Nikon spends $18m on fixing the D600 sensor dust issue and its image

Shortly after the Nikon D600 full-frame DSLR hit the market, reports about dirt on its sensor were making the rounds. As it turned out, with each shutter actuation, tiny amounts of oil were spilled onto the sensor, that would in time amass to larger specs that could show up in photos taken at smaller apertures. At first, Nikon downright denied the issue, and it took quite a bit of time and many angry customers to finally get the company to act.

After issuing an official note that advised users to send their D600s in for service, the company's next step was to introduce the D610 with an updated shutter. Understandably, that didn't ring to well with customers either, as it seemed as though the company was simply trying to divert attention from the D600 issue. As a result, several law firms started preparing class action law suits against the company for its bad handling of the situation and recurring dirt issues for many users that had sent their cameras in for service.

This year, then, Nikon finally announced that any D600 suffering from the oily sensor issue would be replaced – free of charge. Considering that the oil spill issue was one that could affect any D600, it was to expect that Nikon would lose a lot of money in the process. And indeed, in a Q&A that was recently posted on Nikon's website, the company states that it has put aside the equivalent of almost $18m "to cover the cost of repairs and replacements [of the D600; Ed.]"

Nikon says that the company is "taking this matter very seriously," and that it "will continue to offer users of the D600 a special service." Not only that, Nikon also seems to have realized that the way the D600 situation was initially handled didn't work to well for the company's image, and so it announced that it will take "steps to restore confidence in the Nikon brand." While we appreciate that Nikon does everything it can to make up for the damage, this will be of little consolation for those who were initially troubled by the D600 sensor dirt issue, and will probably not help bring back those customers that gave up Nikon and went to the competition.

(via Nikon Rumors)