Nikon now provides access to parts and instructions that allow photographers to make repairs to their own products at home instead of needing to rely on the company’s official service departments.
In a newly launched section of the Nikon USA website, the company says that it now provides access to service manuals, parts, and tools for select products that allow photographers to tackle repairs themselves. While the ensuing pages where those manuals can be found were reported on earlier this month, Nikon now has fully launched the program.
“Nikon Inc. now provides access to applicable service manuals, parts, and tools to enable users to perform their own repairs on certain Nikon digital electronic products,” Nikon tells PetaPixel in an email — language that is mimicked on the new web pages.
“We advise consumers that before attempting to repair their product to please consult their limited warranty to learn more about warranty coverage and service, as self-repairs may affect their product’s warranty. If a product is still covered by Nikon Inc.’s limited warranty, we recommend that users schedule service with Nikon Inc. More information can be found here: https://www.nikonusa.com/content/self-service.”
At the time of publication, some tools were already out of stock including several types of lubricant used in lens repair. Multiple parts are listed as “limited stock available.” It is not clear how often Nikon will refresh stock.
While the service is now live and supported, Nikon plasters its website with multiple warnings to users who want to attempt a repair themselves.
Before you attempt to repair your product, please consult your product’s limited warranty to learn more about warranty coverage and service.
Please note that Nikon does not provide customer support or assistance for how to repair your product. Please also note that an incorrect repair performed by you or an unauthorized repair provider may affect your product’s limited warranty and/or cause an increase in the fee if you request service from an authorized Nikon service center.
Damage caused by repairs performed by persons other than authorized Nikon service technicians are not covered by any Nikon warranties. Such damage may cause future repairs to be subject to out of warranty costs or render your product ineligible for future repairs by Nikon.
Failure to follow the repair instructions in a Nikon repair manual, or to use appropriate Nikon parts and tools, may damage the product or affect the product’s functionality, and may also cause safety issues and could lead to personal injury, death, or property damage.
Nikon shall not be liable for any damages, injuries, or other liabilities to the product, any person, or any property which occurs as a result of repair, diagnosis, maintenance, or modification performed by you or an unauthorized repair provider, including but not limited to, any indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages; any loss of data, privacy, revenue, or profits; or any inability to use, or reduced functionality of, the product.
Nikon does not provide customer support or assistance for how to repair products and adds that if there is an incorrect repair performed by an end user, it may affect the warranty. That may also incur an increased fee if a customer later requests service from a Nikon service center.
When asked why the company launched this site and if it was in response to the right to repair movement in the United States, the company did not respond. At launch, the program only supports one lens (the Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR) and two laser rangefinders (the Coolshot 20 GIII and the Coolshot 20i GIII). Nikon did not respond to PetaPixel when it asked if and when photographers could expect additional support for other cameras and lenses.
Image credits: Nikon