Aperture repair of a Nikon 600mm f/5.6 AI generation lens

[john_schutt]

Hello!

I bought a Nikon AI 600mm f/5.6 in January. When it came, I found

that the aperture didn't work. So, I took it to my local authorized

Nikon repair shop. They gave me an estimate and the seller gave me

a "refund" check for that amount. I called the repair shop in March

and in May. They said that parts were on backorder, but that they

were sure that they could fix the lens. Today, 7 months later, I

called the repair shop. (They had told me to wait until they

contacted me.) They told me that they could NOT fix the lens. They

said that the parts are no longer available and that the new parts

would not fit. So now I'm in an expensive pickle.

 

1. Does anyone know how I could get the aperture blades that I need?

 

2. Does anyone know of anyone who COULD repair the lens? I called

NikonUSA and they told me to send it to NY.

 

3. Is there some type of cross-reference to another Nikon lens that

used these blades? Maybe I could buy one to pirate the blades from

it.

 

I know. I know. This was an expensive stretch for me to buy this

lens, and now I'm in a pickle. Sigh. . .

 

THANKS! =]

John

[henk]

Undoubtably it CAN be fixed but at what cost? I would try NY and see what they have to say, dont take no for an answer btw...

 

Ken Rockwell has the following comment on the 600/5.6:

 

"You will almost always be using this lens at f/5.6 or f/8 if you can except when shooting landscapes on a tripod. It doesn't get sharper stopped down; but you do increase your chances of getting the subject in focus."

 

Good luck and happy shooting,