Older lenses versus newer: Dropped my D700 onto a carpeted floor. The lens hood on my 50mm f1.8 lens hit first breaking the lens hood and a portion of the front end threaded ring off...

Migyur

Dropped my D700 onto a carpeted floor. The lens hood on my 50mm f1.8 lens hit first breaking the lens hood and a portion of the front end threaded ring off the lens. The lens works fine but I can no longer attach the lens hood or a filter such as a polarizer which I find almost indispensable.

The question - Take it to Nikon in El Segundo (nearby) or look for another 50mm lens.

The current 50mm lens is about thirty years old. Are older lenses (made in Japan) any better than a brand new one?

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

This might a chance to get a 50mm 1.4?

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

I would bet the cost of repair (and shipping) would be a huge percentage of the cost of a new one.

mrmagoo12771

Well as far as I know, older lenses are made of metal and newer lenses are made of plastic. Although it may be hard to replace, whats broken may only be a retaining ring on ur old lens. Maybe you can carefully bang it out with a small hammer and screwdriver, CAREFULLY! Good luck!

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Get an estimate on the repair & decide from there...Since your camera meters with old manual focus lenses in manual or aperture priority modes, it may be cheaper to get one of those & just focus manually...

Guy Johnstone Loc: Ocean Shores WA

Some say the Japanese lens is better photographically. I have used both and I can't see it. I do like the build quality of old lenses better. The new 50s both 1.4 and 1.8 have very little metal. In fact the filter rings on both are now plastic. I would probably replace the lens. I would worry about internal alignment.

DavidT Loc: Maryland

I had the same issue...dropped my camera and bent the filter to where I couldn't remove it (camera, lens and filter otherwise undamaged). In my case, it was an expensive lens. When I looked into the costs for removing the filter, it was very high (ranging from $200-400). I decided to leave it as is. In your situation, it would justify buying a replacement or upgrading to a better lens.

Landschaft Mahler Loc: Nebraska

The new lenses are many times far superior to the older versions if you get the pro level lenses. The new ones are a combination of great glass that has the advantage of years of research and development behind them, as far as the plastics go some of the cheap lenses have crappy plastic parts but the better lenses have new high strength carbon and metal alloys that are lighter and stronger than metal, check out jet planes and high end cars. The old idea of you get what you pay for is true with lenses and cameras. That said, anything made can have issues so find a lens and research all the specs and go to your local camera shop and play with it on your camera. I also have the D700 and just got the Nikkor 28-300 lens, sweet, but first drove 80 miles to the nearest camera store and played with it on my camera which confirmed what my previous research had led me to believe. You can also see if friends have lenses and try them that way.

Migyur wrote:

Dropped my D700 onto a carpeted floor. The lens h... (show quote)

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

The only problem with newer technology & electronics, is that there are more things that can go wrong with them & the repair costs are correspondingly higher...I like shooting with my older Pro quality mechanical manual focus gear. Sure, they may not have the latest coatings or aspherical (read plastic) elements), but except in the case of zoom lenses, there haven't been that many advances in computer optical technology since many of the older prime lenses were computer designed as well...Most shooters today have neither the funds nor the need for state of the art technology & most would not be able to discern differences between images taken with pro vs consumer vs older technology lenses.

rjriggins11 Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

Hi.

My name is Rick and I'm a repair technician and I'll be happy to repair the lens for you. These lenses are selling on EBay for about $100 but the repair cost will probably run about $65. If you are interested in having it repaired, please contact me through my website at : http://www.discountcamerarepair.com.

Rick

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I would just get a new lens. Yours is probably showing a lot of wear being that old and it looks like it's going to cost 2/3s the price of a newer used lens.

Or, save your nickles and get a faster lens. It's up to you. It might be a good change to get something a little different. Just a thought

nikkor Loc: San Jose, CA

Just get an old toothbrush...cut off the head of the toothbrush and throw the head away, then put the remaining handle (cut side) in the theards that are bent.... slowly and carefully tap the other end of the toothbrush with a smaller (lighter weight) hammer until you get the shape back.Do this on a towel or placemat. Occasionally try to see if you can screw a filter in. If you take your time you can fix it.

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

I'm a sucker for the older lenses. I have the 1987 version of the Canon EF 50mm 1.8 and the more recent version. While the images from each are equally acceptable to my eyes through my coke bottle bottom glasses, I like the feel and operation of the older one better.

I would check into the repair possibilities on the older lens, or at least keep it for instances when a hood or filter isn't needed.

DavidT Loc: Maryland

nikkor wrote:

Just get an old toothbrush...cut off the head of the toothbrush and throw the head away, then put the remaining handle (cut side) in the theards that are bent.... slowly and carefully tap the other end of the toothbrush with a smaller (lighter weight) hammer until you get the shape back.Do this on a towel or placemat. Occasionally try to see if you can screw a filter in. If you take your time you can fix it.

Holy cow! It worked!

Last month, I dropped my Canon DSLR camera with a relatively expensive Canon 90mm T/S lens and B+W UV filter. Bent the filter frame, but everything else was fine. Couldn't get the filter off (Those German B+W filters are built like a Panzer tank!). I was resigned to just leave it on. I read your toothbrush/hammer suggestion, and, sure enough, with a few strokes, I was able to remove the filter. THANK YOU!!

nikkor Loc: San Jose, CA

You're welcome....it usually works and works best when you take your time and "learn" how to apply the right amount of force....