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Was My DIY Lens Repair Successful…?

During my SOS Algarve Animal Charity Event on Saturday my trusty Nikon AF-S 80-400mm suffered a problem. I love this lens for my Dogs-In-Nature Photo Shoots because I have the ability to be far enough away to allow natural behaviour but also be able to quickly open wider when they get closer. This lens is also the perfect walk-about lens for the same reason. It is reason number 1 (of 2) why I’d rather this lens to the Nikon AF-S 200-500mm even though it has less reach. This lens and almost all my other lenses have the “gold ring” on the end of the barrel which designates it as a professional build lens (see my Equipment List). This means that it is weather and dust sealed, which is reason number 2 why I’m not a fan of the 200-500mm as it doesn’t and in this incredibly dusty environment I think it’s life could be short lived. However, as the 80-400mm lens is a zoom lens, then there is always the possibility of dust and sand getting inside the zoom barrel and this is what I think happened during the shoot. Everything was going great until suddenly the zoom ring became extremely stiff, luckily, it didn’t seize and I was able to continue with the shoot, although I always have my Nikon AF-S 70-200mm waiting as a very good substitute.

I purchased this lens back in 2013 when it was released and although it has been used extensively throughout its life, I have always taken care to ensure no damage to any of the glass or workings. So, now the dilemma, do I send it off to Nikon for repair and pay what would probably be around €1000, do I even just invest in a new one, current prices are around €2000 or do I try to repair it myself??? WHAT DISMANTLE A LENS!!!!! I have never done this before and thought, why not, I have nothing to lose as I can always opt for the first two options. After watching a few YouTube videos, albeit other Nikon lenses, I started to remove the front elements.

Here is a shot of the front element removed, you can see the small pieces of what look like ground metal filings on the other elements from where the zoom barrel was grinding.


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How Lens Diaphragm Blades Control the Aperture (Video)

I setup the Lightbox today to make a quick video on how the diaphragm blades control the amount of light allowed through to the sensor (or film) inside the camera. This is to be part of my Digital Photography Fundamentals Workshop.

If you are interested, the video can be seen below and please subscribe to my YouTube Channel (if it doesn’t subscribe you automatically, click the SUBSCRIBE button on my Channel).

{Remember to watch in HD if possible}


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500mm F/4 Lens Disaster!

It was enough to almost make me want to cry!

Sitting in the Lounge, I heard a quiet bang from the bedroom, on investigation it seems that one of our (many) Cats managed to open a door to the built-in Wardrobes.

Broken 500mm F/4 Collar
All of my camera equipment is stored in this particular wardrobe and normally right up high on a shelf. However, as there has been some activity around the house (flyby of Short Toed Eagles for instance) I kept both my 500mm f/4 and 300mm f/2.8 standing up ready to grab.

Yes, you guessed it, one of the Cats (who still remains unidentified) knocked the 500mm f/4 over.

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