NOTE: This article was first published over at nikonglass (https://goo.gl/tNKRka) on the 9th March 2010
Intro
For a long time I have been contemplating the rebuild of my old and trusty 500mm lens. Even though its optical performance was great, some of its moving parts were showing their age and using the lens was becoming more tiresome. My main concerns were the sticky focusing ring, the very sticky tripod collar and the worn rear lens mount.
My story
So my first stop was at my local Nikon distributor. The news from them was that no parts were available since the lens was too old. Then I contacted Nikon Japan and got a similar response though there was a possibility to order a discontinued part but that would require a very long wait, maybe even 12 months or more. So I started contacting other dealers the world over in the hope that someone might still have some parts left over. But after receiving a few negative responses I started to get the impression that no one was really looking; they were all just giving me the same old negative answer which was convenient for them. That's when I started to realize that the fact that I had no part numbers and was trying to explain parts by description was a terrible way to locate what i needed. I had to get my hands on a schematic of the lens so I can at least pin point the parts that I would need to order. Thankfully and after a lot of searching, I finally came across what I needed. Now that I had a list of part numbers, all I had to do was locate the parts. Against all odds, I came across two dealers who seemed to have a large inventory of parts for most of the Nikon lens range. After contacting them, I found out that they had the parts I needed but couldn’t send them out of the respective countries, so I contacted my local dealer again and arranged for them to get my parts in since the technician there would be doing the overhaul anyway. Thankfully parts were relatively cheap.
The result
Well, I am happy to report that after all the searching and waiting, the overhauled lens is a better tool to work with. The focusing is a lot smoother and the overall resistance is more even compared to how it was. This was a big relief but as is often the case, you fix one and brake another. Now the focusing ring/tube has a slight wobble of nearly 1mm which even though does not seem to affect the smoothness of the focusing action is still annoying. The tripod collar action was the biggest improvement at nearly 100%. Now I can literally spin the camera and lens with little force and the movement is so smooth just like a new camera. The rear mount was also a big improvement with a tight fit and helped to better mount the camera body with less play.
Would I recommend you go to the trouble of rebuilding your old lens? Well if you can avoid such an exercise, please do so, as in most cases most “old lenses” that still work, are better left alone. If though your lens has serious problems, and can’t be replaced with a little money, then rebuilding may spring some new life into it.
How to get your Nikon fixed
So if you live in remote region or other far off place and need some hard-to-get parts, my advice is that you do the preliminary work yourself. Get a hold of a schematic or parts list of your lens / camera and try to pin point all the required parts that your item may need. Once you have your list ready try and locate all the parts needed. Once the list is complete with available parts and source addresses pass it on to your local dealer, distributor or technician so that they can get them in for you. In most cases they will be happy that you have done the "hard" work in listing all the individual part numbers and have done all the "leg work" in locating the actual parts. Some of you may think that parts don’t exist for your particular lens, but in most cases parts do exist for a range of old and rare lenses, it’s just that most dealers don’t seem willing to spend the time (possibly not very profitable for them) picking the right part numbers and then spending hours on the phone trying to find someone on the planet that actually has parts in stock.
The prosedure step-by-step
- First find a schematic, parts list or repair manual for your item. If its a Nikon product, contact me since I may have what you are looking for. All I ask in return is that you don't shy away from the Donate button at the end of the article ;-)
- Check and note down all the part numbers you may require on a piece of paper
- Then Google for your local dealers or technicians contact info. At this point its is also worth locating the emails of other dealers near your location
- If you can, I would advise against a direct phone call and insist that you first try contacting them via e-mail. Type your message in a short and precise manner with a list of all the part numbers you require
- Send the emails off and wait for an answer. Give them 2 weeks
- Once you have found a source that can supply you with parts, you can either order them yourself, or if that's not possible due to location and export restrictions, pass on the info to your local dealer or technician and he will be in a position to order them for you.
Best sources for Nikon parts
The following two dealers have a large inventory of hard to get Nikon parts and may be a good place to start your search. If they don't have what you are looking for, don't despair, since what you are looking for may be the last part available on the planet and may be sitting on a warehouse shelf in a remote region of Pakistan or some other far away place.
Nikon United Kingdom
Tel.: +44 (0)871 200 1964 (To contact our spares department, please call 0871 2001963 from 9.00am to 1.00pm Monday to Friday, or by e-mail on: spareparts@nikon.co.uk)
Nikon Service Point Nederland
Service Hotline: 09001 – 225564 (09001 – CALLNIKON), info@nikonservice.nl, www.nikonservice.nl
NSP Spare Shop: www.nikonservice.nl/shop
EuroHi-Tech
Camera sales & repair company based in the UK. Although specializing in Canon gear, they also carry a lot of Nikon parts as well.
http://www.cameraspareparts.co.uk/
My collection
I have a large selection of Parts Lists, Service manuals and Repair manuals, so if you are having a hard time locating what you need, send me an email informing me of what lens, flash or camera you need help with plus a postal address for me to send the booklet / leaflet. I currently have the following articles:
Macro
AF 60mm F28 MICRO PL 1p
AF 60mm F28D MICRO PL 14p
AF 60mm F28D MICRO RM 13p
AF 70-180mm F45-56D MICRO ED PL 3p
AF 70-180mm F45-56D MICRO ED PL 16p
AF 70-180mm F45-56D MICRO ED RM 27p
AFS 60mm F28G ED MICRO PL 10p
AFS 60mm F28G ED MICRO RM 120p
AFS 105mm F28G VR MICRO PL 14p
AFS 105mm F28G VR MICRO RM 118p
Other
AIS 500mm F4P EDIF PL 2p
PC-E 24mm F35D ED RM 118p
AF FX Prime
AF 14mm 28D ED IF PL 12p
AF 14mm 28D ED IF RM 34p
AF 20mm F28D HOWTO REPAIR
AF 24mm F28D PL 6p
AF 24mm F28D RM 16p
AF 28mm F28D PL 6p
AF 28mm F28D RM 7p
AF 35mm F2D PL 6p
AF 50mm F14D RM 12p
AF 50mm F14D PL 6p
AF 50mm F18 NEW PL 8p
AF 50mm F18 NEW RM 14p
AF 85mm F14D PL 10p
AF 85mm F14D RM 15p
AFS FX Zoom
AFS 14-24mm F28G EDIF PL 13p
AFS 14-24mm F28G EDIF RM 93p
AFS 17-35mm F28D IF PL 13p
AFS 17-35mm F28D IF RM 45p
AFS 18-70mm F35-45G EDIF PL 11p
AFS 18-70mm F35-45G EDIF RM 77p
AFS 18-105mm F35-56G VR ED PL 10p
AFS 18-105mm F35-56G VR ED RM 149p
AFS 24-70mm F28G EDIF PL 13p
AFS 24-70mm F28G EDIF RM 97p
AFS 24-85mm F35-45G EDIF PL 9p
AFS 24-85mm F35-45G EDIF RM 93p
AFS 24-120mm F35-56G VR EDIF PL 14p
AFS 24-120mm F35-56G VR EDIF RM 101p
AFS 28-70mm F28D IF PL 16p
AFS 28-70mm F28D IF RM 43p
AFS 70-200mm F28G VR EDIF PL 17p
AFS 70-200mm F28G VR EDIF RM 100p
AFS 70-300mm F45-56G VR ED PL 11p
AFS 80-200mm F28D IF GREY PL 5p
AFS 80-200mm F28D IF PL 15p
AFS 80-200mm F28D IF RM 83p
AFS 200-400mm F4G VR EDIF PL 18p
AFS 200-400mm F4G VR EDIF RM 92p
AFS FX Prime
AFS 300mm F4D EDIF PL 11p
AFS 300mm F4D EDIF RM 53p
AFS 300mm F4D GREY EDIF PL 7p
AFS 300mm F28D EDIF RM 77p
AFS 300mm F28D IF GREY PL 8p
AFS 300mm F28D ii PL 16p
AFS 300mm F28D ii RM 34p
AFS 300mm F28G VR EDIF PL 14p
AFS 300mm F28G VR EDIF RM 100p
AFS 400mm F28D IF GREY PL 9p
AFS 400mm F28D IF PL 15p
AFS 400mm F28D IF RM 8p
AFS 400mm F28D ii EDIF GREY PL 7p
AFS 400mm F28D ii EDIF PL 16p
AFS 400mm F28D ii EDIF RM 52p
AFS 400mm F28G VR ED PL 14p
AFS 400mm F28G VR ED RM 112p
AFS 500mm F4D IF RM 3p
AFS 500mm F4D ii EDIF PL 15p
AFS 500mm F4D ii EDIF RM 20p
AFS 500mm F4D ii IF PL 15p
AFS 500mm F4G VR ED PL 14p
AFS 500mm F4G VR ED RM 90p
AFS 600mm F4D IF RM 72p
AFS 600mm F4D ii EDIF GREY PL 7p
AFS 600mm F4D ii EDIF PL 16p
AFS 600mm F4D ii EDIF RM 17p
AFS 600mm F4D ii EDIF RM2 21p
AFS 600mm F4G VR ED PL 14p
AFS 600mm F4G VR ED RM 90p
AF FX zoom
AF 18-35mm F35-45D pl 11p
AF 18-35mm F35-45D RM 49p
AF 20-35mm F28D PL 2p
AF 24-50mm F35-45 PL 17p
AF 24-50mm F35-45D RM 19p
AF 24-120mm F35-56D PL 13p
AF 24-120mm F35-56D RM 39p
AF 28-70mm F35-45D PL 22p
AF 28-80mm F35-56D PL 7p
AF 28-80mm F35-56D RM 27p
AF 28-85mm F35-45 NEW RM 42p
AF 28-100mm F35-56G PL 11p
AF 28-100mm F35-56G RM 24p
AF 28-200mm F35-56G EDIF PL 16p
AF 28-200mm F35-56G EDIF RM 44p
AF 35-70mm F28D PL 1p
AF 35-70mm F28D RM 11p
AF 35-80mm F4-56D PL 9p
AF 35-80mm F4-56D RM 6p
AF 35-105mm F35-45D PL 11p
AF 35-105mm F35-45D RM 17p
AF 35-105mm F35-45 NEW RM 55p
AF 35-135mm F35-45 RM 40p
AF 70-210mm F4-56D PL 11p
AF 70-210mm F4-56D RM 28p
AF 70-300mm F4-56G PL 9p
AF 70-300mm F4-56G RM 17p
AF 75-240mm F45-56D PL 9p
AF 75-240mm F45-56D RM 31p
AF 75-300mm F45-56 RM 42p
AF 80-200mm F28D ED PP PL 20p
AF 80-200mm F28D ED PP RM 43p
AF 80-200mm F28D ED RM 62p
AF 80-200mm F28D ED 2ring PL 3p
AF 80-200mm F45-56D PL 10p
AF 80-200mm F45-56D RM 18p
AF 80-400mm F45-56D VR ED PL 15p
AF 80-400mm F45-56D VR ED RM 69p
AFI FX Prime
AFI 300mm F28D EDIF PL 23p
AFI 300mm F28D EDIF PL 3p
AFI 400mm F28D EDIF RM 40p
AFI 400mm F28D EDIF PL 3p
AFI 600mm F4D EDIF PL 3p
AFS DX Lenses
AF 10.5mm F28G FISHEYE DX ED PL 8p
AF 10.5mm F28G FISHEYE DX ED RM 21p
AFS 12-24mm F4G DX EDIF PL 11p
AFS 12-24mm F4G DX EDIF RM 82p
AFS 16-85mm F35-56G DX VR ED PL 11p
AFS 16-85mm F35-56G DX VR ED RM 145p
AFS 17-55mm F28G DX EDIF PL 19p
AFS 17-55mm F28G DX EDIF RM 85p
AFS 18-55mm F35-56G DX ED PL 9p
AFS 18-55mm F35-56G DX ED RM 65p
AFS 18-55mm F35-56G DX VR RM 113p
AFS 18-200mm F35-56G DX VR ED PL 14p
AFS 18-200mm F35-56G DX VR ED RM 98p
AFS 55-200mm F4-56G DX RM 75p
AFS 55-200mm F4-56G DX VR PL 10p
Digital bodies
D70 PL
Nikon D70 (SM - 3 pages)
D90 PL
D100 RM
d100_pl
Nikon D40 (parts list – 31 pages)
Nikon D40 (repair manual – 87 pages)
D40x PL
D50 RM
D60 PL
Nikon D50 (parts list - 38 pages)
Nikon D2X old (parts list - 23 pages)
Nikon D2X (parts list - 51 pages)
Nikon D2X (repair manual - 108 pages)
Nikon D2H (parts list - 53 pages)
Nikon D1x (parts list - 17 pages)
D1X SCHEMATICS
D1 SCHEMATICS
Nikon D1 (parts list - 17 pages)
Nikon D1 pt1 (repair manual - 27 pages)
Nikon D1 pt2 (repair manual - 25 pages)
Nikon D1 pt3 (repair manual - 30 pages)
Nikon D200 (parts list – 52 pages)
D200 RM
Nikon D300 (parts list – 50 pages)
Nikon D300 (repair manual – 112 pages)
D700 RM
Flashes
SB-24 RM 75p
SB-25 PL 12p
SB-28 PL 15p
SB-28 RM 34p
SB-29s PL 9p
SB-29s RM 21p
SB-50DX PL 14p
SB-50DX RM 51p
SB-80DX PL 12p
SB-80DX RM 29p
SB-600 PL 15p
SB-600 RM 54p
SB-800 PL 13p
SB-800 RM 59p
SB-900 PL 16p
SB-900 RM 16p
SB-900 RM1 99p
Film bodies
Nikon FM3A (parts list – 14 pages)
Nikon F100 (parts list - 18 pages)
Nikon F5 (parts list - 17 pages)
Nikon F5 (repair manual -106 pages)
Nikon F4 (schematics - 18 pages)
Nikon F4 (parts list - 74 pages)
Nikon F4 (repair manual – 196 pages)
Nikon F3 (parts list - 18 pages)
Compact Film Cameras
Zoom Touch 800 (Instruction manual)
Zoom Touch 800 + 105 (Repair Manual)
Zoom Touch 600 + 85 (Repair Manual)
Coolpix 800 (Parts list)
35 TI (Repair manual)
35 TI (Instruction Manual)
28 TI (Repair manual)
28 TI (Instruction Manual)
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