Humidity In Pattay Ruining Silent Wave Lenses?

[jackcorbett]

It is now the 2nd time I've sent Nikon camera equipment into the authorized Nikon Bangkok repair center and been informed that the motor drive focusing unit of a Nikon Silent Wave lens has gone bad. The first time involved JUST the lens, a 28 by 70 mm Nikon lens I had used in the U.S. on a D-1X to shoot between 50,000 and 100,000 pictures. A few months ago I noticed that the automatic focus would not work so I sent just the lens to Bangkok ..This was a very expensive lens with the replacement model now retailing for around $1800. Meanwhile I had replaced the D-1 X with a Nikon D-300 camera which I bought with an 18 to 200 mm zoom lens. Even though I was charged around $900 to fix the motor on the Silent Wave lens I paid it since this lens had been an incredible performer for me back in the U.S. Then.....around six weeks ago, I noticed that my external flash unit was not communicating with my D-300 camera so I sent the camera and the flash in for repair. The problem was intermittent...that is 50 % of the time the camera was able to signal the flash correctly. So I figured 1. The problem was most likely in the hotshoe connection, 2. If not, it was a problem with the flash itself, and 3. Possibly but least likely, the problem was with the camera. Other than the 50 % intermittency this was the only problem I had noticed with the camera But when I talked with the Nikon Service department I was told I now had three problems. ONe was in the casing near the hotshoe. I gathered the hot shoe would have to be removed to get at the problem. (bit of a language barrier here so I never understood exactly what the technician was telling me on this one. Number two....there was also a problem with the flash and number three......there's a problem with the Silent Wave motor.

I had never noticed a problem with the focusing on this particular lens although in fairness I was at this time using my new Panasonic LX-5 more than the Nikon. So I had what appeared to me to be a single problem now magnified into three problems. And of course the total cost has skyrocketed. Needless to say I asked the tech..."What is going on here? This is the 2nd Silent Wave lens motor that's gone bad in one year. What is causing it?" The tech replied that it was the humidity. He then recommended something I could buy at a camera shop that would protect my lenses from the humidity and when I went to the Central Festival Mall's camera shops not one of the shops had anything that would protect the lenses. I wound up getting a special airtight case at Central Department Store and when I got home I put my 28-70 mm lens in it. Meanwhile the Nikon D-300 is still at the Bangkok repair center with the external flash unit and the 18 to 200 mm lens more than a month after i sent it in.

Needless to say, I am 1. Very concerned with the humidity here ruining my camera equipment, but I am also a little apprehensive about the Nikon Repair Center finding more camera problems than I could prior to sending my equipment in. What is everyone's take on this?

[koknia]

Have you looked at dry cabinets, like these?

[mitmig]

Have you looked at dry cabinets, like these?

That's what I was suggesting too, it will save you a lot of repair money.

[Kan Win]

Been use Oly Cameras for 12 years now here in Thailand in Kan and around Thailand and never had a problem with all of these Oly C-2500L, Oly C 8080 WZ, Oly E-3 and now with the Oly E-5 using Zuiko lens 70-300 mm and 12-60 mm.

mmmmmm time for a change me think well for you and others that is

http://www.pbase.com.../root&view=tree

Win

P.S. all cameras have always been with me at all times, in the car (Very Hot), office, etc.. but always in Air-Con rooms with me at night.

Edited March 27, 2012 by Kan Win

[jackcorbett]

I am beginning to think Nikon Repair Center is operating on the rule of halves. That is they look at the value of whatever you send in, cut the value of it (when new) in half, then charge you that. Needless to say, I am not impressed.

I once had a real need for the finest equipment and certainly for fast action photography one needs a quick shooting SLR, but I am getting pretty good results with the Panasonic LX5 and it shoots excellent video so for an out and about camera it's fitting the bill. Two fine Nikon lenses going down inside one year? That's a bit much to believe

[Whale]

I take my Nikon gear into, possibly, the most extreme conditions available in Thailand just about every weekend and have never had a lens failure. Touch Wood.

Never lost a flash either but had lots of problems with the hot shoe connections.

Camera bodies have been a different issue though and have had many failures on the non "pro" bodies due to moisture (mainly from my sweat and not general humidity though).

I have never witnessed mold growth on a lens and so have never invested in a dry cabinet either.

Apart from the bodies maybe I have just been lucky?

[FracturedRabbit]

The humidity in Asia generally, plus the sea air in Pattaya particularly, is not good for your gear. A little extra outlay on a dry cabinet (Big Camera Beach Road have them); and fill it with your lenses and your bodies.

Maybe without you will not have a problem; but there is a much greater chance that you will.

[jackcorbett]

I take my Nikon gear into, possibly, the most extreme conditions available in Thailand just about every weekend and have never had a lens failure. Touch Wood.

Never lost a flash either but had lots of problems with the hot shoe connections.

Camera bodies have been a different issue though and have had many failures on the non "pro" bodies due to moisture (mainly from my sweat and not general humidity though).

I have never witnessed mold growth on a lens and so have never invested in a dry cabinet either.

Apart from the bodies maybe I have just been lucky?

That hot shoe connection failure just cost me 8780 baht. Just got the camera back from Nikon repair. Sent the old parts back and this included bits of plastic and rubber from the camera shell when they removed and replaced the hot shoe. One would think Nikon would have devised a better way of replacing hot shoe connections than to require tearing up the camera to get at it. Okay...replaced the printed circuit in the flash unit and I got the printed circuit back . Cost another 7080 baht for replacing the main PCB in the silent wave lens and got the failed part back as well. All told this cost me over 22,000 baht.

I showed the parts to our Thai engineer here at my condo. Has a degree in electrical engineering and I get on well with him. We could not see any signs of corrosion on the parts that were sent back...either for the lens or the printed circuit in the flash. But as he put it...."Not sure." Neither of us are experts on camera electrical components.