Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

This news is over a month old, which in today's times really old news. It does not take into consideration the steps Nikon has taken to ameliorate the problem, which took place in the form of a service advisory published only weeks before these articles were reported.

It is clear that this is a global issue, and Nikon's fault. Nikon is fixing it by either replacing the shutter, or the entire camera.

According to one of the articles, as of the end of February, Nikon in China had sold 48,000 D600s, and there are 300-400 monthly service requests 70-80% requiring parts replacement. It was unclear from the articles you posted, how many of them had to do with the sensor dust issue. In any case the camera has been out 12 months, so it is safe to assume that there may be in the neighborhood of 4200 bad cameras, or less than 10%. While this is a bad number, especially if you are in that percentile, it is not the end of the world.

In any case, Nikon dragged its feet in addressing this, but pressure from potential class action lawsuits and consumer agencies has caused them to rethink this and cut their losses. It took a year, but Nikon is owning the problem and the solution.

Kinda reminds me of the Canon 5D Mk III light leak issue. But to Canon's credit, they issued a service advisory a month after the camera was released. Nikon should take note and shorten their response time to consumer complaints, instead of issuing workarounds that don't work.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

The key word is "maybe"!

Shutter Bugger

There is a big difference between cleaning dust off a sensor
and cleaning lubricant off a sensor.

It would be good if the issue did not exist, however
I dont think cleaning lubricant off a sensor is that big an issue.

What I dont get is why the cameras are sent away for cleaning
and coming back exhibiting the same issue.

I would like to hear from a Nikon tech that is trained by Nikon in the maintenance of the D600; what all this rhubarb
is really about.

How is it that there are D600 owners with no problems in 10s of 1000s of frames shot?

If there was a fault with the design all D600s must exhibit the fault... Which of course is not the case.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Most Nikon retailers are happy to clean the sensors, mirror etc. at no charge, at least in our area. "Nikon's superiority"??? :)

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I was a Nikon tech support rep and I explained the issues above. Nikon's D600 shutter box had an issue with plating on some, not all but some of the cameras when used in continuous release on the shutter. Lube and plating material was coming off in some instances.. They have not been able to narrow it to a serial number group, as some users may never use the camera in such a way as to cause it. Others see a spec of dust and start screaming "ME TOO" and send their cameras in. Nikon is using a stepped process to repair the problem and it has been a nightmare for them. They did not want to do a complete recall (which probably would have been the best course, in hindsight) so they had the camera sent in for free cleaning. If the camera exhibits the problem of plating/lube, they replace parts. If the problem recurs then they replace the shutter box. If it recurs again they replace the camera. Yes, I know its involved. But, in their opinion, it is better than replacing every D600 ever made. I am not pointing fingers, just telling what the thinking was. I also know that we (they) have gotten hundreds of cameras back that the issue was lens or sensor dust not related to the problem and they just cleaned it and they never came back (never being a subjective term but serial numbers are tracked)

Sorry for the multiple posts.. I accidently got my response in the middle of your comments.. hope this fixes it.

Kate1948

If you wet clean the sensor yourself, that voids your guarantee.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

See jerryc41's posting of 3/29/14 with this link:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2014/03/28/nikon-to-offer-d600-replacements-if-spots-continue

Shutter Bugger

Thanks for the enlightenment.

It is very rare to have failures that have more than one cause...
causing the same symptom. ie spots on the image.

That's the sort of thing that can "muddie" the waters. So what was more prevalent dave? Excess lubricant or "plating" failure? or both at the same time.

I'm just speculating, but it sounds to me like the technicians that actually did/do the "repairs" use bulk lubricant in the vain hope that that would/will stop friction enough so the poor plating remains plated and not flake off. Ultimately sensors wind up contaminated with lubricant and plating?

I know what a tech is Dave but what is the roll of "tech support rep"?

I was an IBM tech for nearly 15 years. IBM called us "Office Product Customer Engineers" :roll:

One more (2 part) question if you don't mind Dave; do you know what the material was that received the plating and what material the plate is.

I think plating failure is very probably a manufacturing issue rather than a design fault.

We had a squillion IBM golfball typewriters come back. Turned out to be a bloke on the production line assembling incorrectly, (an adjustment measured in thousandths of an inch) resulting in a lack of clearance and binding. Causing a terminal failure for the operator. Affectionately known as a 4 shaft lock up by me; the Japanese Cycle Clutch Syndrome by management. The cycle clutches were in fact not to blame; the excessive load placed on them by the lack of clearance in the drive train was in fact the cause of the failure. The machines failed all over the country. None of the techs could diagnose the cause as the drive train had to be removed to replace the cycle clutch. So when the techs reassembled the drive train (properly) after replacing the overloaded clutch the bind in the drive train was eliminated and the cause remained undetected... Until the author of this rambling story decided to check the clearances before disassembly. A message was sent to the assembly plant in Wangaratta and no more failures of the cycle clutch occurred.
I was the golden haired Tech of the month with cart blanch privileges, a beaming boss, a happy sales manager and the fastest 72 Charger in the country.

Now Ive got a week old beard, an obsolete primary skill, and a Subaru that's due for its 20th birthday in October.

Rooster one millennium, feather duster the next. :?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Makes total sense. And if it were my company I would have done the same. Only much, much sooner. But at least Nikon is not leaving people high and dry.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I was one of the techs that the Nikon Professional Photographers called for specific issues.. I specialized in remote off camera flash but also all Nikon Professional cameras from the D7000,7100, D300 up to the D3/4. I helped photogs that were onsite and traveled to playoffs/ world cup Olympics etc. to help the photogs with issues (lens, camera, flash, software). I would look at and evaluate images and help with solutions. NPS is the part of Nikon that Professional Photogs can join for free (must have a professional body, meaning D600 or above, 2 professional lenses, be able to prove that your entire income is derived from you photography, and be sponsored by another member). We loan lenses, bodies, and speed lights to the members. Also provide free loaners while their equipment is being repaired and their repairs are first in and first out of the facility.

I have been shooting since I was 5. (Grandfather gave me a Kodak 35 and Weston Light meter in 1957) and also have been a computer network engineer, and Professional photographer. So have had a wide range of experience that relates to digital photography.

When I worked for Magnetic Peripherals (Electrical Design engineer on their 96mb hard drives for main frames), we had circuit boards that were manufactured in Mexico by our facility there. 8 out of 10 failed for bad solder etc. We sent 3 circuit analyzers the size of a large Xerox machine (you put the boards on it flat and it tested all the circuits and told with were bad) and told them to test EVERY card coming off the line and put an orange sticker on it if it passed. All of the new boards had stickers and the problem continued. We sent someone to Mexico and the analyzers were sitting against the wall with a tarp over them and a girl was at the end of the line putting orange stickers on every board that came to her.

As for the material causing the problem on the D600, I don't know. The engineers are reluctant to discuss too much with those that deal with customers. You know, loose lips sink ships syndrome. I found out about the problem from an engineer while we were working on something else in Melville. And I couldn't really follow up.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Call Nikon and tell them. Offer to send them a photo that reveals the spots. My bet is they will do all they can do to make it right for you. Yeah, it's all a PITA, but all your options revolve around what Nikon will do for you. Good luck.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I agree. Nikon really will fix it.. It just takes a couple or 3 times for them to be sure they got the right issue.

Marvin 80 Loc: San Diego

I am amazed that there aren't any attorneys following this situation. This is a subject for a legal proedure if I ever saw one.
I wouyld be glad to join one. My D-600 has been back and forth 4 times in the past year. I even offered to pay the difference to exchange for a D-610 but to no avail.
I guess Nikon doesn't want to admit any liability. There are "Lemon Laws " in California but I don't know whether they apply only to automobiles.
Keep me informed.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

check with Nikon about a replacement.. I saw a link about that further up. I haven't been working there since Nov. 1st so I haven't kept up on what's going on with it.. I am sure that Nikon will get it fixed or replaced if you jump through all the hoops.. I can see both sides of this... If you were one of the people that didn't really have a problem but saw all of the publicity and decided to get a newer camera out of the deal, Nikon wouldn't be thrilled. But on the other hand, those of you that have a truly malfunctioning camera are suffering because a good percentage of the cameras Nikon gets back don't have the problem. Its a crazy world because you are in effect paying because others are trying to benefit and Nikon is having to look at each issue. As for the law, I will say that Nikon is very much aware of what they can and can not do under the law. DO NOT MENTION the word lawyer or suit to them in your correspondence or they will cease communicating to you at all and refer everything to their lawyers.. That really gets expensive for you. Work with them and you will get the problem solved.. I know what you are going through, but in the end, it will be ok.