Adversity Expert gear,photography Repaired Nikon 18-105mm lens plastic mount

Repaired Nikon 18-105mm lens plastic mount

Nikon makes great lenses.  Except for those plastic mounts.  The bayonet mount on my

Nikon 18-105 broken and new mount

Nikon 18-105 broken and new mount

18-105 broke some time last year and I’ve been able to get away with 2 tabs.  I could see some image degradation and didn’t want to risk further damage.  So, I purchased a ring on Amazon, found a few YouTube videos on how to repair it and, in 20 minutes, the lens is reassembled and working.

Having a broken mount on a lens is really irritating considering the lens cost in the $400 realm.  I would have happily paid an extra $30 for a metal mount.

Good thing I didn’t break this off in the woods or on a shoot.  It would have been bad, should this have been my only lens, as it was in Guatemala.  There aren’t too many Nikon shops down there.

The cost to replace this was $5.  The shipping cost far more than the part.  With 25 minutes of my time so I didn’t wreck the aperture spring or the tiny wire connector, the lens is back up and working.  Repair shops wanted well above $100 to make the fix.

Tools for the job

Tools for the job

All you need is a small 00×2-1/2 Phillips screwdriver, fine needle nose pliers if you don’t want to wreck the spring,  couple bowels for screws and patience.  Don’t make this repair over carpet.  Once the screws fall down, recovery is nearly impossible.

This repair can be done on the Nikon 18-105, 18-55, and the 55-200 lenses, all of which sport this breakable mount.  There are two machine screws holding the lens communication pins, three plastic/ sheet metal thread screws holding the bayonet plastic mount to the inner metal lens casing, three larger screws mounting the back base to the lens body, a spring holding the aperture control lever and a fragile little wire attached with another plastic/sheet metal threaded screw.  My biggest worry was dropping a screw inside the lens or on the floor.  The former meant major recovery and the latter meant lost screw.  Amazingly, neither happened.

Standard disclaimer – I am not responsible for you breaking your lens by following this description.  If you are not competent or confident, take it to a repair shop.

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