duck72 Loc: Laurel Ridge, PA

Heading question can be mis-leading. After last question posted, got more comments than answers/help.
SO: how does one fix a plastic-base Nikon kit lens that has lost a bayonet?

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Hi Duck. Sounds like you might have to send it to Nikon for the fix. But I would ask about the price of fixing it first. It might be better to go with FX lenses in the long run.

I was still shooting film till about 9 or 10 years ago. I went DX for my first digital camera. A D300s. But all my older and newer lenses work on it. I now have the D600 FX. I hardly use the 300s now. And my pictures are a lot better.

I hope this is what you were looking for.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I think a good first step would be to contact Nikon to see if it can indeed be repaired and what the cost would be.

duck72 Loc: Laurel Ridge, PA

Thank you. 1960's NikonF, and many lenses (some of which body mounts have been re-machined to mount on D-series Nikon DSLRs) thank you. (seriously) Tri-X ruled.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Depends on what your long term photographic goals are. It's your money. You can probably get by with DX, but if you ever intend to upgrade, so go FX out of the gate.

(Do you see what I did there?)

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Go to eBay and buy a new one. $1.24 for a new one postage paid to $24.95 metal original metal one.
Then just undo the screws and take the broken one off and screw the new one on. I don't think the plastic lens mounts are that bad. If you hit the camera hard enough to break one if you had a metal mount it may have just broke the mount on the camera. A lot more to fix and you are out of the use of your camera tell it is. If the o plastic one on the camera you can use another lens. - Dave

Bye the way it was rude to want to ask a question and use a differant heading.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

If you are mechanically inclined, and good with VERY small screws, you can but that plastic bayonet and replace it yourself. But stay away from the generic knock-offs offered for sale on Ebay, they are total junk and will break VERY easily. I know from experience.

Leitz Loc: Solms

There are more FX lenses to choose from, but you may have a problem with the electrical contacts.

duck72 Loc: Laurel Ridge, PA

SO (not) sorry for being "rude." When my umpteenth lens's bayonets fail, I will use a "differant" one. Tell it is.

rbfanman

"Umpteenth lens bayonet fail"...sounds like you are careless, or Epileptic, or something. I have lenses, and cameras, I have had for decades, and none has yet had a bayonet lens fail....not even amongst the cheap, plastic, Holga type things from China, Russia, etc.

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You can probably find a replacement on ebay for a couple of dollars. Then order a set of JIS (Japanese) screwdrivers. They will make the job easier. Look on YouTube for a video on doing the repair. I replaced the ring on an 18-55mm (I think), and it was easy.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jis+screwdrivers

Kuzano

I buy the new part on eBay for less than five bucks, and follow a youtube video, or look up a repair tutorial on the internet.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

What choice do you have?

Beginning last year, Nikon has a pretty strict policy that they only sell very limited selection of repair parts direct to consumers... or even to independent, professional repairers... So it may be impossible to get an "OEM" part. The third party knock-offs might be the only option, unless you're a "Nikon authorized repair facility".

Duck72,

Not sure I understand your post or followups... Are you asking for advice whether to get FX or DX camera(s) and lens(es)? Or are you asking for advice how to repair a lens you already have? And what does that have to do with a camera and lens from 1970s or 80s?

"Umpteenth" bayonet mount failure? I've been shooting with various SLRs for 35+ years and have used hundreds of lenses and scores of different cameras (most major brands) in that time... Honestly can't recall ever breaking a bayonet mount. I've had one or two accidents where a metal bayonet mount was bent and would no longer fit well, but was able to straighten it. I can't say about plastic mounts, have generally avoided any lenses with them... They might be fine for someone who only uses them lightly. But I know I would wear them out in short order.

Some of the common plastic bayonet mounts are available on Amazon, too. (Probably the same as on eBay, mentioned above,)

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Send it to Nikon for Estimate