Repaired my lens today using your instructions. Cable was lose but not damaged so I cleaned off the dried up double sided adhesive and used superglue in its place to fix it back down and it's now working as it should again. I avoided de-soldering the wire as I see you unscrewed the other end later and it saved some time and soldering is not my strong point. I also didn't take out the focusing brush (28:52) and focusing brush and key (31:45) either because the lens can be dismantled with out removing these. Very many thanks for your instructions.
Thanks a lot for explaining/diagnosing the issue and showing in great detail the disassembly process of this lens. Found today that my 18-200 has developed same issue 😢; hope that in my case that problematic flatflex (to the actuators for the VR optics?) is not damaged beyond repair 🤞. Amazing how much complexity and assembling steps go into this lens!
Thank you for creating and posting this tutorial. My Lens also would not focus closer than 1 Meter. Luckily my flex cable only came loose and was not broken. After fixating it again with some superglue, My lens focuses all the way to 0.5 meters again!!
I just repaired mine. I was lucky, the cable electrical circuits were still intact so I cleaned all the glue tape off the cable and the chassis with isopropil alcohol. Heated the cable with a clothes iron on halfway between wool and cotton and ironed it flat. The heat brought the stretches out of the cable and i got it perfectly flat, as new. Then i superglued the cable back to the chassis making sure it had good clearance, the superglue is much thinner than the original bouble sided tape and gives it more room to pass. Providing the gas off the superglue didnt upset the cable it should be good as gold forever!
You just SAVED my lens (my flex still wasn't broken). Thanks a LOT. Took me 2 hours to start to finish! BTW, to put back the 24:15 part I've just glued later the 35:35 part. Waaaay more easier!
I very much appreciate that you share your knowledge. I am now confident to try and fix my lens. I need a replacement bayonet mount for a Nikon 28-200mm G lens. It is plastic and is worn and wobbles a bit on the camera. I thought I would pass that on to you, maybe you have one, or is there possibly a working equivalent, I see many other Nikon replacement mounts but none specifically for the 28-200mm. Thanks for your time.
Exactly! I unfortunately have had two copies of 18-200 VR first gen. Both of them died because of the stupid design lol. Don't know if they have fixed the flaw on VR II.
Hello, thanks for a great video, I have the same lens my problem is that when I focus on something the image jumps sideways a few times before it settles down, I wish that I had the skills to have a go at it and try and discover what the problem is as it would be too expensive to get it repaired, could it be the same issue that you show on your video, unfortunately I took the small side screw out before finding your video so now wondering how to get it back in, any help would be very much appreciated.
Thank you for a very detailed tutorial! My ribbon cable now visible is very slightly affected by rubbing. Would very slight distortion produce occasional focus problems? Do you have a tutorial that goes further so I can see what is preventing the barrel from zooming all the way out?
I found the problem! I think they call it a "roller". You can see it on p. 14 of the service manual unlabeled -- a light-colored screw that fits into a U-shaped place on the ring unit. When zoomin, it travels in a diagonal groove and pulls the lens assembly all the way in for 18mm. I has to take quite a lot of force, I'm surprised it lasted over 10 years. Mine had fallen out. Unfortunately, it will no longer screw in tight. It seems the inner thread is damaged. At this stage, I am guessing the lens is kaput...unless Super Glue can come to the rescue...
Hi Kenneth, Great video as always! I have never peeked into a Nikon AF lens. What you have shown does not make me happy with the way Nikon has built their AF lenses. Tape! Really! I really love my old non-ai and ai lenses. The AF-G series and D series lenses not so much. Maybe it's my age! And too much plastic in these modern lenses, they feel cheap. Anyways, Thanks for an eye opening video!!!
Yeah sometimes I wounder about the design of a lens and the material they use, but maybe the lens are made to just last a few years or even shorther time before they fail (I think it's called "design to fail at some point" or something like that).
Hi Ken, Thanks for the great video. I have this lens,which is functioning correctly at the moment.The problem I have is fungus within the focusing optics. The question I have to ask your advice about .Is there a way of accessing the focusing group of optics,without having to disassemble the focusing motor,sensors,brushes etc? Kind Regards Marc.
I got a screw come out & jam the lens, I took the lens apart & fix the problem, but now I can't put the lens back together, can you show me how & not to damage the zoom brush
Same problem here - got my lens back... and it shows the same issues - guess the flex cable is broken. I think its to expensive to send it to Nikon for repair such an old lens?
Thank you for the video! My lens had the exact same problem but it had fully disconnected the wire and it was stuck in the lens element. Watching your video I took it apart and completely removed the wire and now the lens seems to work like new. Do you know what that wire controlled? because removing it doesn't seem to change how the lens behaves at all.
bryce delany are you talking about the black wire that he unsoldered or that flatflex that got hit by the focus mechanism? Think the black wire is to ensure continuity of the ground/shielding for EMC. The flatflex that came loose is likely to related to the VR mechanism: there needs to be some connection between the electronics and the actuators/voice-coils that move the optics. My lens has developed same issue; will need to take a couple of deep breaths before starting the complex disassembly. Wonder if the lens would still work fine if that flatflex is broken or missing, and nothing driving the VR actuators. Best case it would become a non-vr lens which is still usefull....
Frank van de Pol well I ended up completely removing the flat flex cable. Surprisingly the focus still works but it’s definitely effected something because it searches back and forth before finding focus. I don’t know where to get a new cable for it and Nikon won’t repair it because I have opens the lens.
bryce delany I found this manual that shows the disassembly/reassembly instructions: www.stlo.com/stlo/friends/service_manual/afsvrdx18200g-rm.pdf Reading through it I can confirm the cable/flatflex is indeed for the VR actuators as I suspected. I found number of sellers on eBay/AliExpress that offer “vr flex cable for Nikon 18-200” for not too much (between 5 and 15 euro); so that could be a viable option. I’ll not bring the lens to Nikon for official repair; I’d rather attempt myself, or if fails buy a used lens instead (cheaper than sending for repair). Hope I can repair it without need to disrupt the calibration of the optics though.
hello thanks for the tutorial. Do you have any idea that the lens could fail, it doesn't focus, the motor moves the system from end to end, it doesn't get focus or it seldom gets it, thanks
Sir, I have exactly the same lens. it's autofocus function well but recently anytime that I turn the camera on it starts to shake and make noise for a short time regardless of VR button is on or off. I wish I knew which cable is for the VR then I could detach it to see if that will solve the problem or I knew how to clean all the gears and moving sections... that would be very kind of you if you could open up the lens all the way into the VR section and explain it a little bit... or just explain how it would be possible to disconnect VR section from the top... which flex cable is for that? With kind regards....
My nikon 500 F4 D II lens, autofocus sometimes works And sometimes it doesn't work The symptoms are similar to this video clip. Having to use a hand to help rotate the focus ring to be able to use it sometimes doesn't work at all. Can you tell me why?
Sorry but I have not yet work with Nikon 500mm f/4, but It could be the almost same problem that some parts has come loose somewhere inside the lens, or the magnetic encoder tape is a bit dirty. Just some ideas.
HI Ken ! i really appreciate that you share with us all you knowledge, specially for us, the onces that live in areas where is really hard to find some help when the beloved lenses that we use need it !! With your videos i was able to fix/clean 2 old Nikon lenses from my father that i love so much !! I still have one more of those lenses to clean ... ( fongus mainly ). And its a Nikon 200mm f/4 Micro-NIKKOR AI-s. Wich i look on your channel without luck .... If you can help me out point me some place where i can find info in how to open this incredible lens, it will be great ! No to mention if you have the chance to do it yourself if you have one of those in line to open :) Agein, thank you sooooo so much for sharing your work with us ...... i really mean it. :) . Your videos/work/ explanation its incredible !!! :)
Thank's, I do not a the moment have a Nikon 200mm f/4 Micro-NIKKOR AI-s, but I found some info about that lens here: www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/micronikkor/200mmicrof4.htm
Repaired my lens today using your instructions. Cable was lose but not damaged so I cleaned off the dried up double sided adhesive and used superglue in its place to fix it back down and it's now working as it should again. I avoided de-soldering the wire as I see you unscrewed the other end later and it saved some time and soldering is not my strong point. I also didn't take out the focusing brush (28:52) and focusing brush and key (31:45) either because the lens can be dismantled with out removing these. Very many thanks for your instructions.
Thanks! With this tutorial and 2 hours of work, my 18-200 is now focussing again.
Thanks a lot for explaining/diagnosing the issue and showing in great detail the disassembly process of this lens. Found today that my 18-200 has developed same issue 😢; hope that in my case that problematic flatflex (to the actuators for the VR optics?) is not damaged beyond repair 🤞. Amazing how much complexity and assembling steps go into this lens!
Thank you for creating and posting this tutorial. My Lens also would not focus closer than 1 Meter. Luckily my flex cable only came loose and was not broken. After fixating it again with some superglue, My lens focuses all the way to 0.5 meters again!!
I just repaired mine. I was lucky, the cable electrical circuits were still intact so I cleaned all the glue tape off the cable and the chassis with isopropil alcohol. Heated the cable with a clothes iron on halfway between wool and cotton and ironed it flat. The heat brought the stretches out of the cable and i got it perfectly flat, as new. Then i superglued the cable back to the chassis making sure it had good clearance, the superglue is much thinner than the original bouble sided tape and gives it more room to pass. Providing the gas off the superglue didnt upset the cable it should be good as gold forever!
You just SAVED my lens (my flex still wasn't broken). Thanks a LOT. Took me 2 hours to start to finish! BTW, to put back the 24:15 part I've just glued later the 35:35 part. Waaaay more easier!
Thank you so much for the help. Luckily my ribbon cable was only bent not broken. Glued it back in place and now my focus problems are gone.
Thanks!
I very much appreciate that you share your knowledge. I am now confident to try and fix my lens. I need a replacement bayonet mount for a Nikon 28-200mm G lens. It is plastic and is worn and wobbles a bit on the camera. I thought I would pass that on to you, maybe you have one, or is there possibly a working equivalent, I see many other Nikon replacement mounts but none specifically for the 28-200mm. Thanks for your time.
Thank you for this video! GREAT help for me and many others!
Exactly! I unfortunately have had two copies of 18-200 VR first gen. Both of them died because of the stupid design lol. Don't know if they have fixed the flaw on VR II.
Hello, thanks for a great video, I have the same lens my problem is that when I focus on something the image jumps sideways a few times before it settles down, I wish that I had the skills to have a go at it and try and discover what the problem is as it would be too expensive to get it repaired, could it be the same issue that you show on your video, unfortunately I took the small side screw out before finding your video so now wondering how to get it back in, any help would be very much appreciated.
Thank you for a very detailed tutorial! My ribbon cable now visible is very slightly affected by rubbing. Would very slight distortion produce occasional focus problems? Do you have a tutorial that goes further so I can see what is preventing the barrel from zooming all the way out?
I found the problem! I think they call it a "roller". You can see it on p. 14 of the service manual unlabeled -- a light-colored screw that fits into a U-shaped place on the ring unit. When zoomin, it travels in a diagonal groove and pulls the lens assembly all the way in for 18mm. I has to take quite a lot of force, I'm surprised it lasted over 10 years. Mine had fallen out. Unfortunately, it will no longer screw in tight. It seems the inner thread is damaged. At this stage, I am guessing the lens is kaput...unless Super Glue can come to the rescue...
Спасибо за видео! thanks for the video
Большое спасибо!!!!по вашему видео починил)))такая же беда была
привет! где брали шлейф? на али годные шлейфы?
Hi Kenneth, Great video as always! I have never peeked into a Nikon AF lens. What you have shown does not make me happy with the way Nikon has built their AF lenses. Tape! Really! I really love my old non-ai and ai lenses. The AF-G series and D series lenses not so much. Maybe it's my age! And too much plastic in these modern lenses, they feel cheap. Anyways, Thanks for an eye opening video!!!
Yeah sometimes I wounder about the design of a lens and the material they use, but maybe the lens are made to just last a few years or even shorther time before they fail (I think it's called "design to fail at some point" or something like that).
Hi Ken,
Thanks for the great video. I have this lens,which is functioning correctly at the moment.The problem I have is fungus within the focusing optics.
The question I have to ask your advice about .Is there a way of accessing the focusing group of optics,without having to disassemble the focusing motor,sensors,brushes etc?
Kind Regards Marc.
Still very good job. Well done. It's poor design, I agree.
I got a screw come out & jam the lens, I took the lens apart & fix the problem, but now I can't put the lens back together, can you show me how & not to damage the zoom brush
Good morning, what video can I see to place the screw that you indicate at the beginning of the video, do not unscrew. Minute 6:45
Same problem here - got my lens back... and it shows the same issues - guess the flex cable is broken. I think its to expensive to send it to Nikon for repair such an old lens?
Thank you for the video! My lens had the exact same problem but it had fully disconnected the wire and it was stuck in the lens element. Watching your video I took it apart and completely removed the wire and now the lens seems to work like new. Do you know what that wire controlled? because removing it doesn't seem to change how the lens behaves at all.
bryce delany are you talking about the black wire that he unsoldered or that flatflex that got hit by the focus mechanism?
Think the black wire is to ensure continuity of the ground/shielding for EMC. The flatflex that came loose is likely to related to the VR mechanism: there needs to be some connection between the electronics and the actuators/voice-coils that move the optics.
My lens has developed same issue; will need to take a couple of deep breaths before starting the complex disassembly. Wonder if the lens would still work fine if that flatflex is broken or missing, and nothing driving the VR actuators. Best case it would become a non-vr lens which is still usefull....
Frank van de Pol well I ended up completely removing the flat flex cable. Surprisingly the focus still works but it’s definitely effected something because it searches back and forth before finding focus. I don’t know where to get a new cable for it and Nikon won’t repair it because I have opens the lens.
bryce delany I found this manual that shows the disassembly/reassembly instructions: www.stlo.com/stlo/friends/service_manual/afsvrdx18200g-rm.pdf
Reading through it I can confirm the cable/flatflex is indeed for the VR actuators as I suspected.
I found number of sellers on eBay/AliExpress that offer “vr flex cable for Nikon 18-200” for not too much (between 5 and 15 euro); so that could be a viable option.
I’ll not bring the lens to Nikon for official repair; I’d rather attempt myself, or if fails buy a used lens instead (cheaper than sending for repair). Hope I can repair it without need to disrupt the calibration of the optics though.
Loose flex cable inside disconected and sparking is not fixable. thanks
hello
thanks for the tutorial.
Do you have any idea that the lens could fail, it doesn't focus, the motor moves the system from end to end, it doesn't get focus or it seldom gets it, thanks
Sir, I have exactly the same lens. it's autofocus function well but recently anytime that I turn the camera on it starts to shake and make noise for a short time regardless of VR button is on or off. I wish I knew which cable is for the VR then I could detach it to see if that will solve the problem or I knew how to clean all the gears and moving sections... that would be very kind of you if you could open up the lens all the way into the VR section and explain it a little bit... or just explain how it would be possible to disconnect VR section from the top... which flex cable is for that? With kind regards....
I have exactly the same problem when the camera is turned on or when the lens is mounted on the camera, the lens shakes for a short time.
@@richardlouie2922 should be switch on barrel to turn off VR; another turns off Autofocus, then you can isolate which system is causing this.
Does anyone know wether this design flaw was fixed in the newer 18-200 type II?
you was un-soldering a point - just to unscrew the contact part it was attached to, few minutes later - means, no need of soldering iron. right?
That's thrue, it was just to make it more easy to disassemble, when showing on video.
great video. well explained. further broke my camera anyways hahaha
My nikon 500 F4 D II lens, autofocus sometimes works And sometimes it doesn't work The symptoms are similar to this video clip. Having to use a hand to help rotate the focus ring to be able to use it sometimes doesn't work at all. Can you tell me why?
Sorry but I have not yet work with Nikon 500mm f/4, but It could be the almost same problem that some parts has come loose somewhere inside the lens, or the magnetic encoder tape is a bit dirty. Just some ideas.
HI Ken ! i really appreciate that you share with us all you knowledge, specially for us, the onces that live in areas where is really hard to find some help when the beloved lenses that we use need it !! With your videos i was able to fix/clean 2 old Nikon lenses from my father that i love so much !!
I still have one more of those lenses to clean ... ( fongus mainly ). And its a Nikon 200mm f/4 Micro-NIKKOR AI-s. Wich i look on your channel without luck .... If you can help me out point me some place where i can find info in how to open this incredible lens, it will be great ! No to mention if you have the chance to do it yourself if you have one of those in line to open :)
Agein, thank you sooooo so much for sharing your work with us ...... i really mean it. :) . Your videos/work/ explanation its incredible !!! :)
Thank's, I do not a the moment have a Nikon 200mm f/4 Micro-NIKKOR AI-s, but I found some info about that lens here: www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/micronikkor/200mmicrof4.htm
Hello, Is it okay to download your helpful video to watch it at my-own pace? Thank you very much for your help and video, really appreciate it...
You can just see on RUclips.
hello where did you spur your spudger tools thanks
For sale ...25,000 lens that were taken apart and not put back together ...
Can I send you my lens to fix?
Sorry, I do not have repair service.
Dang. Now I have one for sale.