leenso52

Hi everyone. Love this forum. I've commented but never asked for help. (intimidated??!!) But now I need it desperately! Last night I did the unthinkable.
I stupidly knocked over my new tripod which had my camera attached over onto my ceramic tile floor in my kitchen. Good news, my tripod was not damaged and it appears neither was my Nikon D5200. Yes, beginner's. I've had it five years. My floor was cracked. But much worse, my AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm
f/3.5-6.3G ED VR lens cracked around the rim of the outside glass. As far as I can tell the lens still functions, focuses, and camera still took a few test shots. It did not shatter, just some of the glass around the rim. I can't tell if this scratched the inner glass, does not seem so.
I went to the Nikon site and started the process of sending for repair. Obviously my five year warranty does not cover stupidity. But the estimate is $375! I paid $699.00 at Hunts in Melrose two plus years ago, trading in my two kit lenses. Now I only have my Nikkor 50mm lens and am going on vacation in less than 3 weeks. Money is definitely an issue as I am retired and presently not working at all. If I could afford it I would have upgraded my camera by now, bought a few desired lens (into birding now!) etc. But my photography means the world to me!
Do I send for repair or look into buying a used one? Refurbished? What would you do, in MY shoes? No snarky remarks if you can help it, like "I would have taken better care of my equipment!" I'm sure you all would! Was most regrettable. I had been photographing birds at my feeder, outside my kitchen window on and off all day. Was done for the night and should have put away. Instead I just moved the set up out of my way. So I thought. This on the same day I "broke" my grass trimmer AND chain saw!
Thanks ever so much! I need to decide quick. BTW, the process included me paying the $375 up front so it is on my charge card already. Am getting ready to send but await your feedback.

PCB_smv

I am sorry I have no advice but sure am sorry that it happened.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

What is important, how does the damage effect the actual images taken now? The damage may look catastrophic, but in reality not be very noticeable in the image taken.

Before I would jump at repair/replacement I would compare images taken after the damage to before images for sure.

While you may have already committed to repairs you may not need to decide so quickly, unless the actual images now taken are much different.

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

Is that ring from a filter, or, integral part of the lens?

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

The outside glass? If you mean the filter that you have on top of the lens in the picture just throw it in the garbage and buy another filter if you want or just use the lens without a filter. If there are cracks or scratches on the lens you could still use it if it is working ok and then decide what to do when you get back.

It looks like it is just the filter!

sathca Loc: Narragansett Rhode Island

When I had to send my camera in to Nikon they told me that the fee was the worst case scenario and that the bill could come in for less. It did. I have a local repair shop that I always check in with before I send something to Nikon they are sometimes able to fix minor issues, especially with lenses. Hopefully yours is minor, looks like it from the picture, but they may take it all apart to insure there are no other issues. Sincerely, I wish you good luck.

rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

Sorry to hear that has happened to you. After a quick search it appears it would be cheaper for you to have the repairs done for the $375, used in good condition they are still around $500 +/-. You should also look into having your gear insured I'm sure the deductible for repair or replacement would have been less than $375, good luck and have a great vacation.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I would a) send the lens to Nikon for repair and b) rent a lens(es) from one of the rental providers such as LensRentals.com. The best of both worlds and cheaper than buying a new lens.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'd send both camera and lens for repair. Get an estimate and decide from there. Although the camera may seem to function correctly, the only way to make sure is to have it checked. Have them do a CLR during the inspection.
--Bob

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Today any repairs to camera and or lenses carries a high tag as you have seen already. From your description it looks as if the lens is usable and in that case, if there has not been any significant deterioration of the image I would use it like that.
A used or refurb one is a good alternative but only if your present lens is not performing like it should. I believe Tamron makes a similar lens at a very attractive price in the second hand market if you prefer to go that way.
Most recently my 18-70 f3.5-4.5 AF-S stopped auto focusing. The repair cost is higher than a second hand lens. My solution has been to use it in manual focus.
If you do not need the 300mm end of the lens Nikon has many lenses with a zoom range starting at 18mm that can fit your purpose. The 18-140 comes to mind.

gary8803

It could just be the filter that is broken check that first. Then test your lens and process your pictures if they look good then don't fret about your lens just check the zoom at all positions. I hope it works out for you.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

It looks like the front element to me, I have seen YouTube videos of people removing the front element to clean the inside of the lens, you have to be very careful about touching the inside of your lens, body oils from your hands can promote fungus growth. Go to YouTube and see if you can't find a video that would show you some options for doing it yourself or, just bite the bullet and send it back to Nikon. Sorry you had such a bad day, would have probably been better had you not gotten out of bed. I don't know where you can get parts should you need to replace them. Personally I have torn down a lot of old manual lenses and I bought a spanning wrench to open the lenses with, they do a lot less damage than screw drivers and such.

Here is a start....

Nikon 28-300 lens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6qaFm4_Mf0

HardwareGuy

It happens to the best of us.
Go refurb. Here is one example on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Vibration-Reduction-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B01882XYPO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1534770874&sr=8-3&keywords=nikon+18-140mm+lens

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

It that actually the front element of the lens? I don't see a filter or filter ring. I'm so sorry. I also see a crack in the (plastic?) below the glass you are holding there. Thus far I've never damaged any of my lenses from a drop. I once let an old metal constructed one drop about three foot on to carpeting with no effect - just the lens when I was swapping on a camera on a tripod. I do fear dropping any of my newer film or digital lenses. They seem to be made out of plastic and glass. My old ones were glass, steel, and brass, heavy and would destroy the flooring! After seeing your catastrophe I may not any longer leave my camera out on a tripod when the dogs are around! My tripods I don't worry about one would have to drive over a Gitzo to damage it.

Can you get to a place where you can buy another lens in time for your trip? You might just forgo fixing it as it is only a DX lens and not an FX model. You might be better off and making a step up by getting a higher quality (not so much due to possible brakage) Nikkor AF-S FX f/2.8 or 4 lens. Yes, more $$$. The most generally useful lens you could probably have is a Nikkor AF-S FX 24 - 120mm f/4 lens. A zoom to 300mm is barely enough for birding, really not actually. Your camera is not the most basic D3xxx model. The build of FX lenses is so much better. In any case, even for the future there is nothing wrong with refurbished or used equipment. On the other hand if that front "element" is only a front optical glass "cover" glass and the insides are not cracked or damaged the repair might be less than the estimate.

Your situation with your lens and vacation is very different than mine would be. I have rather limited funds too but in a pinch like this I have plenty of other lenses that have overlapping focal length with say a 18-300mm. I could just take another lens. Hell, if I had Nikon lenses to spare I might just give you one. But I use Pentax and any "extras" would not work as AF lenses on your camera. Seems people using MILC use all sorts of lenses with adapters. Good luck!

P.S. Actually that 18-140mm referb someone else gave you a link to might be a good idea.

Swede Loc: Trail, BC Canada

Bummer -- BUT. I was cleaning up the basement this weekend and I came across this very lens AF-S 18-55 3.5- 5.6 G that I've had for over 5 years and used it for MAYBE 10 pictures, I'll sell it to you for $150 Cdn and I'll do the shipping costs. Can't sens a picture right now but if you're interested it's yours!

I can send the pics in a couple hrs- or sooner, it's been stored in it's original little cloth bag

Swede