act as if they are
doing you a favor by "letting" you buy their products.
I'm extremely let down by this company. The simple fact is that
another big manufacturer is making products every bit as good, with
a very extensive sysytem offering, where warranties are offered
world wide, as well.
Please don't post a defense stating that this is a sign of the
times, or is Nikon's way of lowering costs etc. We know all that.
The problem is Nikon's management style and the way that they now
run their company. It is no longer a "quality above all else" firm.
Keep your eye on eBay, because I may be having a fire sale soon!
