Nikon is ending its authorized repair program in early 2020, likely leaving more than a dozen repair shops without access to official parts and tools, and cutting the number of places you can get your camera fixed with official parts from more than a dozen independent shops to two facilities at the ends of the U.S.
That means that Nikon’s roughly 15 remaining Authorized Repair Station members are about to become non-authorized repair shops. Since Nikon decided to stop selling genuine parts to non-authorized shops back in 2012, it’s unlikely those stores will continue to have access to the specialty components, tools, software, manuals, and model training Nikon previously provided. But Nikon hasn’t clarified this, so repair shops have been left in the dark.
“This is very big, and we have no idea what’s coming next,” said one manager at a Nikon-authorized repair shop. “We need more information before March 31. We can make contingency plans, start stocking up on stuff, but when will we know for sure?”
In a letter obtained by iFixit, Nikon USA told its roughly 15 remaining Authorized Repair Station members in early November that it would not renew their agreements after March 31, 2020. The letter notes that “The climate in which we do business has evolved, and Nikon Inc. must do the same.” And so, Nikon writes, it must “change the manner in which we make product service available to our end user customers.”
In other words: Nikon’s camera business, slowly bled by smartphones, is going to adopt a repair model that’s even more restrictive than that of Apple or other smartphone makers. If your camera breaks, and you want it fixed with official parts or under warranty, you’ll now have to mail it to one of two ends of the country. This is more than a little inconvenient, especially for professional photographers.

In a statement, Nikon confirmed the termination of Authorized Repair Stations contracts after March 2020. Authorized service, Nikon stated, will be provided at its Melville, NY and Los Angeles, Calif. facilities. “We remain committed to providing the best product support and repair services to our customers,” Nikon stated. Nikon did not answer our questions about the former authorized shops’ access to parts or other official services.
None of a half-dozen authorized shops we spoke with—most of whom asked not to be named, so as not to face reprisal—had heard further from Nikon after receiving their letters. While most of their repair work is out-of-warranty, most said that the loss of official Nikon parts would seriously damage their appeal to customers, who depend on their location and rapid turnaround.
Nikon stopped selling parts to independent repair shops in 2012. Cameras, it stated in a letter announcing the policy, had become “more complex”, and required “specialized tools.” The move generated controversy; Nikon responded by noting it had 20 authorized repair centers at the time and, in typical large-manufacturer style, casting doubt on the competency and quality of independent repair.
The camera giant’s latest move comes as its fortunes are flagging. Nikon expects to lose $92 million on its imaging and camera business for the year ending March 31, 2020. The camera business has “deteriorated further as market shrinkage accelerates and competition intensifies,” Nikon told investors. In Japan, Nikon recently fell behind Sony to rank third in camera sales, with Canon at the top.
Authorized repair shops we spoke with, and many photography news and blog sites, cite Nikon’s late arrival to the mirrorless camera market as a particular pain point for the company, in addition to the general loss of the low and mid-grade camera business to smartphones. Most said they saw it as a bad sign that they had seen part and repair costs rise at a more rapid rate in recent years.

One shop, at least, isn’t concerned. Clayton Chastain, manager at Nikon-authorized shop Camera Service Company in Smyrna, Ga., believes Nikon will likely cut off training on new models, regardless of other moves. Even if Nikon stops selling parts, “We should be fine,” he said. Most of his firm’s business is out-of-warranty repairs, and he noted that they have a good stock of parts for the time being. He anticipates a resurgence in film camera work will likely supplement any lost Nikon-authorized work.
The other businesses that we spoke with said that the loss of official parts, along with a discount on repairs that must be mailed to Nikon, would deeply cut into their business. An authorized repair shop manager said that “99 percent” of the parts he needs can be obtained within a day or two from Nikon. Without those parts—and the crucial discount on mail-in repairs to Nikon for his customers—his value proposition for customers is frozen out.
“My options now are China, used parts from eBay, and whatever I can salvage,” the manager said. But the eBay market will soon become tight if Nikon stops selling parts, he said. “If I have to tell a customer it’s a couple weeks just to get the part, and I can’t offer a discount on the repair … I don’t know why they wouldn’t go to Nikon directly.”
In addition to parts, tools, manuals, and training on the latest models at Nikon’s facilities, repair shops will likely lose access to Nikon’s proprietary calibration software. Such software is used to verify and adjust the focus mechanisms and sensors on cameras. More than one authorized shop owner said this software is provided on an encrypted hard drive by Nikon, and the apps regularly check in with Nikon over the web to validate the owner’s authorized status.

Every shop owner we spoke with mentioned that Canon, while no longer offering warranty repairs through authorized shops, still sells parts at a competitive price to repair shops in good standing. That’s the best scenario they can hope for from Nikon, though nobody knows what will actually happen after March.
Nikon’s latest move is an example of the kind of repair restrictions targeted by Right to Repair legislation. Rather than demand that customers ship their cameras to one of only two places in the U.S. with official parts and tools, Right to Repair laws would provide repair shops and individuals access to the same equipment as used by Nikon’s facilities.
Incidentally, iFixit’s teardown and repair guide photography is run on Nikon DSLRs. We use D800s for guide and teardown still photos and D850s for video. Our teardown team has sent out our own cameras for repairs including sensor cleaning and USB port replacement. Even living less than four hours away from Nikon’s facility, some repairs leave us without cameras for two weeks or more.
You can perform a number of repairs on Nikon cameras yourself: tripod thread plate replacement, top LCD glass, back LCD screen. We’d like to have more guides, written by us and others, but it’s hard to find parts.
Note: This post was updated to remove the name of a repair shop employee.
Top image by Hans Blackman/Prima Pictura, cropped (license).
38 Comments
Not going to buy a Nikon again.
Eduardo Arizaga - Reply
I think Nikon is still a good company. Even though they re changing there repair policy that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy a good high quality Nikon camera. Also that’s like saying that in iPhone user won’t buy anymore iPhones because they have to repair through apple for apple parts.
Scott Campbell -
Wow, I used to work at the NY shop. When I saw this article, I was like, wtf, everyone there worked their @%^!* off 60 hours per week. Great to know that some of my old friends aren’t going to be out of a job.
Dave Nespoli - Reply
I had film cameras repaired at that shop.
brian.steven.richmond -
OMG……60 hours of work a week, too hard……
Liu bing -
The new policy will mean longer delays for broad recalls, and draconian high repair prices in the future. Might be time to consider a jump to Canon or (God help me for saying) Sony.
lcopps - Reply
Sony has a worse repair policy then Nikon.
Scott Campbell -
I gave up on Nikon years ago, when they brought out their first DSLR, I had bought a pre-DSLR digital camera, and purchased a fairly top of the line flash (speed light) in anticipation of ugrading to their new DSLR. Guess what, when it did come out they released a new line of flashes, mine was not only just a little old, but it was not supported on the new camera, they had zero backwards compatability.
So bye bye Nikon, I moved over to Cannon.
Paul - Reply
I may buy a Canon camera in the future, because my friends are using Canon, so I can borrow their lenses, and my lenses can also be loaned to them. The reason why I buy a camera, in addition to my performance requirements for the camera, In addition, I will consider the usage rate of the surrounding people, which makes it easy for me to communicate with them and general accessories.
Liu bing -
I think Japan photo business is headed toward monopoly.
Jim Brewer - Reply
Sad to also hear about Nikon’s extremly restrictive calibration software.
I scored a pair of Nikon D2Xs body’s that need their flash functions recalibrated - Now I know, don’t persue the project, just bin them.
Anybody want a D2Xs body?
Paul - Reply
i have D2XsIMG,it can help you
明年的月亮真圆亮 -
Would be a good addition to this story to follow-up with other camera manufacturers beyond Canon. I’m fairly certain there are only two authorized repair locations for Sony cameras in the U.S. (both independently owned, but the sole authorized locations for cameras). I don’t know if Sony sells camera parts to other repair shops beyond those two.
What about Olympus and Panasonic? I wouldn’t be surprised to find similarly scarce repair options; it seems to be the trend in the U.S.
Eamon Hickey - Reply
This makes me very happy that the DSLR camera I just bought my wife for Christmas is a Canon, I was going to buy her another Nikon and I am now so glad I did not.
Joseph Jones - Reply
I think Jim Brewer’s comment about “headed toward monopoly” is on target. I can imagine either Sony or Canon buying up Nikon. Consolidation is the name of the game, unfortunately.
Mark Flick - Reply
Nikon is still a competitor to Sony and Cannon. They wouldn’t sell the company to either of the company’s any time soon because all the camera company’s are in the same boat. All camera company’s are losing money and business because of the smart phones. Soon enough all the camera company’s will only allow there repair stores to repair there devices so they can make needed money.
Scott Campbell -
I hope Nikon realizes what they have done. In the future, my plans will be to sell and replace my equipment with a manufacturer that sells their parts to anyone that wants to fix cameras. I have always received better service and prices from independent repair shops after my warranty has expired. Just like you would not purchase a car that you had to take to the dealer for every repair, I would not purchase Nikon in the future but now would be a great time to sell what I can and hope that no one knows that Nikon is no longer going to service the independent repair shops.
Ben
Ben Blum - Reply
This is a problem for more than just DLSR repair and upgrades. Generally, equipment manufacturers that sell items incorporating Digital “firmware” and “Software” are not “selling” their items with the rights to the Digital parts required to make the items useable. Rather they sell the items with lengthy agreements restricting the uses and even your rights to modify the items to solve problems or add features!
There needs to be a return to a time when manufactures supported products with parts and service for a fixed number of years. This lack has been particularly egregious in Digital Cameras for years now!
rclark - Reply
Well, that cements a decision by me: Remove Nikon from consideration of my next camera. With restricted and expensive repair options, why wouldn’t I believe Nikon will also reduce quality control in manufacture to provide themselves with more repair revenue? No thanks.
wallykramer - Reply
Always have been a Canon user. Top notch Cameras and lens….. With either Brand you couldn’t go wrong until now I guess
david waitt - Reply
Go back to film and simple cameras like I did a number of years ago. I have a number of folding medium format cameras that I rebuilt myself (except for one) and they take images that are sharp and equivalent to 70 MP and they are also fully mechanical some being over 80 years old! Simple cameras, like everything else, in which you have to use your mind to operate not only keep said mind sharp but also are “green.” Actually film is probably “greener” than digital in the long run https://www.japancamerahunter.com/2015/1...
jmk - Reply
Oh dear! And I was thinking of up-grading my old Nikon. It seems I will have to buy elsewhere. You’d imagine company management would look a little further than the end of their nose before making stupid decisions such as this. Thanks for the heads-up Fixit.
Ron - Reply
Hmmm … I was down to choosing either the Nikon Z7 or the Sony a9 II as my new mirrorless camera … well this helped me decide to go to Sony. Now I just need to find a place to trade in my 2 Nikon DLSRs and Nikon glass for store credit.
treerod1 - Reply
Do you know that Sony’s repair policy is worse then Nikons?
Scott Campbell -
I have professional Nikon film camera equipment (now vintage but still in great condition) and professional Canon digital camera equipment and was interested in buying professional Nikon digital camera equipment but I won’t now.
brian.steven.richmond - Reply
Thanks for the post and various comments. This Christmas will be without any Nikon products under my tree.
Hershey Shah
Harshad Shah - Reply
This makes me love my Canon even more. Luckily, I haven’t had to service it yet. It’s no surprise the phone camera market is tearing into the DSLR market for the casual user, but the professional is always going to reach for the right tool.
Keeping those customers should be a priority, and killing service will negate that.
Jay Marble - Reply
It is truly a sad time in photography, with millions of loyal Nikon users to be left dangling in the wind. This is not the way to save Nikon, it will add to Nikon’s demise. What happened to congress? I think it was in 1948 when camera repair shops across the USA lobbied for the right to purchase parts from Japanese manufacturers and laws were passed to open up the markets to replacement parts. I think it was like this… if you want to sell cameras in the USA, you must make spare parts available to all repair shops. Did those laws expire, or will Nikon flaunt our laws??
Rocky - Reply
You can always use this company to get your camera serviced. https://standardcamerarepair.com/
Scott Campbell - Reply
How would this company not be affected if Nikon refuses to sell replacement parts or provide factory support?
Chris P. -
Opinions will always vary, but there are plenty of people who chose not to purchase iPhones based on Apple’s repair policy. It’s a fair presumption that there have already been plenty over the years who have switched for the same reason. It’s not unreasonable to think that Nikon will see a further decline in its market share if it attempts to freeze out independents.
Chris P. - Reply
Could be worse! Canada has only 1 repair location. I was without my D500 for 6 weeks and they initially quoted me over $500 for “no fault found”, but my local camera store was able to talk it down to $160… for a small ribbon cable that had become unseated slightly, disabling my Metering Mode button. When I had it happen about 9 months later, a good hard hit with the palm of my hand worked… for about a month.
I then decided to open it up and try reseating it myself (Found a video on youtube gave me an idea of how many if not where for the screws. After way too many screws and several pieces of rubber being removed, I was able to reseat the cable. I added a piece of tape to hopefully hold it in place this time!
Sadly, didn’t have another camera around to take photos of the work done to open it up, as I am sure I am not the only one with the issue.
Wolphin - Reply
You should have written “in the USA” in the title. I’m a European living in Japan, I don’t really care…
Sam Coss - Reply
It is two days ground shipping for 90% of the country to the two Nikon repair centers. Hardly anything to get excited about.
*** stenman - Reply
I am employed full-time repairing cameras in an independent shop, and when Nikon stopped selling parts in 2012, 40% of our business went away. But let’s not single out Nikon. Olympus, Fujifilm, Tamron. Hasselblad, Leica, and Lumix (Panasonic) have the same policy, no parts, no support, send it off to one of the coasts. That leaves Canon, Sony and Sigma as the only manufacturers that sell parts.
But look further and you’ll see Sony’s part prices are so high that it makes many routine repairs non-economical. Canon has been steadily ending part sales on many models, never offering parts on cameras like the Powershot G series, and refusing to sell certain strategic parts. Neither Sony nor Canon make their repair manuals available. Neither company will sell the software needed to calibrate the cameras.
In 1975 when I started repairing cameras, there were many watch repairmen getting into the field because digital watches were killing their prospects. Now I am one of these dinosaurs, watching the demise of my field.
lettow - Reply
Thank you very much for sharing. It seems that you have a lot of maintenance experience. I would like to ask, what are the main reasons for camera failure?
Liu bing -
Excuse me, it ’s really hard for the staff to shoot and work in this high light.
Liu bing - Reply
I have a $6,000 Nikon lens that is 10 years old and Nikon tells me it obsolete and they won't touch it. But they will gladly sell me a new model of the lens for a slight discount to about $5,200 if I trade in the old one. Not going to happen and now no repairs by the independent shops. Really rethinking my future purchases of Nikon.
gitzo1028 - Reply