Nikon D800 Repair - 10 Pin Connector

[HSakols]

Since late July my Nikon D800 has been at Precision Camera in Enfield, CT to fix the 10 pin connector that allows me to use a remote trigger.  Finally last week after they never returned my emails or phone calls, I was told they needed to send it to Nikon and it would be another 6-8 weeks.  I got fed up and asked them just to return my camera without repairs and that I was perfectly capable of sending it to Nikon myself.  At this point would one just send their camera to Nikon or can anyone else recommend a repair facility in the USA?  I'm tempted just to not fix the issue and use it in Live View, but when I backpack it uses to much of the battery.  Of course upgrading to the Nikon 810 would be nice, I don't expect to get much from a used d800 these days.  Maybe it is time to get the old view camera out.

[Paul2660]

If the D800 body has a weakness it's the 10 pin connector. I fully agree. My D800 failed in 3 months under warranty. My d800e is getting fixed now. On both of mine the actual connector pushed back inside the body. Repair is around $250.

As a night shooter I use the 10 pin a lot with the Nikon intervalometer   

Paul

[Torbjörn Tapani]

Another broken here. Nikon (swe) can't even give an estimate of how long the service might take.

[allegretto]

so, two Achille's heels.

- bad design. Perhaps bad outsourcing for parts

- bad repair service

Sic Semper Nikon...

[Some Guy]

I've read some instances of this jack breaking.  Some suggested it was aftermarket remotes, and one guy (dpreview) filed the connector to fit better.

I have a MC-30A which was some update to the older MC-30.  So far so good with it.  I think one part they did change between the two is the larger screw handle as well as a white mark to align the thing.  If one of those 10 pins get bent, it might be the end of that jack too.

Does seem like the D800's do go to Nikon for whatever reason.  Don't know if the OP's repair place was once of their authorized centers or not.  If not, they probably cannot get parts anyway and would have to forward it.  I know when I had a Sony the independent shop wouldn't touch it as their "Reimbursement on warranty work wasn't worth it and to send it to Sony."

Nikon Service does seem to be offing at times compared to Canon: http://www.customerservicescoreboard.com/versus/Canon~Nikon

SG