This morning when I took a closer look at the lens under the spotlight, I notice a few fine scratches across the front lens element...
...not too sure how it got there as I have never attempt to wipe it and it is always cover with a filter since day 1....
Earlier I went to NSC. The explaination given by the service engr is that the "oil" stains is NORMAL. He mention that there is aspherical elements inside and these elements are sprayed with some coating...Nevertheless, they help to arrange with the shop that I bought from and ask me to go back for a exchange...Before I left NSC, I took a look at the showroom lens. No stains leh....
At the shop, the sales person told me it is NORMAL again and that the stains is probably due to reflection under strong lighting...and that I should look at sharpness of the picture taken, rather than dusts, stains etc inside the lens. He say stains or dusts inside brand new lens is normal, even for pro lenses (not sure if he meant nikon only or other brand as well)...While the person was examining the lens, he also found out that the lens have a small chip at the corner of 1 of the middle lens elements...Great, found another problem with the 2wks+ old lens..
Nevertheless, they still change a new lens for me and guess what, no stains leh....
Even though dusts, stains etc inside the lens may not affect the quality of picture taken, but it does affect the resale value of the lens...Will you buy a 2nd hand lens with a stain inside but I tell you Nikon say is normal?
So far my 3wks+ experience with Nikon products is :thumbsd: ...Seem to be QC problem?
I took a look at my 3yrs+ old canon S3 and I don't see any scratches on the lens or stains inside the lens, even though I have clean the lens before myself....
Anyway, I took down the serial no of the old lens...if you are thinking of buying a Nikon 18-200 Vr2 and is worried that you might get this copy, just PM me....