When I first started looking to purchase equipment from B&W. I noticed the imported on the web site. My thought was isn't it all imported. To be frank it took me a while to discover the significance. Then there is the white box items. Grey Market. It took me a while to understand the significance.
I came close to blowing my foot off one Spring Morning. I climbed in a Ground Stand in south Texas to hunt Spring Turkey. I felt something hit my hunting boot. I jumped and shot at the same time. Made quite a mess in that blind.
The old film cameras were not as expensive to repair. I still have a A1 and an AE1 both work perfect. The A1 experienced shutter problems and was repaired for a small charge. That is why I have the AE1. I purchased it when I had the A1 repaired.
Todays cameras are highly integrated all custom parts. The only way to repair them is to replace whole PC boards. Unfortunately those boards are expensive making up much of the cost of the camera.
As suggested try an independent repair facility. They can probably repair the camera using salvaged parts cheaper than Nikon's parts cost. Or look for a refurbished camera.
Next someone will want to talk about Trump VS Hellery. :-{ How about Ruger vs Remington vs Winchester. That would be a great photography discussion.
Ford all the way except for the two Chevy's I purchased. Got rid of the Chevy's because I was working on the &&^%% things to often. Them my wife insisted she had to have a Chrysler 300. Darn thing sounds like a Mercury outboard every time she starts is. Takes forever to crank.
I am back to Ford. The current one has 250,000 miles and is 17 years old and except for oil changes, brakes and plugs. I have spent maybe 10 hours fixing things. Ford all the way. Piss on Chrysler. My wife can fix that &^%% thing her self. :-}
Canon of course. The reason for that is my first camera was a Canon A1 in the 70's. All cameras following that were Canon. :-}
Let Natural selection commence. As long as it is nowhere near me.
Wrong brand of Camera. :-} But we are not suppose to talk about Religion.
I have gotten so dam old I not only loose things but cannot see them when I look for then.
Example: I went camping in April. I store my Trailer about 30 miles from the house where I use to work.
When I got home I missed my pocket camera. The last time I remembered having it was it was in my way when hooking up the trailer to return home. I got home and forgot about it. The next day it was time to put the trailer back in storage so I searched from the camera. Did not find it but was in a hurry so put the trailer in storage.
I worried about the camera for a month. Contemplated purchasing another. Until it was time to hit the road again. When I got the trailer the camera was in the cabinet at the end of the sofa. I know I looked in that cabinet but could not see the thing.
I could get a whole lit done If I could only remember where I put things. Oh wait it is in my pocket. :-{
That's smart. Engineers love to eat Jalapenos. Try going to the loo after eating a Jalapeno it is an experience you never will forget. :-}
In Houston which use to have cheap property taxes. My TAX bill would purchase four of five professional cameras.
On a property that was originally purchased for $10,000, That is why I am moving the H#LL out to 47 acres in the country. Taxes will be five times cheaper. More room to play with cameras and guns also.
I have seen several TOM turkeys sexually assault my turkey decoy. I quickly dispatched them so it would not happen again.
I think I am going to get one of those ornamental does to set up next to my deer feeder.
Those systems were analog not digital systems. It would scan the photo and convert the reflected light into an audio tone. Any media that could send voice could be used. Phone line was most common. Mostly black and white photos were send since color would require a lot more time and more hardware.