Nikon lens quality.

Not as Ad for Nikon or anything but I thought I would share a story about
their build quality.

Last fall on a trip to Bandon on the Oregon coast I was shooting with a 20mm lens
on my camera and I stupidly had my 24-70 f2.8 lens in my coat pocket in case
I might want it.
It fell out of my pocket while I was photographing in the surf and some fellow
photographers found it 10 minutes or so later washed up on the sand. This is real Oregon
coast washing machine surf.
I took it back to my room, washed the sand off with tap water, put it a bag of rice
and took it home. It was totally fogged and looked waterlogged, no autofocus at all.

My local shop said it was not worth trying to repair, the salt water alone would 
toast it. It is the older non VR version and not worth all that much anymore however
it is a really nice lens.

I agreed and just took it home and threw it back in the closet.
About a week ago I took to out of the bag just for fun, wiped it off, put in on my camera
and it works like nothing ever happened. Completely clear through the viewfinder.
A bit creaky sounding manual focusing but
the autofocus works and it sharp and clear corner to corner at 100% on my monitor.

So, a good testament to quality, I thought I would share.
I did not replace it yet although I was going to as the 24-70 is a really
useful lens to own and I have nothing else in that range.
I am very happy it is working again.

A new non VR version of the 24-40 f2.8 G ED lens is still selling for $1,446.95 at B&H. With VR it's $1,896.95. But then one can opt for the Tamron which is $1,199.

DChan wrote:A new non VR version of the 24-40 f2.8 G ED lens is still selling for $1,446.95 at B&H. With VR it's $1,896.95. But then one can opt for the Tamron which is $1,199.

Yes, but my local store has used ones for $700, and Nikon would have charged $300-400 to service and repair.
The bag of rice cost me $1.59.