Nikon 24-70 2.8 users beware! Please read if you have lens

[CianMcLiam]

January 8, 2009 at 1:02 pm

Hi folks,

I know there’s a few of you out there using the rather superb Nikon 24-70 2.8, a fantastic lens that has always given me super results on full frame or DX. Since I had the D700 it sits on the camera most of the time, until last week.

I was carrying the camera on a tripod and running across a field, when I plonked the tripod down (I didn’t throw it or slam it, but maybe a bit ‘firmer’ than normal!) the lens broke off at the camera mount. The four screws holding the lens mount to the lens body had ripped out of their sockets and took the actual socket parts with them, when the lens fell the little cable and the arm that flicks the aperture also broke.

I sent it in for repair and the bill is for 360 euro, I tried to explain that a lens of this grade shouldn’t fall apart except under a very heavy fall which mine certianly didn’t have. The camera itself is completely undamaged, the repair centre says it must have suffered major damage going by the damage to the lens even though I told them the lens mount was still securely and tightly attached to the body as normal after the break, they are going to inspect it anyway just in case.

I have been looking around the web and a search for nikon “24-70 loose screws” turns up a number of discussions, I cant find anything similar for any of my other lenses. When the repair centre rang today they said another 24-70 had arrived with the same damage and they only had parts for one, so it is possible there’s something going on here and I’d like to find out if there is a weak point on this lens.

I noticed a couple of discussions where people have found the screws actually loose or else when the try to tighten them they just spin in the sockets, the sockets themselves have obviously worked loose.

Could anyone with this lens check their screws on the lens mount (delicately!) to see if they are loose or spinning constantly when tightened (only if already loose) and let me know if they had similar issues or actual breakages? I appreciate they may engineer in a break point to protect the camera mount but this seems overly delicate for such an expensive lens. I think it may also be advisable not to store the lens attached to the body in your camera bag while travelling – just in case!

Cheers!

[jb7]

January 8, 2009 at 1:11 pm

I’ve had a 18-200 VR break in two-
a week after the warranty expired-

The bill for repair was the same-

I think that in my case the damage was cumulative-
it may have been broken a while before that-
hanging on by a thread, so to speak-

However, in my case, it was the chassis (wrong word) or internal frame that snapped-
again, no more than usual wear and tear-

It took the best part of 7 months to repair properly,
it had to go back a few times-

Luckily, Conn’s gave me a loaner for the entire duration-
the one good reason why local outlets should be supported…

Though it’s a tough call these days-

j

[randomway]

January 8, 2009 at 4:31 pm

I am sorry to hear about that.

I was considering to buy the 24-70, but I’ve read on dpreview.com that many people had the exact same problem with that lens, and others found that it had dust inside when shipped new, the zoom ring is sticking, etc. I am just guessing that Nikon was saving the pennies on manufacturing or the design is flawed. Either way, I wouldn’t give in and I’d try to get in contact with others, who posted this problem on other forums.

If they are marketing this lens as the perfect match for the D3 and that it’s for PJ’s, it should be able to endure kicks and drops.

Zoltan

[aoluain]

January 8, 2009 at 5:09 pm

Wow thats a bit rich.

I know very little about Nikon but this lens is not exactly a consumer grade lens is it?

Is the lens metal with a metal mount? I know some of the chaeper Sigmas I have used over the years
had plastic mounts, didnt think much of it at the time but looking back I wonder why I didnt
notice it more.

looks like there might be some cost saving measures going on, is this to become
more commonplace across the board with canon, pentax, etc?

A

[Martin]

January 8, 2009 at 10:09 pm

That’s bad luck Ken. I have one of these lenses so will keep an eye on the screws in the mount. Tight at the moment
For a full metal lens costing over a 1000euro I would have expected it to be much stronger than that :?

Hope the repair brings it back to full health
M

[sean1098]

January 8, 2009 at 10:37 pm

I also have this lense, i will check it. I droped mine before crimbo, on loss gravel. still works perfect, although when i zoom it makes a very rough noise.

Sean.

[Harry Reid]

January 9, 2009 at 1:38 am

Aedan just tipped me off about your unfortunate damage to your 24-70. Ouch! I have one too and will check the screws over the weekend. Seems nothing is as solid “as they used to be”. Thanks very much for sharing your problem. It’s a learning curve for all of us I think.
Go Well.
Harry Reid.