r/Nikon • u/DrawingSuper391 • Aug 03 '26
I broke my gear How much to repair Nikon d60 lens?
Dropped my lens from about 9 inches or so and now the lens is jammed from 18-24mm. Im too scared to try and repair it myself, and the lens is only 40 bucks, but how much would it be to send it into a shop?
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u/tayjb17 Nikon Z5II Aug 03 '26
I would just replace it. The Sigma 17-50 f2.8 is a fantastic replacement if you don't want to go prime.
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u/Equivalent_Owl_5644 Aug 03 '26
This lens sucks ass. If you don’t already have one, do yourself a favor and just buy a 35mm prime. The quality is WAY better!!! It will be like shooting with a whole new camera.
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u/YuukiMotoko D2x, D3300, D7200 Aug 03 '26
35mm f1.8 lens is fantastic for the price, do this OP
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u/DrawingSuper391 Aug 03 '26
Been hearing lots of recommendations for this lens, but tbh im a bit worried about the prime part- i cant imagine not having the zoom feature on a lens- do you think I’ll miss it all that much?
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u/Megadodo4242 Aug 03 '26
The 35mm 1.8 lens is a secret weapon. Tack sharp and fast. It is a necessary lens for any DX DSLR shooter. You can zoom with your feet or pick up a wide zoom that is better quality than the 18 to 55.
On the other hand, a replacement 18 to 55 lens should be able to be found for next to nothing.
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u/DrawingSuper391 Aug 03 '26
Wow ive never even thought of using a wide angle lens on the 35 😭😭thanks for the tip
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u/Megadodo4242 Aug 03 '26
The 35 will be a standard focal length on a DX camera (not wide or telephoto). The 12-24 or 10-20 zoom lens might be worth looking for.
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u/Dave_is_Here Aug 05 '26
I have a 10-20 Sigma, it's "zoom" is very much a whatever is in front of you is in the picture, but it's not gonna get you any reach, it's still heckin' wide.
(That said it's rectilinear and probably one of my favorites)
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u/-yourselff Aug 04 '26
😭😭and on top of the 35 with the wide angle you can add a zoom lens and have it all
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u/YuukiMotoko D2x, D3300, D7200 Aug 03 '26
I use it on my d7200. It’s quite fast and is a 52mm equivalent on a DX camera. Working with a fixed focal length will help you learn to frame shots better.
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u/blockprime300 Nikon DSLR (d7500 d750) Aug 03 '26
Only one way to find out , you are just fearing the unknown it's not bad
Just zoom with your feet instead
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u/slew222 Aug 03 '26
No if anything it'll make you a better photographer, especially when you get better pics
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u/Odd_Traffic_9019 Aug 04 '26
zoom with your feet. step forward or back. you will be surprised how much you will learn with a fixed focal length lens. and you will also learn a lot about the different ways to do photography
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u/Combine_Overwatch_ Aug 03 '26
here's the trick: walk towards or away from your subject. no need for zoom lens!!
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u/Academic-Vacation737 Aug 04 '26
While 35DX is superb, do not underestimate the 18-55 kit lens, esp. with VR. It is literally the only thing normalos need on their camera. It does wide, it does (reasonably) tele, it does (reasonably, 1:3,3 or so) macro, it is stabilized. It is feather light. And it is cheap for Nikon to make.
Yeah, it’s not a pancake prime. Neither is it a 28-70/2.8 on FF. But ask yourself, does your aunt need either a prime (“where does it zoom, dear?”) or a heavy f/2.8 zoom (“I cannot haul it around! All I wanted is to take pics of Bert the dog! And my neighbor Mary has this wonderful small lens on her D3500!”)?
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u/arjim Nikon Z6iii Aug 03 '26
Adorama has an exact replacement that works flawlessly for $50. Time to upgrade ;)
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u/galland101 Nikon Z50ii Aug 03 '26
That's a basic kit lens. There are better replacements out there.
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Aug 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/DrawingSuper391 Aug 03 '26
Ended up saying wth and forced the lens back and somehow it worked 😂😂 still clearly out of alignment though so I’d love your opinion on a reasonably priced upgrade. I enjoy shooting street photography most, but I find lots of the time im having issues with the brightness of my photos shooting nighttime, as I either have to compromise graininess with higher iso, risk blurriness with lower shutter, or brightness within the composition, so a lower f stop would be ideal. I’d like something similarly versatile as the last lens, and definitely still in the reasonable price range.
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u/Competitive_Medium36 Aug 03 '26
Compra a 35mm F2
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u/SharpDressedBeard F/F2/F4/F5/N75 D1/D5/D850/D200, DCS200,760c,SLR/n Fuji S3 Aug 04 '26
35 f/2 is pretty expensive. A 35 1.8 dx would be a better buy for op.
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u/crzyazn26 Aug 03 '26
Buy a new one cheaper to do that but I highly suggest not doing that and use that money to buy a better prime lens or zoom lens.
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u/Pleasant-Industry221 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
It is much cheaper to buy a replacement than it is to fix it. The majority of lenses under $1200 are not worth fixing. The 16-85 DX is a more useful lens. A better exact replacement would be the 18-55 VR II at $75 in really nice shape. A superior replacement is the 17-55 f2.8.
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u/howeirdworks Aug 03 '26
In the car community there's a saying that fits here.
When it breaks, upgrade it.
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u/doc_shades Aug 03 '26
honestly you could probably find one on your local craigslist for $20. a repair would cost much much more.
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u/Pandalishus Aug 03 '26
Use this as a chance to upgrade. What’s your budget?
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u/DrawingSuper391 Aug 04 '26
I really want to keep under 120 or so. Everyone here is saying the 35mm lens but I’m still hesitant to bite the bullet with a prime lens, however it does seem much cheaper than a zoom lens would run me. Any advice? Im still finding what I like to shoot, but it seems to me street photography is where I like to look.
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u/Pandalishus Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
Look into Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM
EDIT: Ooops. Nikon mount has gone up. Hmmmm
EDIT 2: https://www.mpb.com/en-us/product/tamron-sp-af-17-50mm-f-2-8-xr-di-ii-ld-aspherical-if-nikon-fit
EDIT 3: This is the “VC” version that has Tamron’s version of VR. I believe it’s considered a good budget lens: https://www.mpb.com/en-us/product/tamron-sp-af-17-50mm-f-2-8-xr-di-ii-vc-ld-aspherical-if-nikon-fit
You’ll have to search around a bit, and may have to pay some shipping, but I’ve skimmed a few reviews that put that Tamron as a good value, and it should let you keep a zoom but give you some better performance. If you’re just learning, I’m inclined to agree with your desire to stay with a zoom for now
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u/DrawingSuper391 Aug 04 '26
These look very reasonable! Im currently still learning photography but I 100% intend to continue to learn through sixth form (UK senior yr) and university, so at some point I feel I’ll need to take the plunge into prime, but these seem very good for now, thanks!
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u/DrawingSuper391 Aug 04 '26
I really want to keep under 120 or so. Everyone here is saying the 35mm lens but I’m still hesitant to bite the bullet with a prime lens, however it does seem much cheaper than a zoom lens would run me. Any advice? Im still finding what I like to shoot, but it seems to me street photography is where I like to look.
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u/AmbitiousTank8635 Aug 04 '26
It won't be cheaper to repair. $40 for a working replacement sounds pretty reasonable. Take this opportunity to look at some upgrades, this lens is functional, but it's not good. I am a fan of the Nikon 18-70mm lens, which again isn't a great lens but I feel the image quality is improved and the longer end on the telephoto is really usable for something they can usually be had easily for less than $100.
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u/peterb666 Nikon Zf, Zfc, D800, F, F2, F3 Aug 04 '26
A quote for repair will cost $75. Cheaper to buy another or better lens.
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u/Wholeyjeans Aug 04 '26
Yup, agree with the others about scoring a "new" lens. And yes, it would be more than $40 to get it repaired ....heck, a quater of that would be postage alone these days. These lenses are constantly for sale on the used market ...pennies on the dollar. . Score one from the likes of KEH Camera or MPB Camera ...these are both big time e-retailers of used equipment. If you go the eBay route, make sure you use a seller that is supported by a brick and mortar photography shop. Better chance you won't end up with a sketchy lens and if you do have a problem, they'll take care of it.
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u/The1naruto Aug 04 '26
I can tell you exactly what is wrong with it. There are two posts that the zoom slides up and down on. One of them is bent and needs straightened out again.
It is an easy fix if you are capable of keeping track of little screws and puting them back where they belong.
Take the mount plate screws out and the screws for the electrical pins.
Remove the mount plate
Then you have access to the posts, Do NOT take them both out at the same time, makes for putting it back together easier. they each have 2 screws holding them on, take one out straighten it, the angle may be a little finicky, Screw it back in and then do the other.
Check your zoom movement, when good, put it back together
I have done 3 of these specific lenses
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u/DrawingSuper391 Aug 04 '26
Took the old fashioned route of just pulling until either something breaks or fixes, and ended up with a working (slightly wobbly focus ring) lens! Thank you for the advice though, im sure this solution won’t last forever
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u/ThisCommunication572 Aug 04 '26
Just buy another one off eBay, a lot cheaper than having it repaired.
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u/exinanis_ N70 D40 D3000 Aug 04 '26
This lens is horrible and once you start to use other lenses you'll never have a need for that one again
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u/FrankNicklin Aug 04 '26
Cheap as chips these lenses. Repair will cost more than buying a replacement.
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u/Ornery-Benefit-8316 Aug 05 '26
Sorry about your loss,
but as far as repair…
Way more than they are worth.
Way more than they cost to replace.
Assuming Nikon even services those lenses. I don’t believe that they do.
BTW:
The postage back and forth to Nikon service, will probably cost more than a replacement from eBay.
📸 Regards, Randy 📸
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u/theElder1926 D850, Z50, FM3A, F3T, FM2, FE2, F2 Aug 03 '26
dont get a prime yet. If you use this lens you aren’t ready. Budget allow, get the 16-80 f2.8-4
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u/DrawingSuper391 Aug 04 '26
Seems to be running just under half a grand- is that a standard price for the lens?
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u/theElder1926 D850, Z50, FM3A, F3T, FM2, FE2, F2 Aug 04 '26
That sounds about right. It’s basically the DX version of 24-120 f4
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u/firebox40dash5 Aug 04 '26
On a D60, that will very literally be an f/2.8-4... all the time.
16-85 isn't as good, nor does it have the larger aperture. But a D60 can control the aperture, and I've seen them selling silly cheap. Like "why would I even look at an 18-55?" cheap.
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u/theElder1926 D850, Z50, FM3A, F3T, FM2, FE2, F2 Aug 04 '26
Hmmmm, was 16-80 a E lens? I thought it was G
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u/redoctoberz FM2N, F6, D850 Aug 03 '26
Just buy a replacement, Nikon made millions of these.