Help with NIKON purchase: Am considering buying a D500 body. I see lots on sale now from Japan and the USA. Will Nikon USA still fix a D500? I don't think they will fix it at all IF it...

alphadog

Am considering buying a D500 body. I see lots on sale now from Japan and the USA.

Will Nikon USA still fix a D500? I don't think they will fix it at all IF it is not a USM - US MODEL...
so where can ONE get a D500 fixed? has anyone had experience with THIS MODEL D500?

I know IF it is a new Nikon, I know all is well in the USA if your model is USM. But after time, Nikon no longer services older cameras, so where can one get one serviced?

I also have a D800e, which is a USM model, but am not sure again IF it could get fixed IF it ever needs a repair...

Thanks for any help here

Bill_de Loc: US

alphadog wrote:

Am considering buying a D500 body. I see lots on s... (show quote)

I have owned a D500 since they first hit the stores. Fortunately I have never needed any repairs. I have newer cameras, but when I go to the local wild life refuges the D500 and D850 are always with me.

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alphadog

Bill_de wrote:

I have owned a D500 since they first hit the stores. Fortunately, I have never needed any repairs. I have newer cameras, but when I go to the local wildlife refuges the D500 and D850 are always with me.

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I do not doubt the D500, I am asking about WILL, or IF it can repaired if needed...

they have D500 bodies now for sale with less than 20K clicks but they are NOT USM and my d800e USM once needed a repair it cost about $250 or $350, can't remember now, but the D800e cost a LOT more than a D500 and a higher CLICK life... thanks for your input nonetheless

BebuLamar

alphadog wrote:

Am considering buying a D500 body. I see lots on s... (show quote)

Nikon USA said that they will fix camera bought from Japan if you have the receipt proved that you bought from an authorized dealer in Japan.

tcthome Loc: NJ

alphadog wrote:

Am considering buying a D500 body. I see lots on s... (show quote)

Call the number in the link below. There is the Nikon facility out on L.I. NY. & pretty sure there is one in California. There probably private authorized reps that will repair after Nikon stops providing they can get the parts. Have fun.

tcthome Loc: NJ

alphadog wrote:

Am considering buying a D500 body. I see lots on s... (show quote)

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/about-nikon/contact-us.page

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I am surprised that Nikon repairs cameras sold in Japan, considered as gray market here. There is a very good and reputable repair station in Morton Grove, Illinois called Authorized Photo Service. They did work for me in the past when they only repaired Nikon cameras and lenses. When Nikon decided to authorize repairs only at their main centers in NY and California, I believe their new address is at El Segundo and there is another one in LA, APS began to serve other cameras, like Canon and Sony. Although many of the previous authorized Nikon service stations still service Nikon cameras they are no longer considered authorized to do so, only the main Nikon centers.

All of a sudden they stopped supplying parts to their authorized centers. You are right, check first with them to see if they still repair your camera. This is a very expensive hobby, a repair many times is not worth it since the price of the repair in many cases equal or exceed the price of a used camera.

BebuLamar

camerapapi wrote:

I am surprised that Nikon repairs cameras sold in ... (show quote)

If you buy your Nikon in Japan while you're there and from an authorized dealer like Yodobashi Nikon won't honor the warranty but will repair it. It's not considered gray market. But you have to have receipt to prove that you bought it there.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If you can't afford to live with the risk that a used & discontinued camera cannot be serviced, you shouldn't be looking at a used & discontinued cameras. Given today's -- and the recent yesterday's -- cameras are built for the long-haul, buying a top-tier used model will likely never exhibit any problem in the usage life of your ownership. But, if that risk is still too great for your personally, revise the cameras you're considering and move to a current model.

GLSmith Loc: Tampa, Fl

Call Nikon Tech Support,, ask for estimated end of life on D-500 support for repair...My guess is they do not have a firm idea as migration of folks to mirrorless will take a long time...If companies such as B&H & Adorama are still selling new D-500s, I wouldnt worry about it.
As far as repair, contrary to what some folks say, there are a few off-site Nikon repair centers that Nikon authorizes parts to be sent to..An example Southern Photo Repair in Miami..They have for years done repairs for Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Pentax (SLDR & film) for companies such as UPI, AP, AFP.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

alphadog wrote:

Am considering buying a D500 body. I see lots on s... (show quote)

Nikon does not have to save parts for the D500, but usually they keep repair parts for about 10 years from the date of last manufacture. But they may run out of certain parts. Some repair companies keep broken D500's for the parts so their is usually someone who may have the part to fix the D500 at some point in the future.
The D500 should be good for at least 300,000 shots so chances are you'll never need service. And even if a shutter is needed they are not cost prohibitive to purchase.
So, find out how many shots this D500 has taken and go from their. I have owned at least 3 D500's and they have never failed me.
But when buying used, find out condition and shutter count, I usually want the box and all accessories that came with it new also.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.
midwestcamera does repairs and I have found them to be reasonable

Bohica Loc: SE Coast of NC

CHG_CANON wrote:

If you can't afford to live with the risk that a used & discontinued camera cannot be serviced, you shouldn't be looking at a used & discontinued cameras. Given today's -- and the recent yesterday's -- cameras are built for the long-haul, buying a top-tier used model will likely never exhibit any problem in the usage life of your ownership. But, if that risk is still too great for your personally, revise the cameras you're considering and move to a current model.

First time I've ever agreed with you

alphadog

BebuLamar wrote:

Nikon USA said that they will fix the camera bought from Japan if you have the receipt proved that you bought from an authorized dealer in Japan.

I think that is for CAMERAS they still service, I am NOT certain Nikon will service the older cameras at all... since they no longer have parts in stock... I will call Nikon on Monday to ask directly whether they will service a D500 or d800e USA model or Japan with proof... I had not thought to ask whether Japanese shops were authorized or not, so that is good information since they usually have the best condition and lowest shutter count bodies... thanks for your response.

BebuLamar

alphadog wrote:

I think that is for CAMERAS they still service, I am NOT certain Nikon will service the older cameras at all... since they no longer have parts in stock... I will call Nikon on Monday to ask directly whether they will service a D500 or d800e USA model or Japan with proof... I had not thought to ask whether Japanese shops were authorized or not, so that is good information since they usually have the best condition and lowest shutter count bodies... thanks for your response.

they still service the D500. It's not old enough.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

alphadog wrote:

Am considering buying a D500 body. I see lots on s... (show quote)

Call Nikon and ask. Also buy from a USA store so you can get it fixed if ever needed.