Nikon Support
This is a compilation of three letters that were sent to Nikon regarding my Nikon D200.
First time sent in to be serviced: (November, 2007)
I purchased the Nikon D200 kit from BH photo video last September. When I received the camera, right away the camera began to have issues. The shutter began sticking and the camera would produce an error, and would not take any images. Usually the result ended up being a black frame and the camera would state an error on the screen. When I called their sales department, they told me they would take it back, but were out of stock (I should have sent it back, but I had photo shoots scheduled). I decided to keep it and deal with the issue. I noticed when I turned the camera off and then on the issue sometimes went away. After a couple months, I finally had some time to send the camera in. Meanwhile I was loosing a lot of money, while the camera was gone. On top of it all, I spent all my money on this camera, as an investment (a horrible investment). I have had Nikon SLR bodies before and never a single issue. I got the camera back and the issue seemed to have been resolved. A few months passed and the issue occurred again. This time I had so many shoots scheduled, that I could not afford to send it in, but deal with the problem. I had clients who were mad at me and lost a few jobs because the camera would simply not take an image. I now have a little time to send it in, but still am loosing a lot of money. I do not have my own studio and so fourth, to qualify for the professional program. I just graduated from college, but I work a lot with my equipment. I own close to $4,000 worth of Nikon equipment.
RESULT: Camera came back and appeared to be in good working condition.
Second time sent in to be serviced: (July, 2008)
Besides the shutter sticking and getting a lot worse, I had issues when I used the camera in a studio setting. I noticed when I used a 50mm Nikkor 1.4 lens, there was a huge green flare all over my images, and I have given these images to customer service. Some samples of images are below. David, the manager at Nikon services told me that my Nikkor lens and camera were incompatible and that I needed to sent it in. (Rubbish, that is the best lens for studio)
Today the camera has gone to a new low. I had to take pictures at the club and my SB800 no longer works so I decided to use the little one on the camera. The camera worked for about 30 shots and all of a sudden gave a me green light (I was shooting only one shot at a time) and the camera would not turn off. The light was on for a good minute maybe 2. After which the light turned off, but the camera would not let me take the picture. I tried turning the camera off, but the light meter by the shutter button was still active as if the camera was on. I resorted to take the battery out. I removed it, put it back in. After 2 shots the same issue occurred. This time the screen started telling me the card was invalid and I should change the card (yet I have used this card close to 1000 times. The card is a : SanDisk Extreme® III CompactFlash® 16GB). The camera stopped taking pictures. I turned the camera off, and took the batteries out and the card put it all back in and the camera was back to normal. Two pictures latter again the camera won’t turn off. It keeps getting the shutter stuck and wont take any pictures.
RESULT: Camera was sent back in about 2 and a half weeks with no problems (at least it seemed that way). I no longer had a studio, so no way to test the equipment.
Third time sending it in: (9/3/2008)
The shutter sticking issue came back after the second shoot I had. It is really intermittent and I have no idea why it’s still happening. It happened the first time I sent it in, the second time, and now the third time. The issue never left. I have no idea why it’s happening. Sometimes it happens a lot during a shoot, sometimes never. The shoots are typically outdoors. Batteries always charged and even tried different lenses. Still keeps occurring. A new problem occurred a week ago that seemed to be a one-time thing so far (had the camera less than a month…). I always shoot in RAW only format with white balance set to Auto. Three hours into the shoot, I am looking at my camera and the pictures I start taking all result in pure black shots. I start thinking if it’s the lens or camera, I can’t explain it. I look at my settings and everything is reset! I changed everything back to the way it was and kept shooting. I come back home and look through the images and notice that the number of shots I typically get on my card is almost doubled, and I am starring at my screen with a puzzled look. So I look at the file formats of the images. The first 150 shots are all NEF (raw shots) then it switches to the first shot being a jpg and three raw files (in sets of 4). Then it switches to Jpg, raw, Jpg, raw. Then to Jpg and then back to just RAW since I changed the settings back. I have no idea why it was happening. I am glad it didn’t shoot everything in JPG as that would have been the end of a shoot. The amount of problems I am having with this camera is unbelievable. I would like to request a replacement for this camera. I bought it and it was defective. I should have returned it when I had the chance. But I had no choice. Please expedite my service as I have a lot of clients waiting on me and I have no idea what to tell them.
Thank you for your time.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT CALL: (9/2/2008)
I spoke to a service manager. I asked her if I would receive a replacement camera since this is the third time sending in the camera. She explained that it was up to the technician. I then asked her what about the 4th time if I have to send it in? She explained that it was up to the technician. When I mentioned Lemon Law, she kept saying that she could not confirm anything and it was all up to one technician. I have no idea how long it will take to get this camera back. I will be without one for at least two weeks. Meanwhile I will try to apply to the professional Nikon program (where they give you a camera if something happens to yours). Stay tuned for the outcome..
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Yep..I talked to her also..she’s very good………………………..at ignoring your problems!
OP - I had the exact same issues. The proper approach is three times and then a very professional letter, with candy and perfume.
Mike was a condescending jerk!
Some guy named Sivad? was very helpful.I think you have to sound disheartened and like you’re about to commit suicide to get proper attention and service, crying may work.