Help, Nikon Lens broke and I'm in the middle of nowhere
March 17, 2010 7:31 PM Subscribe
Help, Nikon Lens broke and I'm in the middle of nowhere
I have a Nikon D40 camera with a 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens. The Lens is broken, that is it won't auto focus and I can remove the end of the lens from the main 'housing' unit (not the normal completely remove, etc). I can turn the lens to 55 or 18 and manual focus but the pictures have a 'bright whiteness' to them or backgrounds are blurry.
I will replace/get it repaired by Nikon, but here's the kicker. I'm on vacation at a national park and the nearest electronics dealer (i.e., best buy, etc) is 5 hours away. Is there anything I can try to do in the mean time?
Thanks!
I have a Nikon D40 camera with a 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens. The Lens is broken, that is it won't auto focus and I can remove the end of the lens from the main 'housing' unit (not the normal completely remove, etc). I can turn the lens to 55 or 18 and manual focus but the pictures have a 'bright whiteness' to them or backgrounds are blurry.
I will replace/get it repaired by Nikon, but here's the kicker. I'm on vacation at a national park and the nearest electronics dealer (i.e., best buy, etc) is 5 hours away. Is there anything I can try to do in the mean time?
Thanks!
el paso is < 2 hrs from carlsbad. stop by the guadalupes and hike guad peak (highest peak in texas) on the way back with the new lens. unbelieveably great hike, old CCC trail you could drive a train up through some of the most rugged mountains anywhere.
posted by H. Roark at 7:58 PM on March 17, 2010
posted by H. Roark at 7:58 PM on March 17, 2010
Get that second, prime, lens you always wanted, and if you're at a hotel, see if you can get overnight shipped there? Nikon 50mm/1.8s are pretty cheap, compact, and very crisp.
posted by zippy at 8:07 PM on March 17, 2010
posted by zippy at 8:07 PM on March 17, 2010
A better choice for a prime might be the 35mm f/1.8 if you can get it, it's close to a 'normal' lens for an APS-sized sensor camera like the D40.
Also, you can *rent* lenses at most pro camera shops fairly reasonably. Consider that as well.
posted by pjern at 8:35 PM on March 17, 2010
Also, you can *rent* lenses at most pro camera shops fairly reasonably. Consider that as well.
posted by pjern at 8:35 PM on March 17, 2010
www.borrowlenses.com does rental by mail. Haven't personally used them yet, but heard good things.
posted by drjimmy11 at 9:06 PM on March 17, 2010
posted by drjimmy11 at 9:06 PM on March 17, 2010
A 35mm prime would like pjern suggests would be my personal choice, but only go for that if you're comfortable with not having a zoom.
posted by dogwelder at 10:48 PM on March 17, 2010
posted by dogwelder at 10:48 PM on March 17, 2010
Keep in mind that with a D40 you need an AF-S lens if you want it to autofocus -- that means that (for example) the now-pretty-cheap 50mm 1.8AF will not autofocus for you. That leaves you (for primes) with a 35mm 1.8 AF-S (about $200) or a 50mm 1.4 AF-S (about $450). I've had a chance to play with both and thought the 35mm was great, and gives you enough field angle that you can get good landscapes without accidentally backing up off a ledge.
posted by range at 8:30 AM on March 18, 2010
posted by range at 8:30 AM on March 18, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dolemite01 at 7:33 PM on March 17, 2010