Nikon Z8 recalled due to lens mount defect that prevents users from attaching lenses to camera body

Just a month after the premium-tier Z8 mirrorless camera officially went on sale, Nikon has issued a technical service advisory — read "recall" — after users have reported not being able to mount a lens to the camera. Nikon has not given details about what caused the issue, but it's likely a manufacturing defect in a part of the lens mount assembly. According to Nikon, users may be unable to rotate lenses into the locked position when using the Z8.

As part of the recall, Nikon has confirmed that it will cover the cost of shipping affected units to and from their users for repair, regardless of warranty status — although it seems unlikely that too many will be out of warranty, given they're less than a month old. Nikon is directing Z8 owners to find the serial number on the back of the camera body, under the LCD screen, and enter it on a dedicated service advisory site. Owners of affected Z8 units will receive instructions on how to proceed after they have entered their serial number on the site. 

It's never comfortable or reassuring to receive news that a product you own or wanted to buy is part of a recall, but it's important to consider that recalls are common after product launches and more hands-on usage and testing take place. Nikon is taking the correct course of action by launching the recall, and the company had to go through similar teething issues with the Nikon Z9, on which the Z8 is heavily based. While the Z8 has been generally well-received, experiencing the same issue across two similar product launches seems like lacklustre in-house testing and research and development processes.

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