>HELP!!  We have a Nikon 60X1.4na plan apo DM phase lens hardly used which
>now will not give an image.  The local Nikon rep says it has oil inside
>and that this is a common problem.  They want CDN$ 3,000 to fix it.  A
>new one costs CDN$ 4,700.  The lens has no obvious damag and has always been
>treated very gently.  There is visible oil when the screq on cap is removed.
>The rep says this oil can get into the elements!!  To me this is just
>faulty design.  A simple skirt of plastic film could have prevented oil from
>running down the objective into the spring mechanism.  Mostly the lens was used
>on an upright microscope so oil had little chance.
>        Do any of you also have failures of Nikon 60X lenses?  Did Nikon
>take any responsibility for the failure?  Are there any reliable lens
>service shops who would disassemble and clean objectives?
>        The Nikon rep says these lenses are known to accumulate oil inside
>even when used only in upright scopes.  Is this really true?
>I would apreciate hearing any comments on oil ingestion by these lenses.
>Thanks.
>
This certainly sounds like grossly irresponsible action on the part of
Nikon. I suggest that you get in touch with Lee Schuett (I think that is
the spelling of his name) at the main Nikon offices in New York.
 
 Harvey J. Karten, M.D.
 Dept. of Neurosciences
 Univ.California San Diego
 La Jolla, CA 92093-0608
 EMail: [log in to unmask]
 Phone: (619)-534-4938
 FAX: (619)-534-6602