80-200 AFD cracked af-mf ring

[Douglas Coon]

The af-mf ring on my 80-200 lens has a crack that I'm holding together with electrical tape. I've read this is a common problem with the plastic ring on a variety of lenses. Has anyone ordered the part from Nikon and attempted to repair this themselves? If not how much does Nikon charge for the repair? I've had this lens for about 8 years so it's out of warranty.

 

[Clark Thomas]

Off topic but thought this might be of interest. Just received my 80-200 2.8D AF-S back from Nikon last week.

Sent it in because... it could no longer focus close (less than 8 feet). Here's what Nikon did for $421 + shipping. Expensive but I feel like I got a new lens. -C.

replaced electrical contacts
replaced focusing ring
checked focus shift with zooming
replaced connector FPC
checked aperture operation
replaced ISO ring
checked infinity focus
repaired impact damage
repaired helicoid
replaced lens bayonet mount
checked auto focus operation
checked contact brush
checked encoder
checked lens FPC
general check & clean
1993 serial number 224242

 

[gmosc]

I've heard about 250 for the repair of the AF MF ring. It involves a lot of disassembly I've heard so it wouldn't be a quick fix.

That's one of the reasons I've gone over to the 180/2.8 instead. The AF MF switch is still is still broken and the 80-200 and it is going out of adjustment and wasn't recommended to fix it again.

Guy Moscoso

 

[PHXAZCRAIG]

Was that a push-pull?

Did you consider sending it anyway except to Nikon?

I've been thinking of sending mine somewhere for a cleaning and tuneup. Not having any particular problems with it, but when I started using it (after leaving it alone for a couple of years), it didn't seem to have the contrast and pop I remember. Maybe I'm just used to my 24-70 now.

Don't want to pay $400 for that sort of service though. (Sounds like yours needed extensive work).

I have dropped mine - fell out of backpack getting out of a car and hit concrete. Could be damage I've not noticed yet. I don't use it that much these days.

 

[freddyNZ]

I patched mine. Cut aluminium sheet (about 1.5mm thick width of ring, and 20mm long), with hole drilled so that screw can still be accessed, roughen aluminium and ring surface for glue adhesion, bend to shape, and glued using marine epoxy adhesive - thickened with fumed silica so that glue could not run.

3 years later, and it's still holding together and working fine - the patch will probably last forever.
Cost - about $0.05.

If it needs to be pulled apart for cleaning some time, then I'll get the ring replaced.

I have schematic (pdf) for 80-200 "two ring" here. There's a lot of disassembly required to replace the ring.

The af-mf ring on my 80-200 lens has a crack that I'm holding together with electrical tape. I've read this is a common problem with the plastic ring on a variety of lenses. Has anyone ordered the part from Nikon and attempted to repair this themselves? If not how much does Nikon charge for the repair? I've had this lens for about 8 years so it's out of warranty.

 

[gmosc]

I know you are asking Clark but I'll add my story.

My push pull fell out of my bag mounted on a D50. Both hit the asphalt. The aperture got sticky so for a while I only shot at f2.8 until I got estimates etc.

The insurance company gave me enough money to get it fixed. The D50 was totaled with the screws holding the bayonet mount ripping out of the plastic housing. So in the end the total money was enough to fix the lens. Unfortunately, there were some element groups that needed replacing but they simply couldn't get it out of the lens. AND some groups that they had wanted to replace weren't available anymore in Germany. This is the oldest version of the push pull.

So they tried to adjust it as well as they could. And it came back with the aperture working and the lens being as crisp as before..... but it started losing adjustment and after talking to the store that had sent it in, we both agreed that it wouldn't be worth it to get it adjusted anymore. Here in Denmark I could get hold of another one for the same cheap price, or I could go after a two ring for more or, as I actually did, I could get the 180/2.8 to try it out. The 180 filled the bill so I'm not interested in the 80-200 anymore.

Cons against the 80-200 that steered me away from it were:
AF MF lock breakage (all versions),
weight,
size of push pull version, making kirk mount advisable raising the price,
close focus problems on several versions.

The 180 solves all of these problems. It's always in the bag.

I would still be using it if it worked but since I needed to so something and found the 180 I have gone another route.

Guy Moscoso

Was that a push-pull?

Did you consider sending it anyway except to Nikon?

I've been thinking of sending mine somewhere for a cleaning and tuneup. Not having any particular problems with it, but when I started using it (after leaving it alone for a couple of years), it didn't seem to have the contrast and pop I remember. Maybe I'm just used to my 24-70 now.

Don't want to pay $400 for that sort of service though. (Sounds like yours needed extensive work).

I have dropped mine - fell out of backpack getting out of a car and hit concrete. Could be damage I've not noticed yet. I don't use it that much these days.

 

[nudibranches]

Sounds like a good fix FreddyNZ.

Mine cracked as well and I sent it in to a local shop here in Sydney. About $Au300 and it works great. It took me ages to spot the hairline crack and couldn't work out why the lens was back focussing one minute and then forward focussing the next.

I still can't fathom why lenses like the 80-200 and 85mm 1.4 have such cappy, el cheapo and flimsy focus selector rings.

It seems to be the only major achilles heel (build-wise) in otherwise robust lenses.

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nudibranches/

 

[Clark Thomas]

PHXAZCRAIG,

My 80-200 AF-S is the two ring. Haven't ever dropped it, and although it looks really clean I've given it lots of use. So my thought was, even nikkor lenses wear out with years of use.

On the phone, I asked the nikon guy what I could expect for my $400. He said it would be "like a new lens" which surprised me a little but I half believed him. And now that it's back and seen some use it DOES seem like a new lens. Not that it seemed old before aside from the close focus problem, but I have a renewed appreciation and confidence in its performance.

I miss the days of trusting everything to Professional Camera Repair in NYC (still have their address & zip code memorized), but in this case I expect they may have charged a similar fee.

I bought a 24-70 while it was being repaired. Too soon to tell if the new glass will make me love the image quality of the 80-200 any less. -C.

 

[Douglas Coon]

Thanks for the repair suggestion I'll give that a try. I'm not the sort to attempt the type of job that replacing ring seems to involve and $250 seems a bit steep for putting in a plastic ring that seems likely to have the same problem down the road. It is a shame that this problem exists, I have two other lenses with the same af-mf ring.

 

[gmosc]

Yeah you got that right. Even if you get it fixed there little guarantee that it won't break tomorrow- it's such a weak design.
That was a big reason to steer me clear from getting another one.

Guy Moscoso

Thanks for the repair suggestion I'll give that a try. I'm not the sort to attempt the type of job that replacing ring seems to involve and $250 seems a bit steep for putting in a plastic ring that seems likely to have the same problem down the road. It is a shame that this problem exists, I have two other lenses with the same af-mf ring.

 

[fraserj1]

Give these guys a call http://www.midstatecamerarepair.com

Was that a push-pull?

Did you consider sending it anyway except to Nikon?

I've been thinking of sending mine somewhere for a cleaning and tuneup. Not having any particular problems with it, but when I started using it (after leaving it alone for a couple of years), it didn't seem to have the contrast and pop I remember. Maybe I'm just used to my 24-70 now.

Don't want to pay $400 for that sort of service though. (Sounds like yours needed extensive work).

I have dropped mine - fell out of backpack getting out of a car and hit concrete. Could be damage I've not noticed yet. I don't use it that much these days.

 

[plubbry]

FreddyNZ, Sounds like a good DIY fix. I'll have to try something similar to mine. Yes, it is cracked. D'oh. By the way, I would really like to take a look at the PDF you have for the 80-200. If you don't minde emailing me a copy I would really appreciate it. My email address is in my profile. Thanks.

 

[freddyNZ]

FreddyNZ, Sounds like a good DIY fix. I'll have to try something similar to mine. Yes, it is cracked. D'oh. By the way, I would really like to take a look at the PDF you have for the 80-200. If you don't minde emailing me a copy I would really appreciate it. My email address is in my profile. Thanks.

PDF sent via email.

I'll take some photos of the patch, and post them here later.

 

[PHXAZCRAIG]

Thanks for the URL. I'd heard of them before, but couldn't remember their name for sure, in case I needed them.

I looked at their web site, zoomed in on the lens picture, and they show two lenses I have! The push-pull 80-200 being one of them. I'm entertaining the idea of sending it to them for a general tune-up and cleaning, if the cost isn't too high.

 

[freddyNZ]

Yeah you got that right. Even if you get it fixed there little guarantee that it won't break tomorrow- it's such a weak design.

It seems that the ring breaks after many years of use with continued flexing in a point on the ring where it attached to the mechanism underneath. I never heard of one needing to be repaired twice. Perhaps material used in replacement rings in improved.

I don't expect that current lenses with USM ring motors and VR mechanisms are going to be "service free" over the medium and long term.
If you use your stuff, then at some point it's going to need maintenance.

 

[plubbry]

Thanks for the pdf. I am looking forward to seeing pictures of your repair.

 

[freddyNZ]

Thanks for the pdf. I am looking forward to seeing pictures of your repair.

Arrow shows approximate position where the ring cracks. I didn't think there was enough of the ring between the hole and the crack for gluing, so drilled the aluminium to allow access to the screw - otherwise the ring won't be able to be removed when/if it ever needs to be replaced or disassembled. The aluminium patch is quite thin - about 1.5mm. Adhesive was two part marine grade epoxy, thickened with fumed silica - note that there are two types of thickeners commonly used - the other type "microspheres" (used to make fillers rather than adhesive) will give a weak glue joint - don't use it. I mixed it to peanut butter consistency - you really don't want it to run at all. The aluminium surface needs to be roughened with #80 grit wet and dry, and also carefully sand the surface of the ring. Then shape the curve in the aluminium as close as possible to the curve of the ring - roll it around a glass tumbler of about the same size or a bit smaller. Held in place overnight with a bit of tape. Touched up with a bit of satin black paint. Looks "hand-made" - because it was.

That was about three years ago - still going strong - it's probably my most used lens, and not "babied"

 

[HenkL]

I would be very much interested in the pdf as well.. If you would sent it via email I would be moste grateful. thanks in advance!

 

[freddyNZ]

I would be very much interested in the pdf as well.. If you would sent it via email I would be moste grateful. thanks in advance!

sent.

 

[sganger]

Just picked up an otherwise mint AF-D 80-200mm f/2.8 for a decent price today and noticed as I brought it home that the A/M ring is cracked. Thanks for the excellent repair description and images of the fix! I was trying to figure out how I could glue the two halves of the ring together (if and when it broke) without getting glue inside the mechanism, but hadn't thought about simply gluing an aluminum patch over the top of the cracked area.

Here's hoping the repair won't be necessary, but I think it highly likely that it will be at some point.
Thanks again,
Sam
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/_sam
http://poeticdiscord.deviantart.com