PGJR Loc: 33868

I tried to search for this info here without any luck. I have a Nikon AF 80-400 gray market. It doesn't auto focus. Can the parts of a US model work in a gray market lens & vice versa? Is it worth fixing if that was possible? Anyone have experience? Thanks a whole bunch.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The equipment is exactly the same, built in the exact same factories by the exact same personnel. The serial number is the difference and the internal Nikon accounting, based on that s/n, for where the lens is intended to be sold and at what price. Nikon stopped allowing third-parties access to Nikon parts a few years ago. If Nikon should refuse to fix it, you probably cannot find anyone else.

BebuLamar

Well if it's gray market Nikon won't fix it even if you pay them. Parts are the same, the lenses are the same. But you have a bad lens and Nikon won't fix it.

PGJR Loc: 33868

Thanks CHG Cannon, I have seen several on Ebay for parts only. I've never taken apart a lens before. I don't want to spend money on something I can't do or won't work.

PGJR Loc: 33868

Bebu Lamar, Thanks, already done that. That's how I found it's gray market. I can't complained as it was a gift.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

The difference can be stated in one word, “risk.” All you’ve read is true. Speak softly and carry a Canon. 😎

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

Camera companies tightly control the distribution of their cameras and lenses globally, including price control. A gray market camera did not enter the United States (or any other country) through these channels but was imported by some other distributor and often sold at a discount.

The problem with this is that you do not know where your gray market camera or lens has been. So it could be refurbished rather than new, or the product may have a flaw. You may pay less, but you buy at your own risk.

This is why it is important to buy only from authorized and reputable vendors--your local camera store or retailers like B&H and Adorama. I don't trust Amazon anymore because they often use vendors who sell questionable products and even knockoffs.

None of the companies honor the warranties on these cameras and lenses, and some, like Nikon, won't even repair them if you pay them.

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

Check KEH.com for info on their repair department. Since the lens was a gift, possibly the cost of KEH repair would be worth it for you.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Google it...you will be amazed at the number of places that will repair Nikon.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I second the suggestion to try to find a local repair shop. They will many times have donor items to supply parts or even new old stock parts on the shelf. KEH may or may not be a good suggestion...there was a time when their supply of hard-to-get parts was reserved for repairing items that they either had sold or were preparing for sale. I haven't worked with them lately, though.

There is also the possibility, especially with items that are slightly older, that repair can be accomplished without the need for replacing parts...repairing a loose connection, tightening a screw, that sort of thing.. The problem is that getting to the point of knowing for sure requires time and effort on the part of the repair tech, so you are probably going to be charged for that diagnostic time. This lens was almost $2,000 when new, but was replaced about 7 years ago with an updated version. (After doing a little research in response to your question, I was thinking about seeing if I can find one for myself, but it looks like prices have become somewhat inflated compared to the newer model.)

PGJR Loc: 33868

I haven't checked with keh.com. I sent it to Nikon, no luck because it's a gray market. I took it two different repair shops. The can't get parts, Nikon won't sell parts anymore. They probably wouldn't have those parts anyway because of it's age. I just thought I'd ask if someone had a lens repaired with working used parts. Thanks though.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Understood. I had a D300, not gray market, but long out of support, repaired at my local shop (Archinal Camera Repair) about three years ago just because I wasn't ready to let it go. In that case, I could see what was most likely the source of the problem and found a donor body to supply the needed part, although there remained some uncertainty around whether there might be additional internal damage not immediately obvious. You are in sort of the same shape...it's not possible to know whether the problem is a bad cable, which could be quite easy to fix, or a bad focus motor (I think your lens has an internal motor), or something in between. It is clear that Nikon did not open it up to make any determination. And you may find that any "donor lens" has the same problem as yours.

If you do want to proceed with repair, the first step is going to be getting an idea of what is wrong. Complicating everything is that apparently these lenses used to be available used for about $400. Every one I found this morning was around $1700, which is not much different from a new one. That means that you could justify some expenditure to try to fix it.

repleo Loc: Boston

Physically the same. If you can’t get it fixed here find out what market it was originally intended for and ship it to the service center there. May cost a bit more and take longer but better than leaving it as a paper weight.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

The difference can be stated in one word, “profit.”
All you’ve read is true. Speak softly and carry a Canon, tho Nikon's are better.
LOL
When I used to travel, Customs main job was to make sure you didn't save any money elseware.
Local name brand stores had a high markup for a reason, citizen! Stay in Line!
Cameras? Lenses? Computers? Palm Pilots? Best way was to pre register, with pix and serial numbers.
Otherwise sometimes "yours" had turned into "theirs" when you unpacked.