deanjohns

My 18-200 Nikon DX lens auto focus is not working. Since a used lens is not worth much to begin with ($150 to $200 range) the cost of authorized Nikon lens refurbishing is out of the question. I have been quoted $350. I have found an source in China who sell focusing motor assembly for $25. I'm told this is a difficult task but have nothing to lose trying but $25 if motor assembly source is reliable. Need experience or advice from those who have attempted same.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

First...welcome to the forum. I hope it proves beneficial and educational to you.

I'm not sure how adventurous you are. I find a user's manual, but not a service manual available for download on NikonUSA's website. Replacing that motor will require at least a significant partial disassembly, which is a tedious sequential process with lots of tiny parts and lots of opportunities to damage other parts of the lens. And I wonder whether the focus motor assembly at that price will include all connectors and other parts that you might need. I will tell you that I have ordered some Chinese parts from DH Photographic in Chicago (replacement grips no longer available from Nikon), and that what I received was functional but of very poor design, construction, fit, and finish. On top of everything else, there are lots of other things that could have gone wrong to cause the failure...contact problems, camera setting problems, etc., and some of these are much more probable than the motor.

You don't say what body you are using, but if you have a focus mode switch on the lower left side of your lens, check that it is in the correct position. It is easy to change accidentally and without knowing you have done it. And if there is a local authorized service shop in your area, you might take it and your camera body in to them if the easy fixes don't work. They could at least take a quick look and give you a better picture of actual repair cost.

Note that this advice is coming to you from a person who recently worked to put a quite rough D300 "project camera" back in service in excellent condition. I did some of the restoration myself, but passed it off to an excellent local repair shop when I got to the point that the body was going to have to be disassembled.

deanjohns

Thank you very much for your quick response. You advise regarding possible other issues causing the problem is excellent. A trip to a professional camera shop to determine if they think it's my lens will be my first step. My camera I use this lens with is a D-200 with huge number of shutter releases. I would hate to ruin a good lens if that is not the problem. Appreciate very much your thoughts...on target. Will keep you posted. Looking forward to this new forum.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Find another used lens on Ebay, unless you have access to a microelectronics workshop with a static shielded clean room environment. Seriously.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

The D200 is a great body. And it's very sturdy, although it is possible that the focus switch might be getting a little worn. You can test that by trying the back focus button. Double check that the focus mode switch at the base of the lens is set to "S." It's easy to move when you are handling the camera to put it away, get it out of the case, or even just handling the camera.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Welcome to our forum!

I'd forget about the repair. Buy one on ebay and sell yours "for parts" on ebay. Here's what they've sold for recently.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=nikon%2018-200mm&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

wdfbpf Loc: Huntsville, AL

This video may be of help to you. It shows a breakdown and repair of the 18-200. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VkVRO5scNk

jpgto Loc: North East Tennessee

I will welcome you aboard and wish you luck on this one! Enjoy the journey.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If you decide to do the repair, get a pair of Japanese JIS screwdrivers (Amazon.)

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Welcome to the Hog Dean, good luck.

shelty Loc: Medford, OR

Since your lens is useless and you've got a lot of time on your hands, go for it. But I bet you will never get it back together again. Got to remember these lenses were assembled by many people in a clean room; each with their own specialty on a small part of that lens. When you do, get or make a large flat box to hold all the parts in. Make sure your floor is very clean because I'll bet at least one tiny screw will find it's place on that floor. Also, take a picture of every part you remove in order to get some idea of where it goes when you reassemble it. (that is; unless you have a photographic memory). Personally, I'd just throw it in the trash and buy another one.
I have ten years of experience of repairing all sorts of cameras. Been there, done that.

deanjohns

Thanks all for your feedback. Huge help. After reading all your thoughts, this project is not going to happen. Message received. Purchasing a used lens is the simple answer. Impressed with all your quick candid feedback.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Be sure to off it on ebay. There's money n broken photo gear. 99% of the parts are still good, which is just what a repairman wants.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=Nikon%2018-200mm%20for%20parts&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

But just in case...make sure that the new lens works before disposing of the old one...against the chance that the problem is not with the lens.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY