First of all, I could not believe there was a solution on KZfaq. Your careful explanation was easy to follow--done in 5 minutes. Back to work.

Thank you so much for making and uploading this video. I began having difficulty with the zoom on my 200-500mm today. I found your video and and I was able to repair my lens within 5 minutes. As you stated, the silver headed screw is the culprit. The biggest difficulty that I had was try to get the screw accessible while manipulating the lens. The screws didn't make themselves easily accessible, but I was able to get the screwdriver on the head enough to turn it. Turning smoothly again thanks to your video. Cheers!

This video saved me time and money! I experienced the same issue as that described in the video. However, I could not tighten the offending screw. Fortunately, it wasn't necessary to completely remove the zoom ring. If you are able to rotate the zoom ring to expose the three screws holding the ring in place you can remove the screws and the white plastic "washers". Then you can push in the zoom until the offending screw is completely exposed and can be easily tightened.

Add me to the growing list of people who have found your video the perfect solution to a stressful problem. Much appreciated.

Hi !!! Just did what you suggested, thanks, worked perfectly without dismantling everything . Great job!!!

Wow, thank you.. I was having same problem, now it's a quick fix thanks to you. No more sticky / stuck zoom. My lens is now zooming perfectly like a new one.. thank you so much, you saved me a lot of money by posting this great informative video... cheers.👍

I have had my 200-500 for about two years now without any issues, until today when I finished a session and could not close the zoom down below about 250mm. I immediately found that it was stuck in that position. I had read on various forums that this was a known issue and that it had something to do with an internal screw coming loose but hoped I would never have to deal with it. Thankfully I found your video and felt confident enough to attempt a repair. I folded back the rubber grip then removed the tape and metal strips. This exposed the three “windows” however with the lens stuck at 250mm none of the offending screws are visible. I had to get pretty physical with the lens in order to get it to move at all. Eventually it became free and I was able to move it all the way out to 500. I found the position where the screws were visible, but testing with a screwdriver they all seemed as tight as I could get them. I took a risk and closed the lens down to 200 and to my horror found it was stuck again. ! Using force, I managed to get it to zoom out. I decided my only option at this point was to put everything back how it was and tape something near the top end of the barrel to prevent me closing it past 250mm. So that is what I have done.

This video was a Godsend. A very easy explanation to the problem and the solution. In my case the I had 2 screws that needed to be tightened down AND access was not as easy which required loosening the zoom barrel shroud. With the instructions that 'wildlife snapper 1' emailed me, it was a 5 minute operation. I got access to the screws, tightened them, put it all back to together and I am good to go.

Thank you so much! It would have been a long while before I could have sent this to be serviced, but your video completely solved the issue of why this zoom lens was sticking between 400 - 500. Had been out taking bird photos and thought I had somehow trapped dirt in the shroud, but it was the exact screw you mentioned grinding away. I very much appreciate you sharing this information, thank you! 😁 Best wishes from Australia! (In my case it was the screw AND the little rubber washer under the screw that was twisted and sticking out)

Ah mate, you have saved me several hundred pounds in repair costs, maybe more as I was contemplating just buying a new one! I wish I had seen this earlier because when it happened to me in April, I was away on the Isle of Mull. Luckily it happened the day before I was due home. In my case, it stuck at the full zoom length. Unfortunately for me, I've scratched the lens barrel as I forcibly pushed it down when I got home. When I followed your instructions, it was Indeed the screw but it had completely come free and was jammed between the two casings. I had to remove the three screws and the little plastic washers, but didnt have to remove the shroud. Again luckily for me with a bit of wiggling about, the screw showed itself and I was able to retrieve it! Brilliant! Works like new again, I'm so grateful. What I also would say is while you are at it, check the other screws because in my case the other two were also loose! Many Thanks.

Thank you, thank you THANK YOU! My Nikon 200-500 started becoming 'sticky' after a few uses and at one point I started to feel something grinding while zooming in/out. I immediately stopped using it and tried to figure out what was going on. In the process of examining/attempting to find the problem, my lens got stuck at 200mm. It was so stuck I was too afraid to force it out so it sat unused for a few weeks while I reached out to Nikon to see if the warranty would cover the repair. After working through the red tape I realized it was going to cost me a lot more to ship it out for repair while taking the risk of them not being able to fix it, or worse the warranty wouldn't cover the damage. I decided to start digging through KZfaq for a solution and stumbled across this video. After contacting the wildlife snapper I got the detailed instructions and was able to fix the issue! I literally can NOT BELIEVE Nikon has made such a small faulty part. I own so many of their lenses and I have NEVER seen something as dumb as this. Literally, it was one teeny tiny screw coming loose and the whole lens was rendered practically useless. Thank god for this video! Your help was invaluable! Thanks again!

This video saved me time and money also! It was the same issue. Thank You!

Thank you so much, for this brilliant video. It was exactly as you described.....id put up with the sticking, for months, until it finally jammed up last weekend. It was, as you said a few minute repair......easy when you know how!..... thankyou again.

Amazing. Easy to do, lot of money saved.

Thank you so much for this tip, My lens stuck today and I did exactly what you showed in this video and now my lens is fixed. Very tricky to find that one screw but I did it. Thank you so much for sharing and saving me so much money. Sheri Whetham

Brilliant, many thanks for this. My one packed up yesterday when on a job. It had been making a grinding noise for a while, and assumed it was dirt. My one fully locked at about 250mm, but with gentle taps, and some gentle force managed to get it unlocked to the point in your video. I got a bit of paper in to dislodge any dirt, but then saw one of the three screws was raised. It's not fully visible, but just enough to get it turned back into place. Turning nice and smooth now and no change to image quality etc. I'm very much obliged to you!

this is what youtube should be. helping others...

This just happened to me, and now I know how to fix it myself!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH, MATE! I have fixed my 80-200 f2.8D myself also from the focus ring slipping in manual (common issue on that lens) so I'm very happy to be able to get this done myself and save at least $200! Cheers from Michigan!

Brilliant, cheers mate saved me a fortune.

Mate thank you so much. A simple video no fuss straight to the point awesome

Good help... although it didn't quite sort my problem but it did give me the courage to take it apart and find the precise issue. In my case, two screws came loose and were freely rattling around inside so I slid forward the plastic sleeve where the sticky tape is on, to find three screw holes, two of mine were empty and the plastic was severely scraped from the previously jammed screws. I managed to get the two missing screws put them back and tightened and all is well. A 200-500mm now, when it was a 480-500mm for many years. Thanks once again. 🙂

Thanks for sharing this information. Very helpful indeed.

Brilliant. Thank you so much! My 200-500 is fine but will pass the word to 2 friends whose 200-500 mm lenses are stuck. Nikon wants $500+ to fix them.

I bought this lens on June 2022 and by August i had this same issue. I'm about to send it to the service center here in Greece since the warranty is still valid. Although, i'm sure i could easily do this on my own instead of getting in the trouble of packaging it, sending it for repair and then wait a couple of days for them to return it... Anyways, thanks for the video, it's very clear what you have to do if you have this problem! Cheers!

👏👏👏you just saved me a fortune, many many thanks. 🙂

Thank You so much. I have this problem en thought tis is the end. I saw your video en think I can do this. And yes, exactly what youn told. 1000 thnxxx

Thank you! That worked for me. My only challenge was the screw was partly covered so I did my best to tighten it with a small flathead. Seems to work….hopefully it holds. Great video and thanks again!

very good thanks - I've just done this. I only had to peel back one cover to get to screw - so even quicker!

Brillaint thank you. Worked a treat 👍👍

This happened to both mine and my boyfriends lenses. Your video worked great for my lens thanks!! My boyfriends Is in worse shape so may have to remove the other piece. His whole screw is missing.

Very helpful and easy to understand instructions - sadly my lens does not retract far enough for me to see the otherwise hidden screws.

I had this problem but it was the screw that is underneath the the plastic sleeve (the sleeve is the plastic ring with the holes in it from the nikon metal covers and tape that you removed from the sleeve), not the screws shown here that you can reach without moving the sleeve forward. In order to get to them you have to slide the sleeve forward. Mine was glued and wouldn't move, but I found the suggestion to use a heat gun to warm up the glue that holds the sleeve and that worked for me, and sure enough then the loose screw was obvious! Tightened them all up just in case and put it all back together and it works great. I had to use the heat gun again when moving the sleeve back to it's original position or there was about a 1/16"/2mm gap which probably wouldn't be a big deal but by heating the glue I was able to work the sleeve back to it's correct position. Took quite a bit of pushing and heating but I got it. See kzfaq.info/get/bejne/g7WAirWI1M6Wc3U.html for a demonstration of the sleeve being moved forward, but he makes it look like it just easily slides forward. Mine didn't. Had to use heat gun! Good Luck

Thank you for sharing this video.

Thank you very helpful will video helped me sort my lens out with the same problem

Muchas gracias desde España, solucioné el problema con tus instrucciones.

Excellent!! Thank You for sharing!

Nice, it works! Thank you very much!

Thanks for this. I have this lens and although I don’t use it very often I’ve been worried about the legendary lock up. Now, should it happen I’ll be prepared.

Thank you for your video, my lens has seized at 250mm. I rang a few companies who on average wanted £700 and I even drove to Stoke on Trent from Bedworth to get a quote. I rang my insurance company today and if I dont get any joy from my insurance company I will try your solution

Nice to know,thanks.

Brilliant thanks for doing this video mine have locked up twice but got repaired under warranty but now my warranty has run out I'm not worried about it now cheers 👍🏻

many many thanks its greats

Muchísimas gracias, me ha parecido muy útil, interesantísimo y excelentemente explicado. Gracoas

Hello, I would like to ask about carrying the lens in a backpack: whether attached to the camera, or each one separately (so as not to damage the camera bayonet) - or does it not matter? Thank you and greetings Vlad

cheers mate, well done!

Very helpful video for people with this problem. I too use the Nikon D500 with the Nikon 200-500. I don't have the sticking zoom problem ( hope that's not tempting fate!) but recently my VR has stopped working. Have you heard of problems with the VR on this lens by any chance. As far as I know I haven't accidentally mucked up any settings it just seems to have stopped working. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Do you have a white glue looking substance in the lens? When I did what you taught us, its like the glue looking substance might be causing my problem?

Can you detail how to remove the shroud over the front tube? Is it glued onto the focus tube? If so, do I need to pry it off? Unfortunately, I've been unable to zoom down my lens below 400mm. As such, I can't expose the lower screws, which appear to be the cause of my "stuck" lens. One note: with some gentle wiggling of the front tube, I was able to zoom up to 500mm, and the screws were all very tight. Should I try to continue wiggling the front tube with hopes it'll eventually give and zoom down to

this is great and I'm going to try it. But my lens seems completely frozen, so not sure how I can expose the screw heads by zooming in/out. I'm still going to try and let you know - thanks for the video

Great, thanks. But the problem is my zoom is stuck between about 400 and 500, so I therefore can't zoom back in enough to have access to the said fabled silver screw! I thought that yours was stuck out there too - how did you manage to get it back in enough in the first place?!

My 200-500 finally stopped zooming altogether. It is fully in the 200 range and will not move at all, it started off sticking but now it wont move at all, Is this still the same issue? Nikon wont repair it as they said it is a grey market lens. I bought the lens from another photographer. Nikon is in the process of shipping the lens back to me now

Life saver!

please any help my lens stuck on 200mm and i cannot able to reach those srew is there any way i can fix it

Mine has locked at 500 but having followed the above instructions, I found all the screws tight and in place, I don’t know what the issue could be

Great video, my problem is the lens is complete jammed at +/- 250mm, and no access to the screws

Fixed the zoom function on my nikon 200-500mm lens with help from a COIN COLLECTOR!!!! The screw had to removed from a plastic bushing and the reset. Be cautious, we lost two of those tiny plastic bushings. Those things were difficult to find. Once we had all three bushings and screws everything we great for repairing this lens.

I have a different issue we’re I have a rattling noise come from inside the lens. It almost sounds like there is a loose screw inside the lens. I’ve also be reading this could be related to VR. I’ve only just bought the lens from a good company second and am just wondering if anyone else has had this issue.

Amazing, I also found this vedio accidentally... 1. What bag is best to carry D500 & 200-500? I don't want very big bag which give options to carry laptop and other things, it increases bag size unnecessary. I will like compact bag when I am going on Motor bike. 2. While using this camera I want to hanged it on neck or shoulder with strap, will it affect camera body because of it's weight? Holding with lens handle without strap is painful. I found you older vedios related to Strap after writing this message.

I’m looking for the screw so I don’t have to remove the part you said. But I’m not sure my lens goes back far enough. It’s stuck at 400m and I don’t see that screw.

Hi, I hope you're still looking at your comments. My 200-500 zoom lens is stuck at 200-250. When we pulled back the rubber and tape. I could see the three holes, but no screws. The shroud would not budge or maybe I would see the screws. I saw that your were emailing the additional information for removing the shroud. Would you be willing to send me that?

That might work if I could zoom the lens. My problem is that it wont zoom at all - seems locked at about 230mm and can't be moved.

Unfortunately not mine. I didn't go any further dan 215 mm. No screws visible. I have to send it back for repair.

My button that stops lens moving is stuck wonder if that's problem

Thank you very much for your video! It is very clear. However, my lens is stuck at 200 mm and I cannot move it so I can see the screws. I see by looking at the comments, that you have a printed document explaining how to remove the shroud so I can get to the screws. How can I send you my email address privately so you could send me that document? I would really appreciate it! Thank you very much!

If the lens won’t zoom out far enough, that little screw will not show itself. Also, I believe that inner shroud is glued on.

I was very excited when I found this video, but as others have said, the screws on mine look and feel tight. However, I just wondered if anyone else found that the little covers on theirs only have electrical tape rather than that in the video?

5 people have disliked this video & I fail to see a reason for that to be completely honest. There is nothing to dislike and other than the fact that those who have chosen to dislike it are morons I have no answer!

😊 p̴r̴o̴m̴o̴s̴m̴

This problematic shit happened again. This lens fucking sucks.

Thanks - mine has been no problem, but its great to be prepared...🦘