larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I'd like to know more details about the failure mechanism, because the Z8 is still on my list for future consideration. Did the securing nuts come loose inside the camera? Did threads strip out somewhere? Did a section of carbon composite fail? Were the affected cameras swinging from the photographers' shoulders with 800mm f/2.8 lenses mounted?

I've seen lots of photographers abuse lots of cameras. Is that the case here? Based on my experience with a refurbished lens last year, I'm predicting that it may be difficult or impossible to get true stories of what really happened in a lot of these cases.

TimmyKnowles Loc: Gallup, New Mexico

He never says "ignore the issue," but is just pointing out that all brands have issues from time to time. Look at the issues with Leica M8, M9 and sensors, along with quality issues with the R4. Does that keep me from owing a Leica or wanting a digital Leica rangefinder. The Z8s are new cameras and if there's an issue, I believe Nikon will take care of it as they always have.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

As my Z8s have been serviced for the lens mount issue, I have posed the question if this included checking/servicing/repairing the camera strap lug. I will post their answer here when I receive a reply.

BobPeterson Loc: Massachusetts

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Crusade?
Perhaps there are 500+ people that might find the information useful.
You? Ignore it please.

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

Your asking the wrong person, I did not start the post. You need to respond to the original post please.

Urnst Loc: Brownsville, Texas

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

It was a rhetorical question and an observation triggered by your post.

As for the problem, I continue to wonder how real it is. The only mention I have even seen or heard of it is a couple of vague third-person reports on a couple of "hysteria websites." No first-person reports here. Not a word on NikonUSA's site, not even in reviews.

So...maybe it's real, but at this point, I'm not convinced it's even Memorex.

Dean37 Loc: Fresno, CA

[quote=E.L.. Shapiro]MY GOODNESS! Sometimes this forum is like a kindergarten full of unruly children! So many posts turn into verbal combat and inane name-calling. Waht's wrong with some of y'all?

Last time noticed CAMERAS are still a precision instrument, not firearms or heavy-duty mechanics tools, and even those items have been known to fail.

Sometimes there is a design flaw that is unknown to the engineers until failure occurs in the field. Metal can fatigue, and/or too much torque or leverage can be accidentally applied in normal use. Perhas the strap-lugs can fail if there are too many accessories attached to the camera? Whatever! I am not an engineer, metallurgist, or repair expert- those problems need to be solved by the manufacturers. If you purchased the camer legitimately, not gray-market, it is under warranty just get it fixed!
********

Screws are subject to problems when the threads are cut, too sharp a point on a tool will leave a "notch effect" at the root of the threads. Sometimes several "bending" cycles cause the notch to initiate a crack. It may never break, then again it might break the first time it is stressed. It can happen in any shop and it is very difficult to anticipate. It therefore can happen to the best as well as the worst. This can happen to any screw or bolt even the 1/4-20 screws that fit the tripod mount or hand lanyard/strap.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Exactly- have to agree!

As a professional photographer, in the interest of reliable equipment performance, I have never skimped on equipment purchases. Just ask my wife she is also my practical business partner and my frugile-minded accountant. I have purchased the best brands and modes from Graflex, Linhof, Leica, Hasselbald, Nikon, Canon, and a whole bunch more. I was oftentimes asked (accused of) if I was reading the price lists in Aribic or Heabrw, from right to left, and simply choosing the most expensive models! Not guilty, I would excalim- I read in Chinese- vertically and look a the list of claimed attributes!

Joking aside, even the best brands have, over the years, released LEMONS into the marketplace. Oftetimes the design flaws, defects or shortcomings do not surface until the offending products hit the field and the excrement hits the peverbail fan. My experience is that usually and fortunately, the manufacturers or distributors were able to reme the issues. In some cases, the particular model kind of disappears from the marketplace- perhaps recalled
or discounted.

in the olden days, many manufacturers suddenly decided to step out of thir milieu to compete in the "lates and greatest" markets. Back then Leica aficionados preferred simple manual cameras but the folks in Wetzlar decided to come up with a rangefinder camera with built-in metering- ever use an M-5? Bad news! Hasselblad re-introduced its cameras with a 1/1000 sec. focal plane shutter- it soon, literally self-destructed. I had both of these models and the distributers gladly swapped them up for a more traditional model!

The weddingg (factory) studio I worked in years ago, had 2-dozen Mamiya Press 23 medium format cameras. I will never forget bringing 10 cameras, in a cardboard grocery box, back to
Ehrenreich Photo-Optical Industries on Long Island- the cameras all had serious parallax problems, and the backs were sheering off due to defective screws.

When I came home from my military service, I invested all my accumulated pay in the Graflex XL system. At the time, they were competing with Hasselblad in the medium format market. The cameras were made in Rochester, N.Y. but they used Zeiss lenses, the same as the Blads. When I tried out my new camers, I found a serious out-of-focus issue on 1/2 of each frame. I called the company and spoke to an engineer. He told me to fly to Rochester and that he would correct the issue in one day. Seems, the 80mm planar had a very critical flange-focus distance requirement that was not manageable in the XL's comparatively rudimentary focusing system as compared to the Blads' more sophisticated helical system and more precise flat film plane. The 95mm Rodenstock Healigon filled the bill and all my lenses were replaced on the spot and the R/F cam adjustments applied.

As a teenager, I wanted a Rolleiflex but could not afford one. In my high school years, I was already working part-time in a studio and shooting for the school newspaper. My boss would lend me a Speed Graphic but film and processing were too expensive and involved for the school darkroom. I settled for a NEWLEY-introduced Yashica Mat. I gave that camera plenty hard use and finally, the film advance crank gave up and broke off! So, I took it back to my trusted dealer, Penn Caamer in Manhattan, and Mr. Joe Ehrenreich (oddly enough) told me to bring it directly to the distributor on Park Avene South. I took the subway the the prescribed location and was greeted by a polite Jaaneses gentlemen who had only a partial command of the English language. He looked sympathically at what was left of my camera and asked if there was film in it, and I said "No". He then unceremoniously tossed the camera into the garbage can, extracted a new camera from a crate containing many camers and lots of excelsior packing material, and handed me a spankin' new unit! He smiled, and I will never forget his words,- "you have big strong 'melican) (meaning American) hands, this small delcate Japaneeses camela (Camera), not wind too hard"! Great advice!

That camera listed for $74.95 and Joe E. sold it to me for 59 bucks! Look back a the great service! Nowadays, a decent digital camera costs a small fortune. There are all kinds of restrictions as to "gray market" etc. It's hard to find a good deal. What's more, you are "married" to the manufacturer for all kinds of updates, parts, services, etc. So, when there are issues, rumors, or actual complaints of malfunction or what seems disproportionate breakdown of material as per your usage, or unexpected defects, forget about rumors, gossip, and protracted arguments and go directly to the source and demand your warranty rights.

As I alluded to before, I am not an engineer or equipment designer. I don't care if the camera body is made of boilerplate or compressed cow's utter, or if the screws, pins, or rivits are too soft, or if the threads are crossed. The manufacturer made it, the distributor sold it and they are responsible as per their warranty! Y'all paid for that service, you purchased the item in the correct market.

If you intend to heavely invest in gear, find out in advance, what the warranty includes or wavers off. Find out if repair service is readily available in your geographical location and what the normal wait times are for service to be completed. Make certain you fully under where and how to ship items and all the secure delivery options. There are frequent complaints about all these issues in this and other forums. Investigate before you invest!

Years ago, if the distributor did not have good repair service, there was also good old "Joe's camer Repair Shop". Nowadas "Joe" is likely retired or sadly, has passed away. If he is still around, he can't buy parts from the manufacturer. Know the family you are marrying into!

DJCard Loc: Northern Kentucky

Awesome. Thank you.

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

Again, your responses should be addressed to the original poster. I have no opinion or statements to the problems with lugs on the Nikon Z8.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Good point.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

This is generic.
And pretty useless if the lug fails unexpectedly and allows the camera to fall.
I would actually be happy to have this information if my camera had this issue as has been reported so I could take action by inquiry with the maker.