CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

Ditto! Where did you buy all this faulty gear? I have has one video noise problem with a 5500. Sent it to Nikon, they fixed it for free.

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

I currently own a D2x, D700, D3, D800, and a DF. Each of these have been through some pretty tough treatment with lenses varying from 20 to 500mm. I've never had a problem with a lens mount on any of these. Same with several film cameras.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

It is difficult to tell exactly why the damage to the lens mount occurred. Lots of possibilities. The main thing is you have a good camera which you spent a lot of money getting repaired. You will never get that investment back. So USE IT! Maybe that last repair made it whole again. Maybe it did not. But unless you are completely discouraged with that particular camera, you ought to be putting it to the test. Then, if it goes kablooey again, ditch it.

An illustration of what kind of abuse Nikon cameras can take is found in a fall I took this spring. My D810 with 24-70mm f/2.8 was around my neck, my D7000 with 70-300mm was in my backpack. Climbing up an embankment, the ground gave way under my foot and the backpack contributed to my falling backwards, right onto the backpack. Somehow at the end, I had slid down to the edge of the brook and was face-down in shallow muddy water. The D810 and lens got banged up on the rocks and wet. None of my gear was broken. I do attribute some of that outcome to the L-bracket [which now has a significant ding in it] and the lens hood being extended. In order to get up I had to maneuver around so my feet were no longer uphill, which put pressure on the backpack. Luckily for me, it could have been a lot worse - bruises in multiple places and a cut on my forehead from hitting a rock at the end of the slide [not serious but bled profusely!].

So whether your camera had a very serious fall, or just hit the ground at a very bad angle, or is a lemon, I do feel that the higher-end Nikon cameras are built to take a lot of abuse. You have a sizable investment in gear, and it is a shame to see it sitting around gathering dust.

Good luck with your conundrum. Hope you can come to terms with it and getting back your confidence in the system.
Susan

fetzler Loc: North West PA

I have had no problems with Nikon equipment except for one defective lens. The retailer replaced it immediately.

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

Op is currently on line I had asked for a damage report "what failed-broke"
No answer
Is this a ruse

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I shoot with a D7100 & a D610. about a month ago I was trekking in the North Georgia mountains. I tried to get a better position for a waterfall shot but my foot slipped out from under me & I rolled down the hill. Neither camera or lens (or ringlight) suffered any damage. Nothing got damaged other than me. (nasty cut on my shin and my ego). That said, what happened to you is unfortunate. Only camera I've ever had repaired ( back in the 70's) was my old Minolta SRT 101 that I had loaned to a friend who wound up getting dirt in the speed selector/ ASA dial. None of my Nikons has ever had to be sent in for repair & I use lots of heavy lenses that you would think would stress the lens mount. I'd suggest getting an Inland Marine policy (all inclusive) to cover your gear.

Greenmachine Loc: Chicago, IL

Sorry to hear about this unfortunate situation, Fred: Like some of the other posters, I too have been using Nikons for over 25 years ( I currently have a 7200 and a 750) and have never had an issue like this.
My first thought is that you simply got "a lemon" which can happen to anyone; but it sounds like even after spending that $$$ on repairs, the camera problem continues. Time to cut your losses and get another new camera, but I would stay in the Nikon line: they have a long-standing reputation for quality equipment, and at least you're familiar with the camera's controls and capabilities.
Good luck and keep us posted on your decisions, OK?

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Like many others have said I have been using Nikon nonstop with many other cameras since 1966. The only problem I have ever had was with a very old Leica lens from the 50's that didn't work. Other than that no problems with any camera whatsoever. I think you are mentally jinxing yourself. None of us has a clue what happened to the D7100 originally but if it was repaired then get it out and use it. What do you have to lose if it doesn't work properly? A picture? If it fails then choose another Nikon to go along with your equipment and move on. To just let the camera sit at home unused doesn't help you at all. If it makes you feel better then buy another Nikon and use the D7100 to use as a spare.

Dennis

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

No ruse. I didn't see your post asking for details, so adding to my previous posts, here is as detailed as I can get: I first noticed the problem after returning from a cruise, where I photographed the Mayan ruins at Tulum, Mexico. Two issues presented themselves: the first, was that when attaching a lens, I could not get any lens to lock into place. I also noticed my 18-140mm lens had a ring that wasn't seated properly. I had not dropped or abused the camera, so I couldn't tell when or how these problems were caused. But I sent them both to Nikon -- the lens was repaired under warranty, but I had to pay for the body repair (the lens "pin") due to "drop damage."

Five months later, I again notice that I could not get lens lock. This affects the auto-focusing mechanism. I wrote to Nikon, anticipating this would fall under their six month repair warranty, but when I sent it to them, they once again said it was due to being dropped.

I have not once dropped any camera I have ever owned. You can take my word on that or not. Your choice. I have been shooting photos since my photojournalism college courses back in the early 1970s. Never banged, dropped, forced or otherwise abused a camera.

On my last trip, also to Tulum, I took my Coolpix P900 and kept it in my stateroom safe when I wasn't carrying it about.

Arguing with Nikon about drop damage is as about as fruitful as trying to teach a pig to sing. Now that the pig is annoyed (my feelings toward Nikon service), I don't want to go that route again.

Since my D7100 is working -- at least the last time I pulled it out, charged it up and shot some photos with it -- I'm thinking that perhaps the best move for me is to go back to the store where I bought it, and explore the possibility of ordering a D7500 and using the D7100 as part of a trade-in. Yes, I'll lose money on the deal, but at least I'll have a new camera body with a full factory warranty on it to go forward.

Sound like a plan?

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Six Nikons and never a problem that was a defect. I have dropped 3 lenses and had Nikon repair service with complete satisfaction. Sorry you are having difficulties.

shutterbob Loc: Tucson

Sorry you are having problems. I feel the same way as you about carrying a gun that you have no confidence in.....I'd leave it at home. But I believe you just have a very bad example of a D7100. I have owned many Nikons over the years, including a D7100, and I have never had a single problem with any of them. One of my current cameras is a D7200 and it goes just about everywhere with me, including several hiking trips where it is slung over my shoulder in what is sometimes very dusty, rough terrain, and it has never had even the slightest problem. If it is in your budget you might want to look at replacing your 7100 with a 7200 or 7500. How much is it worth to you to have something that you know you can depend on?

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

First, I feel sorry for your trouble!
You didn't mention what part of the mount that broke, and how did it break. Was it the mount on the lens or on the camera? If it was the mount on the lens, then it will happen, because some Nikon consumer kit lenses are made with non metal (some kind of hard plastic) mount that tends to break easily. If it was the mount on the camera, it's un-usual, unless you dropped your camera hard. Let me tell a story, friend of mine who dropped his Nikon D2s with the Sigma 50-500mm to the ground in the parking lot years ago, it tore off the mount completely from the Sigma and remained attaching on the camera. the Sigma was done with pieces of debris plus the contact cable scattering all over the ground, but the D2s didn't have any damage.
I had been using several type of camera for over years since late 1960, and had never drop my camera one single time, now I have two Nikon DSLR and my daughter has one and we don't have any issue of lens mount! Nikon made some consumer lenses with plastic mount, I had a couple of them but gave them away later. Optically, they are fine but built quality are not as good as the others.

Haydon

Only you can decide what is best for you but maybe a tripod and more stationary work will reduce the chance of any more falls or minimize repairs.

Greenmachine Loc: Chicago, IL

Thanks for the update and background on the problem...Now we can at least see how it got to be so traumatic for you!

Finally: Yes, sounds like a good plan to trade in that cursed D7100, get a new camera with full factory warranty and hopefully peace of mind as you go forward!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

That is very unusual. I used Nikons for years, quite heavily, and the only break I considered a manufacturing flaw was a string that connected the depth of field preview button to the aperture actuator in a Nikon F3.

It sounds like someone damaged your camera when you weren't looking.