Andrea Magugliani , Feb 09, 2012; 08:10 a.m.
I am experiencing an issue with my D300: it happened twice that using the 85mm 1.8 prime lens on the camera, the mirror doesn't go back to its original position therefore I have to take out the lens, shoot and the mirror goes back just fine. I went to a shop and they told me that there is a small piece coming out from the 85mm that should be cut because it touches the mirror and doesn't allow it to close properly.
What puzzles me is that I have been using the 85 for one year on the same camera and it never happened before.
Should I allow anyone to amputate this piece on my 85mm?
Jerry Litynski 
, Feb 09, 2012; 08:57 a.m.
Have you ever had your Nikon D300 serviced by Nikon? It may be time for you to contact Nikon and see what a estimated cost for general cleaning would be.... A mirror 'hit' by a lens part would be marred (I guess) and result in the same contact every time. A hit sometimes means the fault could be in the camera, thus a visit to a Nikon service center may be the correct way to fix the camera-lens issue.
Bruce Rubenstein , Feb 09, 2012; 09:00 a.m.
There should be no contact between the mirror and lens. Something is broken: mirror or lens. "Cutting something off the lens" is not fixing the underlying problem. Get someone else to look at your gear.
Matt Laur 
, Feb 09, 2012; 09:28 a.m.
Out of curiosity, are you certain that this doesn't or won't happen with any other lenses? I've seen something as simple as weak batteries (or dirty contacts, etc) cause incomplete cycling of the mirror.
Joel J 
, Feb 09, 2012; 09:39 a.m.
I'd find a new shop. There is one in Melville, NY that I can recommend.
I can confirm that the 85mm f/1.8 works just fine with the D300. (Note that I am specifically referring to the non-D version,
which is what I own.)
Michael R. Freeman 
, Feb 09, 2012; 11:20 a.m.
The advice this shop gave you is complete rubbish. The "small piece coming out from the 85mm" is the lens speed post (used on some film cameras) and will not interfere with the reflex mirror on ANY Nikon camera made since 1959, including the D300.
If there is mechanical interference, something is broken.
Hans Janssen , Feb 09, 2012; 11:25 a.m.
When a part of your lens is blocking the mirror to go down, how can it get up?
Wouter Willemse 
, Feb 09, 2012; 11:54 a.m.
Maybe a photo of the rear end of your 85 f/1.8?
My D300 and 85 f/1.8 get along just fine. Never had any issue like you descibe.
Andre Noble , Feb 09, 2012; 12:34 p.m.
Is it a dead battery instead?
David Haas , Feb 09, 2012; 12:46 p.m.
Run, don't walk, away from that shop.
I have a D300 and Nikon 85 mm f1.8 and have never had any issues with them together or seperately.
Anyone that is telling you the fix is to "cut off a piece of the lens" is not a camera repair person who I'd want anywhere near my lens or camera.
Dave
